My Pics From The Redskin Reunion....

[skinsfan44]

As you all know, I have been a BIG promoter and supporter of this Redskins Reunion from last year till now. It was a great event last year at the Frederick county fairgrounds, with Dave Butts, Art Monk, Charles Mann, Pat Fischer, Tony McGee and Darrell Green, but this year they moved it to the J Bar W Ranch not far from Frederick, MD.

J Bar W Ranch is a BIG supporter of the charity PPF INC.

Appearing this year was Monk, Mann, Butts, Fischer, along with Mark Moseley, Ron McDole, Ken Harvey and Roy Jefferson. When we (the wife and I) got there this year, we could see that this will be a little different from last year.

Boy, were we in for a surprise.

After arriving, we met up with Pez and Huly from Extremeskins, and Monkster from CPND. We started out eating at the hog roast, and then we waited for the autograph session. Debbie (the lady who runs this event) came out and told us over the PA that because some people from last years reunion SOLD their autographs on E-BAY, their was going to be NO autograph session this year.

Boy, that was a BIG disappointment.

Heck, except for the few photos I got of the players sitting in the VIP tent, that would be the ONLY fan interaction we would get from them this year.

Last year, not only did they sigh autographs, but also each player spent some time talking to everyone.

Monkster had to make another donation to the charity just so she could get an autograph and the pic I took of her with Art Monk

I can’t blame the players for not signing. They went out of their way to do this charity event. They did it to help cancer patients, not for people to profit from selling their autographs.

All I got to say is, that ANYONE who did sell them on E-Bay, you can go effn’ rot in He!!.

My appologizes to Pez, Huly, Monkster and anyone else who came out for this year's event. It was TOTALLY different from last years. Just check out my pics from last year.

I will NOT be attending next year’s event.

To see my pics from last year and this year’s reunion, go to http://community.webshots.com/user/deadtreecrew

[BandWagon]

Wow that's a major bummer. It also totally illustrates one of my pet peeves...As a fan and someone who takes autograph opportunities as a chance to get a piece of memorabilia that will stay with me for my life AND to thank the player for all the great memories, it sucks that we get the short end of the stick on deals like this. The few bad apples are seriously ruining it for the rest of the legit fans. What a drag. Those are some guys I would have paid to get a chance to thank. Bummer.

[dj_stouty]

Wow that's a major bummer. It also totally illustrates one of my pet peeves...As a fan and someone who takes autograph opportunities as a chance to get a piece of memorabilia that will stay with me for my life AND to thank the player for all the great memories, it sucks that we get the short end of the stick on deals like this. The few bad apples are seriously ruining it for the rest of the legit fans. What a drag. Those are some guys I would have paid to get a chance to thank. Bummer.

It does stink that people will sell autographs on ebay...however, it happens everywhere. (Training Camp, outside the players parking lot, at the movie theater) Anytime you sign an autograph, you have the chance that someone is going to sell it.

They aren't going to stop people from getting autographs at Training Camp just because of the chance the autographs will be sold. Its too bad this organization stopped the autographs for people who have paid money to their charity.

[CarMike]

You know what? If I were a professional athlete i'd still sign autographs. Who cares if they are selling it on ebay? Big deal. Its ending up with real Redskin fans any how. And the thousands shouldn't have to pay for a few.

[BandWagon]

You know what? If I were a professional athlete i'd still sign autographs. Who cares if they are selling it on ebay? Big deal. Its ending up with real Redskin fans any how. And the thousands shouldn't have to pay for a few.

That's an excellent point!

[whistleandthumb]

You know what? If I were a professional athlete i'd still sign autographs. Who cares if they are selling it on ebay? Big deal. Its ending up with real Redskin fans any how. And the thousands shouldn't have to pay for a few.
I agree. And, just as skinsfan44 already stated, not signing autographs is going to keep people from attending the event the following year and years to come. It's never good PR when the celebrities attending the event do not interact with the people who donated money to be at the event, and that's true at any charity-sponsored event.

That sucks, man... sorry it was a disappointing day.

[LATrueRedskin]

That's lame that the players didn't sign any autographs. I would be really disappointed myself. You got some great pics, though.

[CarMike]

Something similar happened to me during the last training camp was in Pa. I bought a Darrell Green cherity t-shirt with the promise that it would get autographed.

I paid $20 dollars....waiting in line. I'm two people away from DG when suddenly he jumps into his car and leaves about 50-75 people waiting in line. No warning or anything. Then the woman I bought the shirt from says that he simply doesn't have to time to meet all of the requests.

If it weren't for a good cause, I would have left the t-shirt on the table that he was useing to sign on. Instead I brought it home and its been hanging with my collection of Redskin t-shirts. I've never worn the shirt and i've never looked at DG the same way.

Which brings up another point. I don't care to ever get to know a Redskin player, coach, owner. I'm afraid what it might do to my loyalty.

[BurgundyNGold]

Easiest way to sidestep a lot of that EBay BS about players not signing? Ask they to make it out to a named person, specifically. Then they can't use that excuse for not signing.

[The Skinsinator]

Easiest way to sidestep a lot of that EBay BS about players not signing? Ask they to make it out to a named person, specifically. Then they can't use that excuse for not signing.

Good point, however do you think players are reluctant to sign autographs because of the ebay reasoning or they are simply lazy and noncaring about it? Perhaps both. Nonetheless, they need to devote a little more attention to the nfl's best fans.

[BurgundyNGold]

Good point, however do you think players are reluctant to sign autographs because of the ebay reasoning or they are simply lazy and noncaring about it? Perhaps both. Nonetheless, they need to devote a little more attention to the nfl's best fans.
I agree. As to whether they actually believe the EBay bit or it's just an excuse not to do it, I'd just as soon take the EBay option away to see where they truly stand ;)

[LATrueRedskin]

Something similar happened to me during the last training camp was in Pa. I bought a Darrell Green cherity t-shirt with the promise that it would get autographed.

I paid $20 dollars....waiting in line. I'm two people away from DG when suddenly he jumps into his car and leaves about 50-75 people waiting in line. No warning or anything. Then the woman I bought the shirt from says that he simply doesn't have to time to meet all of the requests.

If it weren't for a good cause, I would have left the t-shirt on the table that he was useing to sign on. Instead I brought it home and its been hanging with my collection of Redskin t-shirts. I've never worn the shirt and i've never looked at DG the same way.

Which brings up another point. I don't care to ever get to know a Redskin player, coach, owner. I'm afraid what it might do to my loyalty.


Yeah, that sucks too, CarMike. I can respect players who don't sign anything whatsoever, that's their decision. But it bugs me when players hold an event, and then don't sign autographs for the fans who paid good money to be there.

[dj_stouty]

Something similar happened to me during the last training camp was in Pa. I bought a Darrell Green cherity t-shirt with the promise that it would get autographed.

I paid $20 dollars....waiting in line. I'm two people away from DG when suddenly he jumps into his car and leaves about 50-75 people waiting in line. No warning or anything. Then the woman I bought the shirt from says that he simply doesn't have to time to meet all of the requests.

If it weren't for a good cause, I would have left the t-shirt on the table that he was useing to sign on. Instead I brought it home and its been hanging with my collection of Redskin t-shirts. I've never worn the shirt and i've never looked at DG the same way.

Which brings up another point. I don't care to ever get to know a Redskin player, coach, owner. I'm afraid what it might do to my loyalty.

I've heard similar stories about DG. Sorry to hear yours...

[AGibbsGirl]

Yeah, I didn't say a whole lot in my thread on the Redskins Reunion because I'm trying to keep in mind it was a charity event....

[frenchskinsfan]

Thank you very much for sharing SF44, it's always a pleasure to see such great players, wether they sign or not.

[Redskin006]

You know what? If I were a professional athlete i'd still sign autographs. Who cares if they are selling it on ebay? Big deal. Its ending up with real Redskin fans any how. And the thousands shouldn't have to pay for a few.

great point. totally agree with it.

[bgforever]

Thanks for sharing the experience and photos just the same for a worthy cause. True there will be aholes out there to manipulating for a fast buck, but ,the ones thoughtful enough to use even that gain, to give back to the program for which the players donated their time, would be excused. Does hurt to know folks will rape anything for a buck. :rolleyes:

[Patrick]

Hey Dave - did I hear right - that there were only about 500 people at this event? Wasn't there a couple of thousand last year??

I REALLY don't understand the logic about no signings ........ so what's that mean, they are going to stop signings at ALL charity events. What the point then?

[skinsfan44]

Hey Dave - did I hear right - that there were only about 500 people at this event? Wasn't there a couple of thousand last year??

I REALLY don't understand the logic about no signings ........ so what's that mean, they are going to stop signings at ALL charity events. What the point then?

Yea Patrick, I don't think they were even close to 500 this year.

Last year, atleast 2000 were there for the reunion.

I know it is a charity event and the money is going to a good cause, but when you go to these things when they have signed in the past and then they stop, it just rubs me the wrong way.

Now, if you want to spend $500 to get into the VIP tent, you could get autographs and your picture taken with the players there.

What was up with that???

IMO, I think it was PPF INC (the charity) aranged for the players to ONLY sign in the VIP tent.