Fans encounters with cricketers

[spell_check]

The Symonds media beat-up and the last post in that thread from whufc, has given me a thought. What is your encounters with cricketers been like? If you've met plenty, perhaps the politest or rudest maybe, and we might be able to find a common name in here for a popular player off the field or maybe the opposite.

[whufc]

With my post i just want to clarify i personally don't know Andrew Symonds and i have never had an encounter with him, i was only basing my assesment on stories told to me by people who i trust with not lying.

He is currently my favourite player to watch playing the game, and i have no problem with him treating people the way he wants.

I guess my point was that those type incidents are tending to happen regulary with Andrew Symonds and maybe his not as innocent as it appears.

My favourite cricketer to have a beer with is Mark Cosgrove but im biased as i have known the bloke for over 15 years now, being a Central supporter and attending every game has given me the chance to have a few beers with other players such as Lehamann, Manou, Ryan Harris, Greg Blewett all who were great for a laugh and a chat.

Also met Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh at the Myers center food court the second to last time the Indians toured here. Me and my mate were sitting down to lunch around 12:30 and had probably the last 2 free seats next to us. Harbhajan (surprisingly) asked if the seats were taking and if we wouldn't mind them sitting there, off course we said ok.

Had a great chat and a laugh it was the day after the test in Adelaide in which Sachin got given LBW ducking a full toss of Glenn McGrath. My mate made a comment about it which Sachin laughed and guarenteed us that he wouldn't let a single ball go next test. Harbhajan was alot more quite but was brilliant to talk and a very modest personality definatley suffers from white line fever.

[spell_check]

I wasn't trying to pin Symonds in particular for any bad experiences, rather see whose names come up in here more than others. (I'm actually more interested on the positives, mind you) Even if someone did say they were a bit rude during a meeting, does not mean they are like that all the time, it just could have been a bad day for that player.

[bayman]

well 3 or 4 seasons ago when little bayman was either 5 or 6 & a lot more shy than he is now asked andrew symonds as he was leaving the adelaide oval nets to go to fielding practice on the main oval 'please can i have your autograph' & andrew stopped, gave him the autograph & had a chat for a couple of minutes, then patted him on the head & went to the oval for practice.....i as a proud dad was very happy with what i saw on that day as most of the other players were just walking through saying 'after training' 'after training'

i'll never say a bad word about him

ponting last year after training (i have posted this when it happened) but ponting sat in the grandstand for a long time (from memory about 45 minutes) signing autographs & getting photos taken with fans & he seemed happy to do it & after that time a person whispered in his ear & ponting got up & said i'm sorry to everyone that hasn't got an autograph etc but i'm sorry i have to go as there is an appointment i have to meet

which to me is fair enough

[Dirko]

Never really had a chat to any whilst here in Adelaide, but I did chat to a few whilst over in England for the Ashes back in 97.

As I travelled by myself, I went to the training runs etc, and the blokes I spoke to were good for a chat ! Booney even came up and said hello (he was over there playing for Durham IIRC) as I wore my Carlton jumper to a session and he's a big Carlton man !

[am Bays]

I always judge sportspeople by if they have a chat with you when you are there working in some kind of capacity.

12 years ago I helping SASI staff do some physiological testing at the acadmey in Adelaide. At the same time they had a spinners camp on and Andrew Symonds was down for teh camp and was being tested too.

Whilst I was preparing the timing gates he proferred his hand and said "G'day Andrew Symonds how you going" I repled yeah G'day ya da ya da ya da..

Its not something you exepct from every athlete you test to do but in my experience it generally tells you who are definately the good blokes.

S Warne was another good one for that.

[rogernumber10]

From personal experience dealing with various players and commentators in the era from 85-99, and watching at very close quarters what they had to put up with in the day-in day-out at cricket venues and public places for requests etc, I'd rate my leading guys in this order

1. G McGrath
2. daylight
3. S Warne
4. I Chappell
5. M Hughes
6. A Border
7. M Taylor
8. D Boon
9. M Whitney
10. I Healy

[wycbloods]

From personal experience dealing with various players and commentators in the era from 85-99, and watching at very close quarters what they had to put up with in the day-in day-out at cricket venues and public places for requests etc, I'd rate my leading guys in this order

1. G McGrath
2. daylight
3. S Warne
4. I Chappell
5. M Hughes
6. A Border
7. M Taylor
8. D Boon
9. M Whitney
10. I Healy

I was at the Adelaide oval nets as a kid doing some training with Mark Harrity when the test was on here in Adelaide and we had the pleasure of Warne and Healy coming down to help out with the kids training as was Ian Chappell. Warne and Healy were fantastic but Chappell was a pig. He didn't help one kid whilst there and stood at the back talking to one of the other coaches and was using foul language rather loudly. When asked by the mother of one of the kids training to tone down the language he turned to her and said something along the lines of I am Ian Chappell and i will say whatever the f%*k i like. It certainly made all the parents there that night less than impressed at his behaviour. To cap it off he refused to sign autographs for the kids after Healy and Warne had done so for about 30 minutes.

M Hughes and M Taylor are ones that i have met personally and were fantastic people to have general cricket chat with.

[dinglinga]

i remember as a 14 yo going to adelaide oval for a shield game against queensland .. at the end i as able to get into the members .. i asked ian healy for an autograph and instead of pen to paper i got a F%^K oFF... Carl Rackemann heard this and came up to me and started to chat to me for the half hour ....

[GWW]

That doesn't surprise me at all about Ian Chappell. I've heard various stories from different people he's not the nicest person in the world.

[Drop Bear]

Met Boof at the Balaklava Races a few years back. He was more than happy to have a pic and a yarn. Salt of the earth type of bloke!

[heater31]

Seeing as I play at the same club as Jason Gillespie and Dan Cullen I generally get to spend some time around 1st class cricketers and most times with a beer in hand. Dizzy always tells of stories of various opposition players and team-mates. The latest being the Fitness tests of the ICL players and a certain former Pakistani captain . Here in this situation you know who they are but they don't know your name. well I know Dizzy doesn't maybe DC not sure.

Darren Lehman is good value. His manager is also the president of my Football club, he regularly makes appearances at major functions and even pulled on the boots this year for a laugh. We have also shared opinions of the current goings on of the SACA and what could be done to improve it. Shaun Tait also has the same manager and had a chat over a few ales.

As does Mark Cosgrove but I haven't had the chance to speak with him yet. But I will say this about Mark, when he is not playing club cricket for Northern Districts due to state commitments he makes the effort to attend each game that Northerns are playing in including the lowest grade.

Generally I think there is a time and a place when you approach people who have a public profile. I once met Andy Symonds after he returned to Australia in 2003 I think he was playing in a 1st class game for Australia A v South Africa A on a cold April afternoon The world cup trophy was on display and he was happy to pose for photographs and answer questions for the small crowd that had gathering in front of it he even told one poser for a photograph to get their hands on the trophy much to the security staffs disgust

[The Big Shrek]

Sounds like Symonds having a beer is like a dog. You don't pat a dog when he's having a bone, apart from that it's generally fine.

[mighty_tiger_79]

ive had no bad encounters, cant say the same for the players

my fav was Shaun Pollock, absolute thorough genlemen who didnt mind a chat.

Graeme Smith was a bit of a snob till he got pulled up by a team-mate to give me an autograpgh.

[GWW]

Heard on the News or elsewhere yesterday that Symonds was making a bit of a scene and some of the Kangaroo Rugby League players he was drinking with, moved away from him.

[rogernumber10]

From personal experience dealing with various players and commentators in the era from 85-99, and watching at very close quarters what they had to put up with in the day-in day-out at cricket venues and public places for requests etc, I'd rate my leading guys in this order

1. G McGrath
2. daylight
3. S Warne
4. I Chappell
5. M Hughes
6. A Border
7. M Taylor
8. D Boon
9. M Whitney
10. I Healy

I was at the Adelaide oval nets as a kid doing some training with Mark Harrity when the test was on here in Adelaide and we had the pleasure of Warne and Healy coming down to help out with the kids training as was Ian Chappell. Warne and Healy were fantastic but Chappell was a pig. He didn't help one kid whilst there and stood at the back talking to one of the other coaches and was using foul language rather loudly. When asked by the mother of one of the kids training to tone down the language he turned to her and said something along the lines of I am Ian Chappell and i will say whatever the f%*k i like. It certainly made all the parents there that night less than impressed at his behaviour. To cap it off he refused to sign autographs for the kids after Healy and Warne had done so for about 30 minutes.

M Hughes and M Taylor are ones that i have met personally and were fantastic people to have general cricket chat with.

No argument from me that the oldest Chappell is an Olympic level 'cusser', but it's a pity you had that experience. I'd never seen that from him, but countless times engage in a conversation with someone who wanted to talk cricket, old days, whatever.

[Tooting Bec]

Had a work mate who stayed at the hyatt and went to Billy Joel last night. Sent me a picture of him and his missus with simmo. I Guess it's all about the way you approach these people.

[the big bang]

was in mildura earlier this year when the masters team had a game over there.

didnt make it to the game due to work, but happened to be at the pub they went to.

cosgrove, cleary, healy, blewett, funky miller, all top lads to sit and have a beer with. specially cossie over there, no one but me knew who he was, and he loved it!

[GWW]

At the cricket today, i spoke to someone who attended the show this morning where a few ex greats gave a talk at a breakfast at Adelaide Oval. Surprisingly enough Hadlee was said to be the standout.