This sums it up about Jeter and 3000

[RichardSimon]

That is true.
Millions of dollars for selling dirt,,, how can you argue with that?
(I am referring to Yankee Stadium dirt, not calling his merchandise dirt).

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by RichardSimon

That is true.
Millions of dollars for selling dirt,,, how can you argue with that?
(I am referring to Yankee Stadium dirt, not calling his merchandise dirt).

Like that idiot Poland Springs guy who sells water. Who would buy water if they can get it for free?

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by T206Collector

Like that idiot Poland Springs guy who sells water. Who would buy water if they can get it for free?

Or those dirtbags who charge money to tell you that your near mint card is near mint.

[T206Collector]

I get the growing frustration aspect, but I think it is goofy to get too upset by it. It is like complaining about $15 movie tickets and $8 popcorn at the theater. "When I was a kid, a nickel got me a trolley ride from Battery Park to the Polo Grounds, and I still had change for a hot dog."

This growing frustration began in 1869, folks, when the amateurs became professionals. It has only evolved over time. The perception that life was simpler when you could tip your cap to Babe Ruth on the street 70 years ago is just that, a perception. People hated Ruth for making more money than the President.

And Ruth didn't have 15 reporters in front of his clubhouse locker hours before and after every single game, trying to fill a 24-hour news cycle, the bloggosphere, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc.

[ChiefBenderForever]

If you have a job and money in your pocket are you obligated to give every homeless person who asks you for spare change some money ? How do you know who really will spend it on food, or a bottle, rock, or isn't even homeless but makes more begging than working ? And how annoyed do you get with the constant bagering from them ?

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by ChiefBenderForever

If you have a job and money in your pocket are you obligated to give every homeless person who asks you for spare change some money ? How do you know who really will spend it on food, or a bottle, rock, or isn't even homeless but makes more begging than working ? And how annoyed do you get with the constant bagering from them ?

There are homeless in Connecticut ??

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by ChiefBenderForever

If you have a job and money in your pocket are you obligated to give every homeless person who asks you for spare change some money ? How do you know who really will spend it on food, or a bottle, rock, or isn't even homeless but makes more begging than working ? And how annoyed do you get with the constant bagering from them ?

That's a different scenario and a red herring argument. Signing a name costs a celebrity nothing; handing my money to a stranger costs me the money. And I am not making millions on the good will of the general public. A celebrity doesn't owe me jack; but if he wants my continued patronage as a customer of his business and his sponsors he'd better not be a dick.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by T206Collector

I get the growing frustration aspect, but I think it is goofy to get too upset by it. It is like complaining about $15 movie tickets and $8 popcorn at the theater. "When I was a kid, a nickel got me a trolley ride from Battery Park to the Polo Grounds, and I still had change for a hot dog."

This growing frustration began in 1869, folks, when the amateurs became professionals. It has only evolved over time. The perception that life was simpler when you could tip your cap to Babe Ruth on the street 70 years ago is just that, a perception. People hated Ruth for making more money than the President.

And Ruth didn't have 15 reporters in front of his clubhouse locker hours before and after every single game, trying to fill a 24-hour news cycle, the bloggosphere, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc.

I'm not upset by it; I simply refuse to spend my entertainment money that way. As for the reporters, boo hoo--imagine how it would be if no one gave a damn and no one wrote about them:

Publicity can be terrible. But only if you don't have any.
--Jane Russell

[slidekellyslide]

If Babe Ruth were born and playing in this era he would have a contract with Steiner too, and you wouldn't see him dropping signed baseballs out of hotel windows. So to compare him and his 1920-40s situation to Derek Jeter is not fair. If Derek Jeter played in the 1920-30s he probably would have signed for anyone and everyone for free too.

[ChiefBenderForever]

Wow this was quite the read. I understand both sides and think it all has become bordering on insanity. Our cultures appetite to be close to those bigger than life figures has always been around but with todays technology the superstars get no relief. I watched the documentary 'Teenage Paparazzo' and was kind of surprised to see how every moment of many peoples lives is constantly documented with video and photo, they literally have no private life. An interesting twist was when director Adrian Grenier decided to flip the switch and turned the cameras on the Paparazzo to understand where they are coming from and they got very upset, covered their faces, yelled, ran away, didn't want to talk, threatened harm, ect ect. They wanted privacy and to be left alone but yet make their living off of the exact same thing.
It's easy to say that because someone is making all this money they should stop and sign or talk to everyone that approaches them but what if it was you ? What if you were in a hurry, or had a headache, or bad mood, or were just so sick of everyone who saw you running up to you asking for something ? Then you know half the people just want to sell what you gave them anyways so what is the point, how do you tell who is a fan and who isn't, and if you sign for everyone will you ever get anything done ? But if you sit down and sign for a few hours in a controlled environment and get X amount of dollars so be it.
Society created the monster that feeds the greed, but the ones we worship have to live in it and deal with it, no matter how much money they make not sure what price some peace and privacy is worth.

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by ChiefBenderForever

Society created the monster that feeds the greed, but the ones we worship have to live in it and deal with it, no matter how much money they make not sure what price some peace and privacy is worth.

+1