So I saw a couple of Penguins players the other day.
They were picking up some food from a local restaurant (leaving names of players and establishment out on purpose).
I was very tempted to go up and just wish them luck in their next game, thank them for their hardwork and so on. But in the end I didn't do anything, because I felt like it would just be kinda creepy/stalker like.
Perhaps if my kids were with me I could send one of them up But they obviously were not looking for attention, and I didn't want to creep them out.
So I'm wondering what others think. Are you being a stalker to come up and converse with one of these guys in public life (especially when it looks like they are trying to avoid attention), what would others in similar situations do?
I'm not sure what I'd do, but it is completely fine to say good luck next game, thanks, bla bla. That's not stalking at all. Personally, I've never seen any Pen's players in every day life. I'm kind of jealous.
If there was no one around and I saw the player in a grocery store or department store, and the player was talking to the checkout person or whatnot (not in a rush / incognito mode), I'd probably say "good luck ____" or maybe make a comment about a good goal / play as a compliment. That's if there was an opportunity that came about normally. If they didn't turn around / walked away I wouldn't make an attempt to talk to them even just to wish them luck.
In a restaurant there is no ****ing way I would approach an athlete or draw attention to them. That is pretty lame IMO. The only exception is little kids... sometimes they get all star-struck and the athlete sees it / is happy to say hello, but for adults no way. Leave the dudes alone and let them enjoy their food without being harassed. They have no obligation to fans in semi-private settings like that (or movie theaters or whatnot). Welll... you could say they have an obligation not to be a dewsh and conduct themselves professionally, but if they're not drawing attention to themselves or make it clear they're engaged in conversation with friends, etc... they should be left alone.
A relative of mine had Sid and his dad seated next to them while getting lunch somewhere a couple of season ago and scored an autographed napkin.
As far as I'm concerned, taxpayers have to foot part of the bill for stadiums instead of their billionaire owners paying all of it, a player can deal with autograph requests.
Maybe if I were behind them in line I'd wish them luck as they were leaving, but otherwise I'd leave them alone. Folks is folks, I wouldn't be inclined to approach them any more than I would any other random stranger. If I really wanted a photo op or an autograph there are plenty of 'official' events I could attend to do so. Let them have their privacy/space/personal life.
Well, to be honest, I would probably leave them alone. I mean, if I walk past them I will wish them luck in the next game, but if they're somewhere with their families, friends, etc. It would be polite and respectful to leave them alone.
I think it's totally situational as others have said. Typically, wishing them luck or throwing a compliment for a great game is fine except in a restaurant. Part of the reason they enjoy Pittsburgh so much is the same as here in Raleigh - they like the anonymity so don't be too over the top about it regardless.
I personally think autographs are always out of bounds except at signing events or outside the arena.
I'd probably say "Holy ****, you're [whoever]" and say that I really enjoy watching them play and try to get a handshake and wish them luck. I've never been big on pictures or autographs.
I saw Sid at the bar in the Capital Grille (solo) around Christmastime last year. I thought about wishing him luck/get well or whatever but just let him be.
I figure that it is one of the benefits of playing here and not Montreal or Toronto - he can just have a quiet drink alone so don't ruin it.
Depends on the situation. Usually I leave them alone because I really have nothing to say. The only time I approached a player was when I saw Kevin Stevens at Mineo's in Mt. Lebanon...and the only reason was because as I walked outside he could tell I knew who he was and was almost waiting for me to say something so I just said "hi" and he ended up saying "hey, great day out today, huh?" and from there we chatted for about 5 minutes. This was about a week after the 2001-02 season ended.
i saw talbot on a rainy monday (iirc) night at a bar here in Philly, when there were no skanks out after a flyers game. it happened to be the night of sid's awesome comeback against the islanders, i talked to him about that. first thing he said was "eff sid" but he was joking.
i think he was annoyed at first but then when i mentioned that i followed him back with the olympiques he realized i wasnt totally retarded and was friendly.
I'd pester them for an autograph and picture purely because I'd be wondering in amazement why the **** they're in England. I'd only pester them because I'd never see them again like that. If it was in Pittsburgh I'd probably just take a picture of them and wish them luck.
Like many have said, it would depend on the situation. I wouldn't go out of my way to bother an athlete, but if I was next to one of them in a line or something like that, I would probably just say hi and tell him that I appreciate what he does for my team. If I want an autograph, I'll just go to one of the many events in which pro athletes participate, I won't bother them "in real life."
I think I would just say hey and it's nice to meet you. If they're with friends/family I will leave them alone completely. At the age I am now, I'm not all that into autographs and I think a picture with one of them would be cool but, it's not my top priority.
__________________ "I don't know what the stronger emotion would be, the joy of winning or the pain of losing"-Sidney Crosby.
Whenever I had my hair longer, a hat on and had just shaved, I apparently had some resemblance to Crosby.... Since a dozen or so people told me so.
One day a guy literally knocked my dad aside to get to me and thought I was Crosby.... He said "hot damn I thought you were Crosby!" I said hot damn you almost knocked my dad down and owe him an apology... He apologized, but it was pretty creepy... This cat grabbed my arm and ****... Like wtf?
I'd leave them alone. I see CBJ players out all the time. My friends and I are frequent patrons of the bars in the arena district.
I've only spoken to a CBJ player once.. I was working at a CD store in a mall around Columbus and Rick Nash came in. He was buying a gift for someone. I didn't really notice who he was because he had his hat pulled down so far. I always checked IDs for card transactions, so when I looked at his card I was surprised to see Rick Nash's name on it. I then made fun of him for the CD he was purchasing and he claimed it wasn't for him.
I didn't believe him.
He was awesome. Nothing but good things to say about Nash. Down to earth and seems very approachable, and willing to talk with fans.
Other than that, I've always left them alone. I figure they don't get much privacy, so I do my part to give them as much as possible.
I'd leave them alone. I see CBJ players out all the time. My friends and I are frequent patrons of the bars in the arena district.
I've only spoken to a CBJ player once.. I was working at a CD store in a mall around Columbus and Rick Nash came in. He was buying a gift for someone. I didn't really notice who he was because he had his hat pulled down so far. I always checked IDs for card transactions, so when I looked at his card I was surprised to see Rick Nash's name on it. I then made fun of him for the CD he was purchasing and he claimed it wasn't for him.
I didn't believe him.
He was awesome. Nothing but good things to say about Nash. Down to earth and seems very approachable, and willing to talk with fans.
Other than that, I've always left them alone. I figure they don't get much privacy, so I do my part to give them as much as possible.
I have friends who work at restaurants in Grandview and they always see him. They always tell me that nobody notices who he is.
But they obviously were not looking for attention, and I didn't want to creep them out. 
