Should Professional Atheletes charge for autographs?

[Gan]

A senator from the state of RI is sponsoring legislation (state level) that would fine professional atheletes who charge for autographs. More specifically the senator wants any autographs given to kids 16 yrs or younger not to be charged for, otherwise the athelete gets a $100.00 fine.



1. I agree with the senator in that these guys are making an insane amount of money to be charging for autographs. Although it is their talent that is allowing them to be able to market the 'autograph' and that on a fundamental level it could be argued that its their right to charge... I think on a bigger picture with regards to the game, its a detriment to how its viewed. If the players really are worried about the devaluation of their 'name' with their autograph being sold instead of collected then they could just make a rule that every signature is personalized instead of just having the signature. Selling a ball that says "to Bob <signature>" would be less worthy of resale than a ball with just the <signature>. I could be wrong in this because I dont sell sports memorabilia but I always thought personalized autographs were worth less than just an autograph.

2. I am wary of such legislation in that adults will start pimping their kids during these autograph sessions just to get a few extra items to pawn on Ebay or at the local sports memorabilia shop... and thats just plain wrong.

What do you think?

CNN Story (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/baseball/mlb/02/11/bc.autographgouging.ap/index.html?cnn=yes)

[Bobmuhthol]

Other people make money from autographs, why can't the athletes? What a dumb thing to make laws over.

[Kainen]

It's THEIR autograph.. why shouldn't they be allowed to.

[Makkah]

It's a douchebag thing to do, but I don't think they should be legally obligated to NOT charge.

[Gan]

One could say "How could these players do this to our kids who idolize the sports 'heros' of the game..." To which I say that perhaps we're guiding our children to make the wrong people their 'heros'.

[Latrinsorm]

No. Playing a professional sport is a serious physical endeavor, but atheletes are still being paid to play a game. Demanding money for one's name is just greedy.

I don't think there should be a law against it either, but what else is a guy from RI supposed to do? Prepare for the Connecticut invasion? There is no defense! You will be crushed!! FOR GLORY AND NUTMEG!!!!

[Scott]

If a certain person wanted to charge me $20 bucks for an autography that I could sell for hundreds, I don't see the problem.

[Tsa`ah]

One could argue that a person has the freedom to show greed within the US.

Why go after the athletes? Why not go after banks for all of the nickel and dime bull shit they charge anytime you think about YOUR money.

Why not go after the phone/cable companies and utility providers for similar nickel and dime bull shit, jacked up rates and complete anal violation every time they send out a bill?

I'm sorry, it is shitty that athletes want to charge for their autographs, but it's their, their name, and their right. Jordan and several other athletes refused to sign autographs for anyone because greedy ass parents would eBay that shit off. No one took them to court in attempt to force them to sign, yet when a senator’s snot nosed kid or grand kid cries in the back of his Lexus because Bonds is a jackass for wanting 200 bucks for a signature ... a law must be passed.

I don't buy it. Stop wasting my tax dollars with bull shit.

[Carl Spackler]

In some cases, card shops will pay an athlete X amount of dollars to come in a sign for say a half hour. Thats where these athletes really make their money off autographs. For an hour of signing an offer might be in the range of 1200 bucks, depending on the player and number of items the shop is going to have him sign.

I think it's rediculous that a player would charge just to sign a hat or a card for a kid. Thats why most athletes today personalize the things they sign, it makes them much harder to market something like that. I also think it's acceptable for a player to just decline to sign something, I see nothing wrong with that.