GP vs. the unknown VIP

[heavyb]

I dont know how it started but I saw how it ended. What the heck happend, what did this guy do so bad to get Sumo slammed?

[EQ]

I heard that it had to do with the guy getting back into line because he missed Bret's autograph when Bret went to the restroom.

[bluedevil71]

I didn't see it, but I heard about it second-hand. That said, you know, guys have to go to the bathroom from time to time. That's understandable. But shouldn't the guy -- as long as he wasn't rude, which I don't know if he was or not -- have at least had the opportunity to get Bret's autograph since it was unfortunate timing that he didn't get it when he would have had Bret not had to leave the stage?

[ssteward]

I heard this story. Maybe if the guy would've went to Greg at the beginning, showed him his VIP # and explained the situation, the problem could've been avoided. But I saw none of it, and only heard sketchy details. I can't imagine Greg doing what was said if the guy didn't give him good reason. Plus, the question is - did Bret really take a bathroom break? Anyone else notice this?

JJ Dillon was late for his signing and I wasn't able to get his. In truth, I didn't even notice until later on when I saw him on the stage when people were still getting autos.

[stompingground]

I missed JJ during the signing, but I went up to him while he was at the table, and he gladly signed my stuff for me. He's a class act.

[ssteward]

I avoided JJ because I wasn't sure if I felt like buying his book yet or not, and I didn't want to be given a hard sell.

[fredatl]

ssteward said:

I avoided JJ because I wasn't sure if I felt like buying his book yet or not, and I didn't want to be given a hard sell.

I have several of his autographs from prior shows, but I really respect JJ and always enjoy the opportunity to chat with him as he is one of the real Gentlemen in the biz.
Anyway, I offered to pay him for his autograph, but he declined, and not a word of pressure to buy the book.

CLASS ACT all the Way!

Fred, Atl

[HardcoreHeroes]

Okay, let me clarify this.

It all started when Bret Hart needed to take a quick bathroom break during his signing on the Autograph Stage. Nature calls, ya know?

Rather than hold up the entire line, folks were allowed to get everyone else's autograph on the stage and take a seat in the front row of VIP chairs to wait for Bret to return.

I brought Bret back to the stage and stuck around to insure everyone got his signature. Well, there was a kid behind me (actually, he was an adult but his whining made me think he was a kid,) going on and on about not getting Bret's autograph. I turned to the kid and said something to the effect of "Look dude, calm down. You're going to get everything you came here for."

After turning back around, I hear someone else behind me ranting and raving about the same thing, just with a little harsher vocabulary. I turned around again and this second guy was behind the first. He had nothing to get signed. I asked him what he was doing there and he said he wanted to take a photo. (He'd come through the line, got his autographs, and snuck back in behind the folks waiting for Bret's signature.) I told him there were no photos allowed and he got nasty.

Now, had this happened on Friday or Saturday, I may have reacted differently. But it was late Sunday afternoon and exhaustion had long took over. When I asked the guy to leave, I got more lip. And more lip. I kept telling the guy to move towards the door because I didn't want a scene. All I got was more lip.

I went to grab the guy by his arm and he spun around while at the same time yelling "MF" something, to which Tony Atlas and a few more of the guys on the stage reacted to and asked him to watch the language. At that point, I was in the guy's face just telling him to "move."

Unfortunately, "move" to this guy meant take two steps and turn and gripe some more. This went on for what seemed like an eternity as I walked him out of the ballroom and up the foyer area where the restrooms are located. Seriously, every two steps he'd stop to continue the harassment and it would take forever to get him started moving again.

Well, I'd finally had enough. I grabbed him by the neck with my right hand and by his left elbow with my left hand and escorted him from the fanfest area.

When we got to Registration, I gave him a decent shove and in no uncertain terms told him he wasn't welcome. Our left foots became tangled and he took a bump and then started screaming that I'd assaulted him.

Well, in the end, he did call the police and they delivered his blackmail demands: his money back or he'd press charges for assault. It took me a while to choose my punishment, but a clearer head prevailed and he got his money back.

In hindsight, I would never put myself in a position again where I'd need to throw someone out and, two, I wouldn't give the person that much time in the future.

I apologize to anyone offended by this. In four fanfests, this is the first-ever incident like this and I hope it will be the last.

Now, let's get on to better things.......

[ssteward]

It's not that hard to adhere to the no photos on the auto stage rule. That is one thing I can say that I haven't seen anyone try to pull.

This reminds me of the Terry Funk photo session. I had to wait forever behind about 40 people and virtually none of them were there for photos. They were getting stuff signed and buying his book. Why can't people understand the concept that the Funker would be having an auto session the following morning, where they could get a guarranteed sig anyway at no cost?

[fredatl]

admin said:

It took me a while to choose my punishment, but a clearer head prevailed and he got his money back........

Note to Self for next FanFest...."somehow get Greg to push me at the END of the event!"

;D

Fred, Atl