Cam Newton Charging over $100 for Autographs at Mall Appearance?

[Vikes99ej]

Because it's a slow NFL news day, and I'm sick of Drew Brees crap.


http://www.charlotteobserver.com/201...utographs.html


Thoughts?

[Pat Sims 90]

I remember when Brady Quinn did this after he got drafted by the Browns.

[Vikes99ej]

There's a good point in the article. The mall is a controlled environment, compared to training camp where it's every man for his own (I know this from personal experience). But those prices are rather exorbitant.

[SuperPacker]

I quite like this. As long as he continues to perform on the field, who gives a ****?

[Mufasa]

Cam Newton, Bo Jackson and Larry Johnson are all scheduled to appear at SouthPark Mall in Charlotte Saturday to sign autographs for a fee.

Who the hell still wants a Larry Johnson autograph?

[TACKLE]

Originally Posted by Vikes99ej

There's a good point in the article. The mall is a controlled environment, compared to training camp where it's every man for his own (I know this from personal experience). But those prices are rather exorbitant.

meh, Cam's already super involved with the youth in the community anyway. to me, this is more of a setting for people who either collect or sell memorabilia and rich people who want to meet celebrities.

[WCH]

Originally Posted by Mufasa

Who the hell still wants a Larry Johnson autograph?

If it's the basketball player, he might still have some fans in the Charlotte area. If it's the football player...

[TACKLE]

Originally Posted by WCH

If it's the basketball player, he might still have some fans in the Charlotte area. If it's the football player...

I initially thought the running back as well but Grandmama signing in Charlotte makes a lot more sense.

[Ness]

Originally Posted by Vikes99ej

There's a good point in the article. The mall is a controlled environment, compared to training camp where it's every man for his own (I know this from personal experience). But those prices are rather exorbitant.

There is also a couple of points in that article about an entire underground market involved with promoting fake memorabilia.

Carlos Fleming, Newton’s marketing agent for IMG, said Newton agreed to sign a memorabilia deal in part to deal with the fake and unauthorized merchandise that is rampant in the sports collectibles industry.

“A lot of the merchandise out there is not authentic,” Fleming said. “I’ve been with Cam before and he’s seen something with his name already on it and said, ‘That’s not my signature.’ I’ve seen 10-year-old girls begging him to sign a mini-helmet, and then you look behind them and they have a bag full of 20 more mini-helmets for different teams.

“Adults sometimes use kids to do the chasing because athletes are more prone to sign for kids,” Fleming continued. “There’s a real underground market out there. So this sort of thing is in the fans’ best interest. It’s an opportunity that wouldn’t exist at all for fans if it wasn’t set up in this way. They get real access. I can’t emphasize the authenticity factor enough.”

No one is forcing these folks to come and get an autograph. It's a business. And it kind of irked me that the author of this article played the "The Panthers pay Cam enough money as it is" card.

What does that have to do with anything? The market for professional entertainment in terms of how much they make has nothing to do with anything and Cam has no control over that. So if Cam was making only $40,000 a year it wouldn't be a big deal then? It always just comes off as jealousy when people spout that.

[Mufasa]

Ah, yeah that does make more sense. But still. Especially for $55-$65

[jth1331]

If you think thats nuts, see other player's charge. I used to collect auto's, go to signings and such. This was in the '90's mostly.
The top players would charge $50-$75, guys like Bob Gibson, Dick Butkus, and a lot of other guys were like $30.
Now, the decent guys are $50-$75, the good players are $100 or more, and the elite/HOF are like $150-$200.

Heck, Emmitt Smith is doing an auto signing coming up and charging $250 to sign a flat item up to a 16x20.

I do think these athletes charge a little too much for just scribbling their signature on items and talking/taking pictures with fans.

[jrdrylie]

Mark Ingram came to the Redstone Arsenal (where I work) and people took off work, waited in line for like 3 hours, and paid like $60 to get his autograph (plus you could only get an autograph on things purchased at the signing, so add another $20 at least). Would I pay that much? Hell no! But if he can get it, good for him.

[LonghornsLegend]

I don't see the big deal. I'd easily pay 100$ for his autograph and it might make the line much easier, and not as hectic inside. Hell if you took a jersey for him to sign, you could probably immediately turn around and sell it on ebay for way more then that, so I don't see why it would be a big deal.

[Trogdor]

In the end once it has been properly investigated it will come to light that Cam actually wasn't selling his autographs but was merely conned by his father who pocketed the entire amount without the knowledge of Cam.

#truestory

[WinslowBodden]

Ace Boogie isn't charging enough.

[WinslowBodden]

Originally Posted by Pat Sims 90

I remember when Brady Quinn did this after he got drafted by the Browns.

He also apparently told little kids they had to pay a **** load for autographs too when they randomly saw him at burger joints.

[AHungryWalrus]

People complaining about this are absolutely ******* ridiculous.

It is an ORGANIZED event. He has something to sell, and people are buying it. Anyone bitching about this needs to start bitching about the core foundations of capitalism first.

It's not like kids came up to him on the street, and he was like "whoa, kids, this will cost you $150 bucks." THAT would be a dick move. But this is a place where people have agreed to spend money to go see him and get his auto, and he has agreed to be there and give it.

This would be like, if you see him playing a pick up game of football in a park, you clearly will not have to pay. But if you want to see him playing an organized game, at a predetermined time and place, you'll have to pay for it.

[YAYareaRB]

Originally Posted by Mufasa

Who the hell still wants a Larry Johnson autograph?

hopefully its this larry johnson

[YAYareaRB]

i remember at the herman edwards camp back in '02 or '03, santana moss came out and signed autographs for free.

[Smooth Criminal]

I hate when people ***** about things like this. If people are still lining up, that's the market price. If its so absurd, market price will come down until people show up.

Americans love capitalism and the free market, until they don't.

[K Train]

Originally Posted by Smooth Criminal

Americans love capitalism and the free market, until they don't.

that was beautiful

[JRTPlaya21]

$cam Newton at his finest.

[nikkayeah]

yall mad my dude getting $$$ lol

[descendency]

Tebow did it.

No big deal.

[WCH]

Originally Posted by descendency

Tebow did it.

No big deal.

That was obviously different. People are looking for reasons to like Tebow, whereas people are looking for reasons to dislike Newton.