Don't know Kramer or what type of person he or any other player is for that matter. All we know is what the media shows us mostly and they usually try to portray them in a good light because it is all about money.
But I always try to relate to what it would be like to be a well known player or celeb. While WPR might have been the only one there at that moment, we don't know what went on prior that day. Imagine how many jerks he has had to deal with over the years that may have said they only want to shake his hand or pay a complement. I can only imagine what it is like to live where anytime you are in a public place somebody wants to come up to you no matter how innocent the reason.
Originally Posted by: PackFanWithTwins
I get it. Celebs are inundated with the demands of the public. When I was a kid I real Bob Gibsonâs book, From Ghetto to Glory. He talked about how rude the public can be. They would come up to him while he was eating dinner and expect him to talk with them for a half hour. He explained that even 15 min over the course of a day, week, month and year would add up to a substantial amount of time. He also said if people are pleasant and respectful he would be too. IE: no autographs while he is eating but if you wait until later he would oblige you.
Kramer didnât owe me anything. I wasnât going to ask for his autograph a selfie with him or a free copy of his book. Nothing. Just say hello. 5 seconds. Now he didnât know what I wanted but he didnât try and find out either did he?
My position is no matter how rude others have been, he doesnât know me. It would not hurt him whatsoever to greet another human being. The best people at marketing would be outgoing and call me over. âHey how ya doing Sport/Slick/Buddy? Do ya have tickets to the game today? Fantastic! Where are you from? Thatâs amazing! Look, Iâd like to sit here and talk with you but I made a commitment to my publisher. I can only visit with you if book get one of my books. I think itâs hogwash but itâs in the contract.â
I have seen this approach time and time again. It works. Only the few wouldnât agree that heâs right.
Stan Musial lived his whole life this way. He walked up to people and greeted them with, âWhadda say, whadda say, whadda say?â If they asked for his autograph he pulled them out of his pocket. It was his picture, his signature and a little blurb of some kind. I forget what it was because he changed it from time to time. He had book deals and signature signing deals but he still gave all those freebies away.
I one spoke to a retired Miami Dolphin. He had a long line of people that wanted his signature. I had some time to kill so I got in line. Just as the signing period was about to end some guy in a wheel chair was pushed to the front of the line. I stepped aside and told him to get in front of me. When he was done, the player looked at me and said, âIâm sorry Friend. I am out of time. I have got to go. Theyâre waiting on me right now.â I told him I understood and that I was glad he gave the other person his signature instead. He reached over and shook my hand and we both walked away. That was class.
Those who give a little of themselves get it back 100 fold.
No doubt you noticed that I think Kramer could have handled it better. He could have told me he is working and his time is money. Heâs here to promote his book. By turning away and letting his handler run me off, in my opinion, makes him look bad. I realize others look at it differently. They think letting someone else do the dirty work keeps him from looking like a jerk.
I was thinking of not saying anything to barfan but then I would be pulling myself down to the Kramer level. So instead of ignoring him I will point out that he is wrong, yet again. Kramer didnât sell his ring because he needed the money. It was stolen. He had a duplicate ring made. The original was missing for about 50 years. He was found about 2-3 months before I saw him.