How to deal with "seekers"

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on May 27, 2009 1:12 AM EDT

If you have ever been to an NHL team's practice rink or stayed at the same hotel as a professional sports team, you know all about "seekers". Seekers are people that hang out outside the players' hotel and rink day after day with a cache of memorabilia for players to sign in hopes of finding eBay fortunes. Some of these "seekers" have well-designed systems and stoop so low as to hire kids to trick players into signing items. Each player has his own way of dealing with these pathetic losers.

Alex Ovechkin: false promises and signing for real fans

Ovechkin's strategy seems to be to keep the well-known seekers at bay with false promises. Nice touch by Ovie to sign for a kid that appeared to be a real fan who just wanted an autograph from his favorite player.

Sean Avery: put these people in their place

I am not a big fan of Sean Avery, but I love how he put this guy in his place. Now, THAT is how you handle a heckler (or in this case a seeker/heckler hybrid).

Sidney Crosby: never let these people know where you live
The poster disabled embedding for this video, but this is the worst seeker behavior I have ever seen. This is a total invasion of a player's privacy. These tools found out where Sidney Crosby's parents lived and went to their home when Sidney was believed to be there, knocked on the front door and asked for an autograph.

Zdeno Chara: just keep walking

I love how the fat kid tries to talk shit to Big Z.

Dennis Wideman & Tim Thomas: just give in and sign but avoid conversation by talking on your cell

While Chara chose to ignore the tubby, foul-mouthed seeker, Dennis Wideman gave in and signed for the same "fan".

Timmy Thomas is just too darn nice.

Boston Bruins: practice earlier than expected

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Of all the sports memorabilia

I gotta think that hockey would be the least valuable.

The only thing I’d seek from the B’s is a high five.

by ike6116 on May 27, 2009 9:33 AM EDT reply actions

It looks like a lot of those are from last fall at the NHLPA meetings in Toronto here. The Chara and Thomas ones are for sure, as that’s not far from my house here.

Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com

by James Mirtle on May 27, 2009 1:50 PM EDT reply actions

“You’re disgracing the Boston Bruins!” haha. Nice. I saw Cabbie’s video before and though it was hilarious. What wonderful “fans”.

by letsgocaps on May 27, 2009 3:24 PM EDT reply actions

From a "seeker's" point of view

Thanks for the compilation of videos. I’m an autograph seeker myself, but not the type that is portrayed above – I have never sold a single autograph in my ten years of collecting, and pursue my hobby with respect to the players (and other autographers- no shoving, kids first, etc). If a player doesn’t want to sign, then leave him alone! The examples posted here illustrate why some players no longer sign as much. The advent of eBay and the online marketplace has killed a lot of the fun and made this a tough hobby for those who are in it just for themselves.

by SeattlePaul on May 27, 2009 6:27 PM EDT reply actions