Note To OKC Thunder Brass: You've Just Lost A Fan

Note To OKC Thunder Brass: You’ve Just Lost A Fan

Is the NBA FANtastic? Or do they just want fans to pay money and leave the arena? After a recent experience I had, it looks like the latter. – Scot Pollard (@scotpollard31)

Recently as part of my radio show, “Rock Chalk Sports Talk” (daily from 4-6 central, though I usually am on Thursdays! Check us out on KLWN.com) I went to Oklahoma City for a weekend of sports. Our contest winners were two boys, 19 and 13. We first went to the KU/OU game on saturday. Post game, the contest winners got down near the court and were able to catch a couple pics and autographs with former Jayhawks and current Oklahoma City Thunder teammates Cole Aldridge and Nick Collison.

Security made sure the players weren’t in an unsafe situation, but as long as they wanted to sign, people were allowed to approach. Even I was asked for a couple pics and autographs while catching up with the guys.

The next day we went to the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Lakers game on Feb. 27. We had passes which allowed us to wait around near the OKC tunnel and get some autographs and pics of Thunder players should they decide to come out of the tunnel and interact with fans.

OR SO WE THOUGHT!

One player came out and sat down. He was texting on his phone, minding his own business. The boys decided to ask for an autograph. He was nice, and complied. Another player walked out of the tunnel. Same story, he was nice and signed for the boys. Then security came over and said, “who left you the passes?”

“Nick Collison.”

“Well, he needs to be present for you to ask another player for an autograph.”

Seriously? when did this happen? I’m sitting there with these kids who have never been this close to an NBA player before that weekend and were having a great time. I’m wearing my NBA championship ring. I’m sitting with Bud Stallworth, who played for the Seattle Supersonics (NOW THE FREAKING OKC THUNDER!). And we are being told we can’t ask an NBA player for an autograph?

WTF!!!?!?!?!?!?

Kevin Durant walked out. There is no way in hell I’m gonna tell these two kids they can’t ask for KD’s autograph. He’s one of the best players in the league, and this opportunity isn’t gonna happen to these kids again. So they go over and ask for his autograph. He smiles, signs for both of them. Security SPRINTS up two stairs, came over and said, “You’re gonna have to leave!”

We got kicked out of the arena for asking an NBA player for an autograph! Let’s remember that the players can leave the arena in private, and only come out of the tunnel if they want to.

Bud Stallworth was speechless. I was speechless, and trust me, that’s not easy to do! What follows is my letter to the OKC Thunder front office, for dissemination to all concerned staff members and security personnel:

To Whom it May Concern,

The NBA has an image problem. The players get some of the most lucrative contracts in professional sports. They are the most recognizable in sports due to their above-average height, as well as their close proximity to the fan. No helmet, no hat is going to hide the face of a seven-footer enough that people aren’t going to recognize him. That being the case, some NBA players make themselves scarce in the public eye so as not to have to deal with fans when having a bad day. You probably have run into a player due to your job and interacted with him. He may have been a jerk to you. It’s because he thinks he’s better than you.

This summer, there will be a lockout. This is because the owners are going to try to pay players less, with less guaranteed money. The players are going to argue that without them there is no league, and that the revenue sharing has been mutually beneficial for all. This lockout may last into the season, possibly even canceling the entire season. This will put all of you out of a job.

Fans will not continue to pay money to see owners and players fight over it. Fans want to be entertained. Fans want to run into a player and get his autograph and maybe even a picture. Fans want a memory for their money. When the lockout ends, you’re going to have to go through extensive meetings to figure out how to convince fans to come back to the arenas again. And before all of this, you kick people who played in the league and were guests of a player out of the arena for asking for autographs? This has only furthered the notion that players are unapproachable (though they themselves acted nice). This makes the OKC Thunder look terrible, and there is absolutely NOTHING you could say or do to make me come to another NBA game in that arena.

You’ve lost a fan.

Disappointed and disgusted,

Scot Pollard, 11-year NBA veteran

Scot Pollard’s column appears weekly on Lost Lettermen. He can be found on Twitter at @scotpollard31 and at his website, Planet Pollard.

3:04 PM on 3/11/2011

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Joel

Scot, are you sure this is an OKC arena policy? Or is it a league-wide NBA policy?
Dan

Hey kids, do drugs.
Snake

There are a lot of cowboys doing security work. Contrary to public perception, they’re not usually the minimum wage officers but the career-type account managers and training supervisors. These guys inevitably come up with lengthy, verbose, and usually empty policy packets which their officers are required to enforce to the letter. It would be interesting to know just what instructions the security officers (who will no doubt take the blame for this) were under.
It’s too bad investigative reporting is dead. I’d love to see the arena security policy published together with the name, address and picture of the corporate turd-head responsible.
Demosthenes

Nothing they could say or do? That’s a bit much, don’t you think?

Isn’t it possible…and obviously I’m not saying this is true, but isn’t it POSSIBLE…that this policy was written without really thinking about the consequences of it, and that your letter would wake up some of the people in the front office to what seems like a major problem? Isn’t it POSSIBLE that someone from the Thunder front office might read your letter and go, “Oh crap! We had no idea that would happen! We certainly don’t want to disappoint any little kids,” and get rid of the policy?

So there’s nothing that would make you come back to the OKC Arena for a game? Nothing at all? Not even if Clay Bennett himself called you, apologized personally, said that your letter had alerted the whole organization to what a bad idea that policy was and that — thanks to you — it was rescinded effective immediately, and offered you free tickets to another game? Even THEN, you would stick to your guns and refuse to come back?

Then you, sir, are a jacka**.
Jay

Scot Pollard = awesome
jesse

Its time these players around the league wake up and realize that without the 13 year old fans that are being alienated by player’s arrogance their parents won’t continue to spend hundreds of dollars to go to the games, and these guys will all be bagging groceries or flipping burgers since so few ever finished their degrees.
Fuzzy

(NOW THE FREAKING OKC THUNDER!)

Thanks for playing. We can see you were looking for a reason, no matter how big or small, to have a problem with the organization in Oklahoma City.

Congratulations on blowing a minor incident with an overzelous security guard out of proportion and poorly handling an otherwise manageable situation with poor communication, or worse, complete lack of it.
Logic

Does the NBA just want fans to pay money and leave the arena?

What do you care you didn’t pay anything to get in to begin with.
grandma lolo

I am so glad to hear that Kevin Durant signed the autograph! I was thinking of mailing Russel a card, he is such a sweetheart. My grandson is a great ballplayer, but he’ll never make the big time.
customer service

What happens when you play nice? NOTHING

Sometimes you have to scream and kick and escalate the situation to get what you deserve or are entitled to. I’m not saying the autographs were guaranteed, but Scot is right – these players chose to leave past fans they knew would want one. How can you convince an 11 yr vet it was just an accident stemming from policy? You can’t. Anyone think us non-stars wouldn’t be treated just as unfairly?… next you’ll want me to believe Donaghy was a “rogue.”

The fact that Scott even has to sink to this level shows you what some ownership thinks of its fan$. “Can you say lockout? I knew you could.”

He could’ve easily resolved this internally, but he’s speaking for all of us. I salute Scot and his big balls.
brian

so you are surprised that when a security guard tells you to please stop doing something, and you turn around and do it anyway, there are repercussions? it is YOUR fault the kids didn’t get to watch the game. quit blaming someone that’s doing what they’re told when you clearly cannot.
Larry Lalonde

It’s funny how defensive OKC fans are. Anyone who works for Clay Bennett probably forgot public relations is part of owning an NBA team….
Confused

Was this before or after the game? Thunder players always sign before the games and I’ve never seen anyone asked to leave. I would have asked to talk to his supervisor or one of the Thunder representatives, who are usually all over the arena. Are we talking about the same arena?

My son has had that problem with a sideline pass at an OU game, but I’ve never seen anyone have a problem at a Thunder game. That was bad luck, but not typical, I’m thinking.
Braden

So, let me get this straight… You’re just going to whine about an organization that has your old teammate on it (who recently signed a contract extension) and you’re never going to come back and support him when he’s playing home games?! Don’t get me wrong, I loved your samurai hair in the pros but this is the lamest complaint I’ve heard of by a former league player. What, because you were in the league you expect not to be treated like a bum or, who would think it, an average joe?? Sorry Scot, but be a man about it and get some real balls.
Scott

I get that you’re mad, bur I’m gonna have to agree with Brian. You turned this whole ordeal into something it wasn’t.

This was about you,andd the security guard, and perhaps he was right. He may be following rules that he was told and you had the kids deliberately break them. Obviously
Jhawker

I can’t believe with 13 yrs in the NBA you don’t have enough connections to get to the right folks to deal with this sensitively. Your letter is a little overboard ( not that I don’t understand your frustration ). But take it to the folks that can change the policy ( if there really is one in the first place ) and go back with some more kids and make their evening something really special like only a person like you can do for them.

Thanks for caring and I hope you get it worked out.

And as always – Rock Chalk
pollart

Mr. Pollard, keep it up. you bring smiles to those kids and make them believing big things can happen to regular people!!
Joe Bob

Ever see entertainment celebrities sign autographs? Naw, they have body guards. Only the little people should buy the tickets, and leave them alone!
James

Get off the Thunder’s b**** about it!
Michael

Speaking of Autographs. I ran into SCOT POLLARD on a cruise 2 summers ago in the Caribbean. He was minding his own business, but as a die hard Sacramento Kings fan I had to ask for his autograph. Of course he gave it to me, and we were in the middle of the ocean and he was on vacation for christ sakes!

Your the man Pollard!

Note To OKC Thunder Brass: You’ve Just Lost A Fan

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