If there is one thing I have observed as a hobbyist who also sells items from my Wayne Gretzky Collection, it is how so many of 99's, "item worshipers", are his complete antithesis. In a world that rarely holds shock value for me, initially this defied even my logic?? For some unknown reason, I expected more from those who spend large sums of money just to have a piece of, "His Greatness", on display! Somewhere along the way I erroneously concluded that Gretzky Collectors might pay more than lip service to the very traits that make Wayne a Legend in his own time.
While Wayne's signature trait is to be nothing less than self-effacing, many of his memorabilia Collector's self aggrandize and display outright arrogance. You know? The type who assume name recognition when they first make telephone contact. Unwittingly, providing this listener with the perverse pleasure of answering in the negative!
Naturally, their call is placed from a different time zone, in the middle of "my" night. If the ringing goes unanswered, they simply click on a redial button programmed to repeat itself every five minutes until I pick up. When I do not, the caller simply holds my answering service hostage until there is no space left for any one I want to hear from.
Like a broken record, the typical, Gretzky Memorabilia, "God", not only repeats his name; he spells it out in slooooow, (P-e-t-e-r- P-u-c-k-), motion. As if I might not notice on my own, he refers me to his ten email messages, leaves the same three telephone numbers, and just in case I have forgotten, reminds me the second one is for a cell he carries with him 24/7. It is when he ends each message with, "Could you please confirm you have received this information??" that I know he assumes not only am I a Gretzky Collector but a neurologically impaired one to boot.
When I return the call, he immediately tells me how BIG his collection is, infers that I am small change when I claim not to have heard about it, (him), reminds me how lucky I am to possess an item he covets and finishes by informing me why the sought after collectible is only worth half of its true value. Of course, I am thinking that it is his mouth that is big, his wallet that holds small change, and that the price of my item has just doubled.
These Poster Fans for Bad Behavior, act boorishly, selfishly, and like bullies. To the chagrin of many, their name-dropping and strong-arming has too often, been rewarded. Frequently they will walk away from a transaction, treasure in hand, and for much less than its true value. The seller just too worn down by the time-consuming exchange to resist or too lacking in confidence about the market to turn down the sale.
Interestingly enough, these same wily characters, have absolutely no insight in to #99 himself. By lacking every quality that has made their hero, one of Sports youngest, living, Legends, they seem blind to the probability that the generous and humble Wayne Gretzky would avoid them in a crowd. Though too classy to ever say so directly, chances are he would not even like many of those who's only association with Greatness is their Self Proclaimed, memorabilia, prowess in His names sake!!
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Posted comments about:
Gretzky Collector's Or Poster Fans for Bad Behaviour?
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Subject: GREAT STORY!
Posted by Joanie Wendell on July 8, 2003
I so enjoy your writing, Ms. Williams! I feel like I got pulled right into the middle of any situation you so aptly describe. Your vernacular grasp is awesome - keep it up!
Posted by: joanie | September 14, 2003 at 11:43 AM
http://www.allsports.com/cgi-bin/showstory.cgi?story_id=42552
as with all comments from my column - they can be verified by going to
http://www.allsports.com/cgi-bin/showstory.cgi?story_id=42552
Posted by: author | September 14, 2003 at 11:46 AM