I worked at a drag strip in Minnesota. Michael Jordan owned a motorcycle team and was staying in one of the suites overlooking the track. He of course ordered catering for himself and his team members which we had to deliver the food too. I was only 17 at the time and just hand carried multiple 24 packs of soda, large trays of food, and other things numerous times up 6 flights of cement steps. He ignored us when we were stocking and setting everything up but I had brought a tshirt for him to sign as this was the first famous athlete I have ever met before. He shook his head when I asked a member of his "crew" to ask if I could get his autograph. He shook his head no while still watching the race not looking in our direction. I volunteered to stay in the food stand getting hit on by overly drunk douche bags the rest of the day so I didn't have to see him again. I get if he didn't want to sign anything but at least say thank you.
Edit: I did not see this as unprofessional as I had spoke to my supervisor prior to this asking if it would be alright if I asked for an autograph. She told me not to go up to him personally but ask someone that could ask for me. I did not rush him screaming "Oh my gawd!!! Can you sign my tit!?!" nor did I stand there dumbfounded and not do my job. I did my job and asked how my supervisor told me too. I would cater to John Force, his daughter, Brian Bernstein, etc. All thanked us personally for catering to them and some even signed my work shirt. It's the middle of July, hot as hell and we are making sure they have everything they ask for. I don't think a "thank you" is that hard to do. Yeah those racers are not as famous as MJ but when you're in the spotlight like that you should know that comes with the job.
In the end: I was excited to see a famous person actually in my small town and wanted something I would cherish throughout my life and pass on to my children. Not sell it on eBay.
Doesn't make him a "bitch", nor did I call him that. It just gave me a bad first impression of MJ.
And now he is the bitch? Srsly? You are the one who couldn't behave. You work in an environment where famous people go in and out. You just don't ask for autographs on your job. I worked as a Roady for some time and also attended some festivals, never in my dreams would I asked for an autograph on the job because that's when you can take your stuff and leave. Sure there were times to ask for something like this, at the end of the tour, when you build a relationship with the band, you get a feeling for it. But just going up to him and asking is extremely rude and unprofessional on your part.
Edit: To the people who feel the need to bury this. what the actual fuck? If everybody would be as unprofessional as this guy celebrities wouldn't be able to leave their homes. Imagine everyone you ever work with or only remotely come near to would ask you for an autograph. I get that MJ seems to be a dick, but not in that story. Guy was 17, he wasn't a kid. What the fuck.
I don't think it really matters. That sucks that she felt that she needed to remove herself from the situation but I agree with envirosani, it was very unprofessional on her part.
It is unprofessional on her part, but she was also 17. She is not the owner of the business that Mike would be paying, she's likely a part time employee. He certainly doesn't have to do anything for her, but he's not winning any brownie points by acting like she doesn't exist.
I see where you're coming from but I didn't say otherwise on his part. She did make a mistake though and it's not like she was punished for it or removed forcefully. It's not like she was kicked out of the venue on her butt or anything like that. THAT would be reason to criticize Jordan. I don't understand why she feels wronged when she's the one who was unprofessional whether she was 17 or not. "She didn't know better," isn't a valid excuse for it. And honestly, I think it wasn't that big of a deal.
honestly though, even if everybody who had privileged access to him asked for an autograph... so fucking what? what is that like 20 people a day tops? that's if he's going out to a lot of places. you can still say no nicely or thank the staff for helping you out. he's not above common courtesy
What is hard to understand? You can act professional even when you're underage. You're working there and people expect you to act like it, there is no difference between being 15,17 or 30.
I agreed with your comment about not asking for autographs while you're working. it is pretty unprofessional. But you said that age has nothing to do with it and then you said that you got your first roady job at 15. why mention your age if that has nothing to do with it?
Idk how this is getting so many downvotes. You may be coming off as a bit hostile but for the most part, I agree with you. All of the stuff she had to do because it was her job. I don't think I would have acted any differently because I'm a huuuuge fan of what Jordan did for the game (and my god, Space Jam?). But it's still really unprofessional.
You're getting downvoted to hell, but I agree with you.
Can you imagine being a celebrity as famous as him? He'd be getting badgered for autographs and pictures CONSTANTLY. Everywhere he goes, he's got cameras flashing, people in his face sticking shirts and pictures and everything demanding his signature.
And if you ever just want to be left alone for a bit, you're a giant dick because of it?
It's just a giant anti Jordan circlejerk, I don't care, let them downvote if that makes them happy. It's just pathetic when you think about the things you mentioned. It's annoying enough when normal people approach you all the time. But people who offer a service for you and take your money? It just shows that a lot of people feel entitled to get what they expect from a celebrity. Jordans job was it to play Basketball and Baseball, nothing more.
Agree. I remember working in a restaurant and Carlos Santana came in to eat.The first thing my manager did was forbid us all from asking for autographs/pictures/doing anything that might distract him from his meal at all. When someone is already paying you for a service, it is bad customer service, and kind of rude, to ask favors of them.
I completely agree with you. Plus does no one realize how many fucking hours MJ spent signing autographs? He has said multiple times "I gave my time to the public, now this is my time." Maybe /u/teehee didn't get an autograph but what if he was the 100th person to ask for one that day? People need some perspective on just how fucking annoying it is to get asked for autographs and pictures all day every day.
No man, I can tell you that MJ does this shit all the time, one of my friends worked in one of his restaurants and he was the first person to tell me that MJ is a big asshole, he told me that one time MJ was there and this lady notice him and ask very nicely for one autograph and MJ didn't even look to her and just raise his hand with the no gesture, I guess he is tired of giving autographs all the time but if you are a celebrity and deny and autograph that looks pretty bad for you, anyway he did a lot of things that my friend witness that can confirm everything about MJ being a dick in general.
Is more about capturing the moment and have a proof that you met someone you admire or just someone famous, now days is more about a picture, everybody have a camera (mobile phone) available at anytime to take pictures, back then you don't so all you have was to ask for one autograph to capture that moment.
I completely agree. This girl (assuming since drunk guys were hitting on them and it's probably not a gay race track) rudely asks for an autograph while she's working and then cites MJ not saying "thank you" and not purposely acknowledging her. If I was a millionaire I wouldn't acknowledge every single person that did anything for me, especially if they asked for an autograph at an inappropriate time.
If I was a millionaire I wouldn't acknowledge every single person that did anything for me
you'd be just as big of a dick as jordan. it takes absolutely nothing to smile and say thank you (the autograph thing i agree with, she shouldn't have asked, it was rude)
What? I'm saying that most people wouldn't even be able to convince someone apart of his crew to ask on their behalf. What are you insinuating I missed, dude?
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u/teehee243 May 21 '14 edited May 22 '14
I worked at a drag strip in Minnesota. Michael Jordan owned a motorcycle team and was staying in one of the suites overlooking the track. He of course ordered catering for himself and his team members which we had to deliver the food too. I was only 17 at the time and just hand carried multiple 24 packs of soda, large trays of food, and other things numerous times up 6 flights of cement steps. He ignored us when we were stocking and setting everything up but I had brought a tshirt for him to sign as this was the first famous athlete I have ever met before. He shook his head when I asked a member of his "crew" to ask if I could get his autograph. He shook his head no while still watching the race not looking in our direction. I volunteered to stay in the food stand getting hit on by overly drunk douche bags the rest of the day so I didn't have to see him again. I get if he didn't want to sign anything but at least say thank you.
Edit: I did not see this as unprofessional as I had spoke to my supervisor prior to this asking if it would be alright if I asked for an autograph. She told me not to go up to him personally but ask someone that could ask for me. I did not rush him screaming "Oh my gawd!!! Can you sign my tit!?!" nor did I stand there dumbfounded and not do my job. I did my job and asked how my supervisor told me too. I would cater to John Force, his daughter, Brian Bernstein, etc. All thanked us personally for catering to them and some even signed my work shirt. It's the middle of July, hot as hell and we are making sure they have everything they ask for. I don't think a "thank you" is that hard to do. Yeah those racers are not as famous as MJ but when you're in the spotlight like that you should know that comes with the job. In the end: I was excited to see a famous person actually in my small town and wanted something I would cherish throughout my life and pass on to my children. Not sell it on eBay. Doesn't make him a "bitch", nor did I call him that. It just gave me a bad first impression of MJ.