Johnny Manziel Tells The Story Of Tiger Woods Denying Him His Autograph
Image via Golf Digest
Before Johnny Manziel took over College Station, won the Heisman, and got drafted by the Cleveland Browns, he was just an average American kid who was infatuated with sports. Not only did Johnny toss around the pigskin growing up, but he loved the game of golf–especially the biggest star in the game, Tiger Woods. During a recent interview, which is set to appear in the December issue of Golf Digest, Manziel tells the story of the first interaction he had with his golf hero.
From Golf Digest:
[I was] About 9 or 10. My dad played in a member-guest at Isleworth every year with a friend, and we’d take our family vacation to Orlando. One day I ended up playing with a bunch of kids at the house of Thurman Thomas [Pro Football Hall of Famer], of all people. I think he was friends with some of our family friends. Somehow we heard that Tiger was out playing on a nearby course [The Golden Bear Club at Keene’s Pointe], so another guy and I ran out there looking for him. it was a really quiet day. Tiger was playing a practice round all by himself.
We saw Tiger on the 16th hole and asked for his autograph, and he said to catch him right after the round. I was sitting about 100 yards from the 18th green, and he drove by in a cart and was pulling his hat really, really low. I remember him saying, “No autographs today.”
We’ve all been there. You grow up idolizing some ball player, actor, or musician, and you’re crushed to find out he or she is a complete dick in real life.
Still, it’s funny to think of little Johnny with his Scotty Cameron putter in hand, patiently waiting for Woods at the eighteenth, only to have Tiger blow by him in a golf cart mumbling “Not today, kid.”
Sounds like classic Tiger.
Feel free to share the worst interactions you’ve had with athletes in the comment section. Just let the pain out, gentlemen..
Freshman year a couple buds and I went to go eat at the Vince Young Steakhouse, lo and behold Vince Young was sitting a couple tables away. Went over to talk to the guy and we started on the ’06 Rose Bowl. Next 45 min consisted of collegiate football, steak and wine.
11 years ago at 9:07 pmI met Jerry Sandusky when I was 12….
11 years ago at 10:46 pmRefusing to sign an autograph for yourself. TFM.
11 years ago at 12:42 amIn 2012 I purchased a ticket to have ” Lunch with a Legend” at Morton’s in downtown Dallas. It was put together by the local ESPN affiliate. There were less than $100 tickets sold. There were two legends that day from the Dallas Cowboys: Roger Staubach and the original #88 Drew Pearson. I knew one of Roger’s assistants at the time. What I didn’t know was that she told him I was coming. After the lunch was over and we were all leaving, Amy ran over me and told me Roger wanted to meet me. She took me over to a private dining area and I got to meet both players. Drew Pearson hugged me and told me thanks for my service. Then he took his Super Bowl ring off and let me put it on. I asked if they could sign my menu from that day and both graciously agreed. I hadn’t gone seeking autographs, so I wasn’t really prepared. Both players were two of the nicest people I have ever met. It left a lasting impression that I will never forget.
11 years ago at 5:54 amMy family and I were at a Detroit Tigers game a few years back when they played the Orioles. At the time, Jeremy Guthrie just got called up to relief pitch for them. We were standing by the outfield line in the front row during warm ups and he came over and talked to us for a good 5-10 minutes, signed some shit then went back to warming up. Super nice guy, and now he started game 7 of the world series for the Royals — funny how things change.
11 years ago at 7:38 amMy dad worked with W back in the 80’s and are still friends so we got to go to the White House and meet him. Such a genuine and sincere man. He’s asking me questions, giving me shit, him and my dad are joking around, you almost forgot he was the most powerful man in the world. We had a 20 minute meeting so after that time his aid tells him it’s over, he says we should go with him to his next meet and greet which was with Miss America. After that he gave us a personal tour of the White House. Most surreal day if my life.
11 years ago at 8:12 amWent to Packers training camp when I was a kid, about an hour into the practice Favre started hitting on my mom, once she said she was married he walked away and refused to sign my football.
11 years ago at 1:09 pmI actually grew up on the golf course he is talking about and got tiger’s autograph in the 13th hole one time.
11 years ago at 2:16 pmMet Wayne Gretzky at a Pro Am golf tournament. Literally the nicest guy I’ve ever met. He saw me wearing my rec hockey jersey. He smiled, took pictures, signed my jersey and everything. I told him good luck (he couldn’t putt for shit that day). Then two guys came up asking him to sign something and he goes “guys I know what you’re doing. This is the last thing I’m signing for you cause I know it’s all going on ebay” dude was hilarious.
11 years ago at 2:16 pmWhen I was a kid, Ernie Els flipped me a birdie ball on the path and said “Watch my tee shot”. Found me in the crowd and signed the ball before walking down the fairway for his second. Tiger should take notes
11 years ago at 6:56 pm