So i met Thurman @

**THATHURMANATOR** · 10-24-2008, 12:48 PM

Re: So i met Thurman @

Can you re state this? I don't think I quite understand what happened here.

**cocamide** · 10-24-2008, 12:51 PM

Re: So i met Thurman @

If you, personally, were willing to give him the same amount of money that Miami gave him, and he chose Miami over you, the loyal Bills fan, then yes, you should hold a grudge.

**THATHURMANATOR** · 10-24-2008, 12:57 PM

Re: So i met Thurman @

Thurm lives in Buffalo now and is all over ads.

**Jan Reimers** · 10-24-2008, 02:02 PM

Re: So i met Thurman @

I hold no grudge against Thurman for finishing his career in Miami. Football was his livelihood, and if he could extend his career with the Dolphins, more power to him.

Please explain what, if anything, he wrote on your helmet, and if he really understood what you wanted him to write. He's known to be a fairly good guy and accommodating to the fans.

**thenry20** · 10-24-2008, 04:38 PM

Re: So i met Thurman @

He was my favorite Bill then and is still my all time fave. People forget, he, Reed, and Smith were released by the team. He didn't choose Miami over Buffalo; conversely, Bruce didn't pick Washington over us either.

That's an idiotic statement to make!

**RedEyE** · 10-25-2008, 09:23 AM

Re: So i met Thurman @

When I was a teenager, during the fast and furious days of the 4 Super Bowl run Buffalo Bills, my Dad and I made a trip down to Tampa Bay to see the Bills take on the Bucs.

Oddly enough, we lucked out and stayed in the same hotel as the Bills.

I made my Dad rush out and hit a store in order for me to buy a football and a Sharpie.

When we returned to the hotel, there were Bills players littered all over the lobby.

On one football, I have signatures from Marv Levy, James Lofton, Frank Reich, Don Beebe, Carlton Bailey, Darryl Talley, Kent Hull, and Andre Reed. (Bruce Smith didn't make the rip as he was injured that week.)

Getting to my point:

After having nearly filled the football, I spotted Thurman Thomas and approached him for an autograph, and one that would forever reside next to his repected teammates. Thurman not only flat out refused but he was rude about it. Saying something to the effect of "I have no time immature stupidity..". or something similar.

I was crushed. So much so that I just returned to my room without ever mustering up the courage to ask another player that day.

Here I was no more than 14 years of age and humiliated by a professinal football player, and one that I idolized at the time.

From that day forward I never looked at Thurman the same way again, and to this day, I am not a Thruman Thomas fan.

I do hold a grudge, and after his arrest in Cleveland I've come to the conclusion that his presence in Buffalo is his way of riding the coat tails of his past teammates - I think he's in it only to make a buck.

In my eyes, I honestly think that Thurman Thomas doesn't care for the fans, he despises them. And after reading this initial post I think that someone else reporting a negative encounter with TT only confimrs my suspicions.

**Jan Reimers** · 10-25-2008, 10:13 AM

Re: So i met Thurman @

Oddly, my family has had the same negative experience(s) with Bruce Smith. My wife has had her picture taken with a number of Bills, including Wade Phillips, Jim Kelly, Ruben Brown and Andre Reed. She has several autographs, including Flutie on an authentic jersey. But Bruce Smith, on several occasions, refused to have his picture taken with, or give an autograph to, either my wife or youngest daughter.

Bruce was always arrogant and totally dismissive when asked. I don't really know about Thurman, but I don't like Smith much as a human being.

**Griff** · 10-25-2008, 10:22 AM

Re: So i met Thurman @

Originally posted by Jan Reimers

Oddly, my family has had the same negative experience(s) with Bruce Smith. My wife has had her picture taken with a number of Bills, including Wade Phillips, Jim Kelly, Ruben Brown and Andre Reed. She has several autographs, including Flutie on an authentic jersey. But Bruce Smith, on several occasions, refused to have his picture taken with, or give an autograph to, either my wife or youngest daughter.

Bruce was always arrogant and totally dismissive when asked. I don't really know about Thurman, but I don't like Smith much as a human being.

I remember hearing that Jim was like that too.

**Jan Reimers** · 10-25-2008, 10:35 AM

Re: So i met Thurman @

Originally posted by Griff

I remember hearing that Jim was like that too.

It's funny. We were walking through the VIP Parking lot a couple of years after Kelly retired, and he and a couple of his brothers were partying at one of the motor homes. My wife approached one of his brothers about having her picture taken with Jim, and was told something like, "Jim is eating and doesn't want to be bothered," so I said to her let's go, and leave him alone. But about that time he came out, put his arm around her, gave a big smile and had his picture taken.

Don't know if he would have done that during his playing days, however. (But all of our picture and autograph requests of Bruce were after his playing days as well.)

**Meathead** · 10-25-2008, 11:19 AM

Re: So i met Thurman @

the lesson here is easy - dont make moral heros out of sports entertainers

**casdhf** · 10-25-2008, 02:33 PM

Re: So i met Thurman @

Too late ... I love Kelly.

**dmosher12** · 10-25-2008, 02:58 PM

Re: So i met Thurman @

It sucks that the players have such egos as shown in these stories. I mean we are the reason they are getting paid so there should be complete appreciation.

Anyway I'm from Syracuse and there was the opening of a store at Carousel Mall and Jim Kelly and Anthony Mason (NY Knicks) were signing autographs. It was about 11 yrs ago or so. I was 11 and we were waiting in line for three hours. My mom made conversation with these bills fans (a couple) behind us throughout the whole wait. Eventually the time ran out before we got up there, but the people behind us knew where they were parked. The guy and I went to the parking garage and caught Kelly and his driver hopping in the car. We stopped him he signed, and did not say a word. Except he said to his driver we gotta get the f*** out of here before anyone else finds us. lol. Didn't really affect me, but these stories just reminded me of this.

**Griff** · 10-25-2008, 10:31 PM

Re: So i met Thurman @

Originally posted by Meathead

the lesson here is easy - dont make moral heros out of sports entertainers

I learned that lesson with Chris Benoit.

**Dantheman1280** · 10-26-2008, 05:55 AM

Re: So i met Thurman @

I have had a few encounters with Jim Kelly and he has been nothing but a class act each time!!

So i met Thurman @

So i met Thurman @

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