Gary Woodland Quotes

Well, you know, it's fun to sign autographs still for me. I don't sign that many.

I get letters. I get several a week, I think. A lot of people want a picture, a lot of people just want an autograph.

It's rare that I turn down a photo or autograph, because these are the people that support me, so why not support them. I love it and I invite it. I love what I do and the whole 'celebrity' life and all that.

Now, as an astronaut, I have to bring a Sharpie with me everywhere - so I have a pen to sign autographs.

I try to sign for as many kids as possible. Kids come first, and I'll always sign for a kid before an adult. It's funny, because I was never big into autographs as a kid. The only player who I ever wanted an autograph from was Dave Winfield.

I'm amazed that years after I stopped playing tennis, people still recognize me in restaurants and ask for my autograph.

But I just wonder what it would be like to be able to go places without people recognizing me.

My whole life is controversy. What can I do? I'm like Britney Spears!

A couple of girls I've signed autographs for have just cried or broken out into tears.

If kids see you on the street and they want an autograph, that's a big honour so I spend half an hour before I get in the ground and 40 minutes to an hour after the game with the Everton fans signing autographs.

And people coming up asking for autographs, there's only one time when it kind of bothers me: when I'm eating.

I've been famous my entire life; I don't know any other way.

I don't even like to go out onto the streets sometimes because I can't get anything done. People want pictures and autographs all the time.

It's not weird being recognised, but it's weird having to stop what you're doing to take pictures or sign something. But the fans are the reason you have your success, so it comes with the territory.

Any ballplayer that don't sign autographs for little kids ain't an American. He's a communist.

It does get crazy sometimes, but I've never complained about stopping to give autographs or anything like that.

Obviously I love the fans, and it's beyond lovely that people like my work, and I love saying 'Hi,' shaking a hand, doing a high five. All that's fine. But the posing for photos is so time-consuming and frankly a bit weird.

I must admit, the constant invasion of privacy was becoming a real concern. I've been asked for autographs while I've been doing laps in the pool and even in the toilet!

Nobody prepares you for what happens when you get famous, and I didn't handle it well.

I remember, once I was going through Nice airport with Roger Moore, and these kids came up and asked for our autographs. Afterwards, Roger said, 'It must be very strange for you. I'm an actor, and signing autographs is part of what I do. But you're a public figure who people don't really know.' He was right.

It takes about three times as long to explain to someone why you won't give them an autograph as it does to actually give them an autograph.

The part I hate is when we go out to eat. My youngest son, who's 11, doesn't like to eat in more fancy restaurants, so we often go out to places like Red Robin and such. Well, as you can imagine, in that kind of place I probably have to jump up about 10 times during a meal to take a picture with somebody or sign an autograph.

If Cole and I are together, we're noticeable. Fan encounters come with the job, and you can't shy away from them.

I don't mind getting mobbed, to be honest. I live in the real world.

I wasn't used to all these cameras getting stuck in my face. I feel like Justin Bieber sometimes.