I spent the bulk of my teen years chasing autographs in person, baseball and hockey for the most part. As I was brought up to respect people, I always asked politely and if they said no, so be it.
Then and even now, I don't hold anyone who holds celebrity status to the idea that they have any kind of requirement to sign autographs. In a way, it made the thrill of catching a Reggie Jackson or Carl Yastrzemski on a "good" day all the more sweet.
At the other end of the spectrum are hockey players. It may be different now in big markets, but back in the day, hockey players were the most friendly, approachable, and accommodating professional athletes I ever came across. I think as a whole, they understand that signing autographs is good PR for the game.
Even Gretzky was a willing IP signer until I think it just got to be too much.
Despite the recent labor stupidity, hockey is about the last sport left where the athletes don't all act like a bunch of individualists.
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