I'm sick of this "not their job" mentality. I've worked with a lot of special needs kids and their families in a parks & rec setting. Those players have no idea how much WORK it takes for those families to just get to the game, let alone get through a whole day. Some people feel uncomfortable around people with disabilities. This I can understand. But here's where the "it is your job" comes in. It's called community outreach. Every team requires a certain level of it. And even if they didn't, a lot of players seem to understand the gifted, "abled" position they're in.
I'm in a band. People come up and talk after or before the show. Sometimes I feel like crap or am tired or whatever and don't want to talk, but I do, because those people paid to get in, bought our CD, said nice things about a song, etc. Is it my job? Strictly speaking, my job is to perform. But I can't do that if no one shows up. And to get people to show, it helps to not be an asshole to them. The contact is why people go out to a live show, and why they go to a live basketball game. Sure, a guy like Rasheed can't sign every jersey held out by some fat 50 year old slob who's going to sell it on EBay. But because they have this special thing they can do, and get paid for it, sign a couple damn autographs for the kids in wheelchairs.
They have to talk to reporters, right? That's a chore, and not strictly in their job description, but they do it night in and night out. Sure,if you're a superstar, you can get away with blowing off the media - until it creates a backlash. But it comes with the territory.
I don't buy that the Pistons were pissed off. I watched the game on TV and there were plenty of smiles and handshakes. This bums me out b/c I was a big Ben Wallace fan. Now, a little bit less. Always hated Sheed.