Boston athletes reveal what it’s like to see fans wearing their jersey | Vautour

About four years ago, Brad Marchand was hosting a friend from Nova Scotia who hadn’t visited in a while. Watching the game from the crowd, his friend marveled at the waves of fans in Bruins No. 63 Marchand jerseys in different styles, sizes and colors.

“He said, ‘I can’t believe how many jerseys of yours there are in the crowd now. Back from when we came down the first time, there wasn’t one in the entire arena,’” Marchand said laughing.

Early in his career, Marchand said any fan who wanted to represent him had to make an effort as he wasn’t popular enough to have them premade and ready to sell.

“It was pretty crazy. It was my first year and somebody had my jersey,” he said. “There were a lot of jokes that it must be custom-made because nobody was going to buy that anywhere else. It was a pretty special feeling.”

Marchand wasn’t alone in that sentiment. Last week, Boston athletes shared the first athlete’s jerseys they had as kids. This week they talked about what it was like to see someone wearing their jersey.

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Not surprisingly it was a special experience for most and a little strange for some. Here’s what they said:

Jalen Mills, Patriots defensive back

In his second season with the Eagles, Jalen Mills saw a kid who was not only wearing his jersey but had his hair dyed green like Mills’ too. He was floored.

“There was a little kid who had dyed their hair green. It was crazy. In that moment, I wasn’t just playing for myself and my family, but I’m playing for this fan whose mom and dad spent their money to buy the jersey and green hair dye and came to practice to try to meet me,” Mills said. “I went over. Everything I had on – my cleats, my gloves, my wrist bands, everything except my pads and my helmet, I gave it to him. It was a surreal moment. This is real.”

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Brandon Carlo, Bruins defenseman

It takes a certain type of fan to choose the more stay-at-home defenseman’s jersey. Brandon Carlo appreciated the fans who appreciated what he brings to the game enough to wear his No. 25.

“It’s very specific people wearing my jersey. I’m sure for guys like Marchy and Bergy it’s a little different. When I see a 25 going around, I’m happy to see it,” Carlo said. “A couple of fans in juniors bought my jersey right away. I still talk to them on Facebook. It was a crazy feeling. You wouldn’t ever guess that somebody outside of your family would ever wear your jersey. It’s amazing.”

Ja’Whaun Bentley, Patriots linebacker

Ja’Whaun Bentley said sometimes it’s harder to see the No. 8 jerseys among all the Matt Judon No. 9s. But he was proud to be among the Patriots linebacker jerseys along with Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel among others.

“It’s always cool to see it. You have to look past all of the No. 9 jerseys,” Bentley said playfully rolling his eyes toward Judon. “I always make it my business to go up and sign it for them. You see all the Vrabel and Bruschi. It’s great to have yours among those.”

Adrian Phillips, Patriots safety

Adrian Phillips said it was a dream-come-true moment.

“I was with the Chargers. That was dope,” Phillips said. “You dream your whole life about someone wearing your jersey. To actually get to see it, it’s a blessing. It was training camp. I signed it for him.”

Triston Casas, Red Sox first baseman

The Red Sox rookie first baseman admitted it was a little odd.

“It was cool. It was weird. It’s different than just seeing a Red Sox hat which is part of the fashion here. Seeing my name was different. It’s kind of weird,” Casas said. “I don’t know why anybody would want to wear my jersey. It’s cool. It’s weird that people would want to wear anybody’s but I don’t mind it being me. I remember seeing it and I was like. ‘Hmm. Nice.’”

Charlie Coyle, Bruins center

Charlie Coyle played college hockey before schools could sell a jersey with a player’s name and number on it. So if they had one, they had to get it made specially.

“When I was at BU, someone made a jersey with my name on it. They were big BU fans. It was cool just to see that,” said Coyle, a Weymouth native. “You see someone walking around in your jersey or your player T. ‘Wow. People actually kind of like me.’ It’s a good confidence booster. You see it around here and it’s like ‘It’s probably just because I’m from here.’ It’s awesome to see support.”

David Andrews, Patriots center

Not many offensive linemen drive a lot of jersey sales, but David Andrews’ longevity, personality and terrific relationship with Patriots fans make him an exception. He’s proud of that.

“There’s gotten to be more and more as the years have gone. It’s cool to see,” Andrews said. “You’re proud of your last name. I know it was a point of emphasis when my parents were buying me a jersey. They weren’t cheap 20 years ago. They’re not cheap now. For someone to spend their hard-earned money on your jersey. It means a lot.”

Linus Ullmark, Bruins goalie

Linus Ullmark says the first time he saw someone in his jersey was at home in Sweden.

“Probably like 9 years ago, back home in Sweden,” Ullmark said. “It’s a particularly weird feeling because you have your own jerseys at home with your own favorite players and all of a sudden somebody is wearing your jersey with your number and name.”

Deatrich Wise, Patriots defensive end

Deatrich Wise did a double-take when he first saw a No. 91 on a fan. He could only see the front and wasn’t sure it was for him.

“It was last year. This dude had it. I was like ‘Hey? Wise?,” Wise said recreating himself pointing toward where the nameplate would be. “And he was like ‘Yeah Wise! Wise!” It was cool.”

Jake DeBrusk, Bruins forward

Fans with Jake DeBrusk’s No. 74 jersey walking near TD Garden early on game days might get a unique experience.

“Sometimes if I’m driving to the Garden and I see someone wearing my jersey, I’ll slow down, honk at them and say ‘Nice jersey!’ and drive away,” DeBrusk said. “If I see people showing love, I’ll always show love back.”

His first experience was a long time ago.

“First time was in juniors actually with Swift Current,” said DeBrusk, who wore No. 19 at the time. “It was an older lady. She was a season ticket holder. It was cool seeing it.”

Kyle Dugger, Patriots safety

Kyle Dugger said he looks for kids in his jerseys if he’s signing autographs.

“I looked up in the stands and saw it and thought ‘Ooh. That’s new.’ It feels good knowing somebody appreciates it,” he said. “If I’m signing I try to give kids special attention, especially if they’re wearing it.”

Matthew Judon, Patriots edge

After being an unknown coming out of Grand Valley State, Matthew Judon said in his second year with Baltimore he started seeing his No. 99 jersey on fans.

“My second year when I switched to 99 with the Ravens and started making some plays. When I left there and got here my jersey was pretty popular,” Judon said. “It’s just an awesome thing to see your own merchandise. You grow up buying other people’s stuff. That’s a unique cool feeling.”

JuJu Smith Schuster, Patriots receiver

Patriots receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster said he saw fans wearing his No. 9 jersey when he was at Long Beach Polytechnic High School.

“It was in high school. Little kids wearing No. 9. That was different,” Smith-Schuster said. “I used to wear other people’s jerseys. I turned around and they had those. Even here when I see people wearing No. 7 jerseys, it’s crazy. I think a lot of it is my personality. I’m an alright player, but I think they’re a fan of me. That feels really good.”

Justin Turner, Red Sox free agent

Justin Turner admitted he wondered when he saw it, early in his career.

“It’s a little overwhelming when you see it,” Turner said. “There’s a team of 25 guys, you almost want to be like ‘Why’d you choose me?’ It’s really a surreal, overwhelming feeling.”

Derrick White, Celtics guard

Derrick White, who had a circuitous route to stardom, didn’t believe it when he first saw someone in his Spurs jersey.

“It was my second year in San Antonio. It’s something you dream about, people like you enough to wear your jersey. I did a little double-take. Was that really me?” he said. “I’m just thankful that they liked my game enough to support. It’s always good to pick out someone who is a fan. Especially the kids.”

Kendrick Bourne, Patriots receiver

Kendrick Bourne said the moment was affirming.

“It was my third or fourth year in San Francisco. It’s awesome,” Bourne said. “It tells you they really like what you do and that you’re doing something right.”

Bourne added that anyone wearing his jersey gets their stuff autographed first.

“You gotta show some love and sign the jersey,” he said. “I’ve got to prioritize those people first.”

Matthew Slater, Patriots captain

Core special-teamers rarely capture the imaginations of the jersey-buying public. But Matthew Slater is among the more liked and respected players and people on the Patriots.

“One of the fans that has been a season ticket holder for a while that I’ve had interactions with. They were at the gate. It was the night scrimmage we do at training camp,” Slater said. “They were saying ‘Matthew, Matthew!’ It was pretty surreal. I don’t expect people to buy my jersey. It was pretty neat to have that support.”

Slater said that feeling hasn’t gotten old.

“Any time I see one of my jerseys, and there aren’t a lot of them out there, it’s a huge honor that someone would appreciate what you do enough to spend their hard-earned dollars on your jersey.”

Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots running back

Rhamondre Stevenson’s face broke into a big smile as he recalled the first time he saw someone in his No. 38.

“I saw three kids almost in the front row. That was probably one of the best moments,” Stevenson said. “Just seeing them was special. Every time I see one I try to say ‘What’s Up’ or sign it.”

Trevor Story, Red Sox infielder

Trevor Story’s jerseys were prominent during his time in Denver.

“It was one of those surreal moments in my early years in Colorado,” Story said. “It’s something you dream about. It’s very humbling. When it happens it’s pretty cool.”

James van Riemsdyk, Bruins forward

When James van Riemsdyk was at New Hampshire, someone bought his game-worn UNH jersey and he saw them in the crowd.

“That was a pretty cool moment. It was the silver throwback jersey,” van Riemsdyk said. “It was a pretty sharp-looking jersey. It was a moment where you really pinch yourself.”

Mark Anthony Kaye, Revolution midfielder

Seeing fans in his jersey helped Mark Anthony Kaye feel at home in Louisville.

“It was when I was playing for Louisville City, one of the fans there caught me after the game and showed me that they had my jersey,” Kaye said. “It was an A-ha moment like ‘Oh I guess I am doing something good for my career.’ When I signed with LAFC, some friends from Louisville — there were like eight of them — bought my LAFC jersey. They were really kind to me when I was there and continued to support me after I moved on.”

Christian Makoun, Revolution defender

Christian Makoun met a fan with more than just his jersey.

“I remember on my first professional club in Venezuela I saw a guy with my jersey when I had just one year playing,” Makoun said. “It was emotional for me. Then I started to see another and another. When I played in Miami I saw somebody with a tattoo. That was crazy.”

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Tanner Houck, Red Sox pitcher

Tanner Houck said he saw a fan in his jersey for the first time this year. It was one of the yellow City Connect jerseys.

“This year was first year I saw a fan with it,” Houck said. “Growing up I thought ‘I want people wearing my jersey.’ It was definitely a cool feeling that that happened.”

Follow MassLive sports columnist Matt Vautour on Twitter at @MattVautour424.

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