CyberErik's Success Thread- just starting out, feedback and help welcome!

[Atlantaman]

Good stuff for you as well! Always good to knock guys out before they become big things. I think giolito might not be quite as good as advertised, but he will likely have a ton of hype on that team.



Hahahaha I've done the same (went back to the beginning and read through the entire thread). I'm so glad that you enjoyed my ride over the years.

Do you have any favorite stories haha?

Gotta be the Kobe one. But seeing the collection grow is something I want to immulate. Any tips for NBA guys? Most of my graphing has been at minor league baseball parks but in ATL I wanna try Hawks and visiting teams? Also love the idea of the signed floors. Perfect for a man cave!

[cyberer]

Thanks man! Good talking to you over PM.

Got out graphing tonight rather unexpectedly. To celebrate the opening of the NFL season the local casino where I have gotten steve carlton and brian dawkins in the past was doing another meet and greet with Brian Westbrook. However, unlike the other events, this one specifically said photo ops only, no autographs.

I have Westy in my collection, but it wasn't a "premium" item. I took a promo item that I got years ago and made a cut auto and framed it in an 11x14 frame.



But, even so, despite my need for a better item I wasn't going to go since he wasn't signing. But, 7:00 rolled around and I saw on facebook that the crowd wasn't so bad. The casino is a 5 min drive from my house so I decided to go give it a shot.


There was almost no line when I got in there, I got to the front and the handlers said he was not signing.

But when I got up to him and I was like "Brian, I saw you at the eagles wives event and asked you to sign, and you said you were busy and not a good time but to get you later, so is this a better time?"


He said "they wont let me sign here, but im doing a signing next weekend with the radio station again so talk to the manager."


So I talk to mike the manager and explain the situation and he said "the event is closed to the public so you cant get him there."


I pressed him on it and said well brian wanted to take care of me, and his way of doing so was the signing next week, so if that won't work maybe he wants to know that. And he said hold on.

So he asked brian if he could just do it now at the end of the event to get it over with because the event next week won't work out. Brian said he would try. His agent said he couldnt do it INSIDE but to walk out with them and they would do it.


So I walked the whole length of the casino with him chatting about ACL injuries and medical school and then he did it.





I've heard HORRIBLE things and seen HORRIBLE things about westy as a signer, but I won't say anything ill of him going forward. I was low-key, respectful, calm, and insistent about him signing, and in turn he was respectful, calm, friendly and took care of me by signing. Can't believe it worked out! Mine was the only item that he signed, aside from some raffle-type items for the radio station staff.

[cyberer]

I went to "voice of the Eagles" Merrill Reese's radio show with Nelson Agholor on Thursday- advertised as one auto per person as usual at that show.

I got there right as the show started, they had handed out numbered tickets for autographs. I was #30 in line. But no one was actually standing in a "line" because the tickets were numbered so the process will be orderly.

Agholor shows up and tells the handlers that he's not signing. The show organizer tries to reason with him and he said no. So they tell the crowd that and people are freaking out. One guy drove like 3 hours to be there (god knows why). In the meantime, I decided to get Reese on 3 4x6s. He was a gentleman as usual.

So the first commercial break passes and he won't sign. The second commercial break the handlers talk to him again, and I am within earshot. They promise him it'll be orderly and 1 per person, and that it is allowed by his contract, and I hear him agree.

I quickly moved over to the stage so that I was right in front. The handler came out and announced the rules, but did not reference the numbered tickets. He looked at me since I was close and asked for my item. I handed him my photo and he took it to Nelson and he signed it. I asked him to sign on the green part and he complied. He even added a "go birds" inscription and the whole thing came out great.



That said, the event wasn't that great for some. He only signed maybe 15-20 graphs at most, and some people that got there early didn't get him, since they had decided not to go by the ticket #s. The guy who got ticket # 1 (first in line) didn't even get him. That guy was PISSED.

Also, I have no idea why Agholor, for being such a scrub, is such a jerk-face.

[cyberer]

Not sure if anyone is still reading, so I even debate posting anymore. But I had such an epic week I just have to post. But this is me testing the waters- if you're lurking and reading, drop me a post and say hello! Otherwise I'm not sure anyone is still hanging after all these years!

Monday-Tuesday: Pizza Time!

On Monday night a friend texted me that an Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza chain restaurant was opening up in Allentown on Tuesday. Why does this matter you say? Because Dan Marino co-owns the chain and shows up to each store opening to greet patrons.

So I got out of work and got on the turnpike and hauled butt to get there (~80 minutes). Just barely made it as he did. My friend had already gotten a table on the outside patio. Marino was doing an interview not 5 feet away. When he was done, my buddy and I went for him. He signed a full-sized helmet for my buddy and hit 2 mini helmets for me.

But that wasn't all, he stayed for over an hour and knocked out whatever everyone had. I'd say there were like 50 people and he just made his way through the restaurant taking selfies and signing for people and people generally just followed him around until their stuff was done. He was a bit mouthy, saying things like "ok guys 1 or 2 autographs should be enough" but wasn't saying no to anyone.

Although he got a bit mouthy as I said, I ended up getting 5 graphs with no help. My buddy got 4. Another guy got 4 that was with us. Crazy how good he was. I also got a selfie.






Pizza was "just ok."

Wednesday: Calling an audible.

On wednesday I was supposed to go to a Wayne Gretzky book signing in northern new jersey. He did a manhattan signing at noon and was scheduled to do the N Jersey one at 6pm. He had been doing books AND outside items at these signings, so I was excited.

But good thing I checked before I left, because I looked at the site and the signing was suddenly CANCELLED. I was pretty bummed.

But then I remembered that the Sixers were doing an open practice at Temple University, and my buddy has season tickets. I bought his season ticket access off of him and went, calling an audible from my original plans. There were rumors that Simmons would be there. I already got a promo photo of him at the beach bash (mentioned upthread), but I have a jersey of him that needs to get done.

It turned out that the season ticket holder access didn't end up meaning anything (I could get any spot I wanted) and simmons didn't show. Oh well.

But my only Embiid item was the black sharpie dark spot that he ruined years ago, so I hung out for a chance at Embiid or at Dario Saric.

After practice Jahlil Okafor ran right off the court and I got him on a 12x12" floorboard. He signed it HUGE for some reason, almost comically large (pic below).

Turns out Embiid RACKED, probably signed 75-100 graphs. Went around the whole ring of the lower level of the stands. Taking selfies and graphing. I got him on my 12x12" floor board instead of 8x10, because I didn't want to take any chances of him "dark spotting" or ruining my photo- can't ruin a floorboard. It came out pretty awesome. Right below it I posted a digital mockup of the stickers I intend to put on it.





digital mockup:




Also got a selfie with Embiid, came out OK.



I also tried to get him to sign a 2nd photo when I had gotten back in line for the selfie. He shook his head and said "one for you already..." in his accent. Pretty funny. He was in good spirits.

So finally got embiid on a decent item. woot!

Friday-Saturday: Missing out then random run-ins.

This weekend is Eagles-Vikings in town. I had this one circled on my schedule circled for a long time because I really need Adrian Peterson.

But on Friday my buddy texted me that Troy Aikman was arriving to broadcast the game, and was arriving shortly in the afternoon. I was done at work but ended up getting held up and couldn't make it in time. So I missed him and he signed for the few people that were there on arrival.

My buddy said don't sweat he will go out later. So I decided to head down after work. Ended up waiting 90 minutes but the results were... well... you be the judge.

I travelled light with just a Cowboys mini and a ROMLB, which may have come back to bite me.

I wasn't waiting for 10-15 minutes when I was walking around the street and I said "hey, that woman looks familiar." I recognized her suddenly when she got close and I said... hey Erin, can we take a selfie? She said "uhhhh sure ok." It was Erin Andrews!



I wish I had thought to get her to sign a ROMLB, but oh well.

Since Aikman is tall- 6'7", I was screening passersby for being tall. So as I'm waiting I see a really tall guy in the distance, but it looked too young to be him. When he got closer I was like "hey zach, can I take a selfie?" and he said "oh, okay sure." It was Zach Ertz!



So again, wish I brought my full graphing gear because I would have had a mini for Ertz, but oh well still cool. Ertz isn't that nice anyway so he may not have signed at all. I think he was just nice about the selfie because it was a "random" runin. If I had a mini it would destroy that narrative.

So, both of these runins happened in the first 30 minutes of my stay. So I started feeling impatient as the next hour passed. I was beginning to doubt that aikman would go out.

Finally, I was fed up, I was going to do one scan inside and possibly leave. I walked up towards the door, and lo and behold, there was Troy Aikman standing on the other side of a glass revolving door, talking to some guys.

I wasn't sure whether I should bend the rules and go inside for him or wait until he came out. I wasn't totally sure he would come out.

But he did, about 2-3 minutes later. I told him that I am a local physician but couldn't come for him earlier because I was on call and could he please sign. He made a face but nodded and signed then darted off to the side before the crowd of people standing around me hailing cabs would notice who he was.



The next day I went for the vikings. Long story short, Adrian Peterson didn't travel, so I went home. No use standing there all night in the cold trying to get Xavier Rhodes or the rest of those bums.

To no one's surprise, Bradford snubbed us with his trademark arrogant grin.


Wrapup:

So I had a pretty epic week overall, after a few quiet months. I have some graphing things lined up over the next 3-4 weeks until Thanksgiving weekend, so stay tuned for more and please do weigh in if you like what you see!!!

[Soldan]

Very cool story bro! One of the issues with living in the boonies is that you don't get many opportunities to score those awesome IPs. I am going to book signing of Nicole Curtis next week (she does a DIY show that my wife and I love) My wife has the book, and I"m taking a Rawlings MiOLB to see if she'll sign that.

[Atlantaman]

You know I'm a fan of reading them man. Nicely done this week. Keep it up!

[cyberer]

Very cool story bro! One of the issues with living in the boonies is that you don't get many opportunities to score those awesome IPs. I am going to book signing of Nicole Curtis next week (she does a DIY show that my wife and I love) My wife has the book, and I"m taking a Rawlings MiOLB to see if she'll sign that.

Yeah, I used to live in Scranton then Ithaca NY, but that was all before I started graphing. When I moved to Philly it was almost hard NOT to start, given how many teams/people come through the city. Hang in there and use the opportunities you have (like the one you mentioned). Also, it's kind of a bit much, but always check when you go on vacation what's going on. I've had some awesome "graphing" vacations that didn't start out that way.

You know I'm a fan of reading them man. Nicely done this week. Keep it up!

Thanks man I do know you're around. I think it was you that PMed me, did you ever figure out the floorboards?

[Atlantaman]

Yeah, I used to live in Scranton then Ithaca NY, but that was all before I started graphing. When I moved to Philly it was almost hard NOT to start, given how many teams/people come through the city. Hang in there and use the opportunities you have (like the one you mentioned). Also, it's kind of a bit much, but always check when you go on vacation what's going on. I've had some awesome "graphing" vacations that didn't start out that way.



Thanks man I do know you're around. I think it was you that PMed me, did you ever figure out the floorboards?

Ive gotten a couple signed so far. They've come out nice. Haven't figured out how to display them yet haha

[cyberer]

If you look on amazon or sometimes at ACmoore/michaels/hobbylobby they sell 12x12 frames. They display nicely in those.

I mount them up with stickers like I showed in my thread.

[Atlantaman]

If you look on amazon or sometimes at ACmoore/michaels/hobbylobby they sell 12x12 frames. They display nicely in those.

I mount them up with stickers like I showed in my thread.

Yeah I'll check that out. They come out real nice. Thanks for the idea! Maybe I'll be like you one day haha