Tboculosis 2012 IP Thread

[tboculosis]

Detroit Lions' wide receiver Nate Burleson made an appearance at the Lucido Fine Jewelry store out in Sterling Heights, MI tonight. Got Nate to sign my mini-football as well as personalize and sign an 8 1/2 x 11 promo photo, he was handing out, for me.

[tboculosis]

Detroit Lions' running backs Kevin Smith and Mikel Leshoure made an appearance for a paid signing they were doing at the Fanatic U store out in Southfield, MI tonight. Paid the combo signing fee, got Kevin to sign one side of my mini-helmet along with my requested "Go Lions" inscription, and got Mikel to sign the other side with the "Go Lions" inscription as well.

[tboculosis]

Attended the Detroit Pistons' annual open practice, this year held at the O'rena on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester, MI today. Primarily was there for Pistons' 2012 1st round pick and rookie center/power forward Andre Drummond. Drummond didn't look that good during the practice, but their rookie center Slava Kravtsov looked pretty solid. After practice concluded, got the following players to sign for me as they exited the court:

small forward Austin Daye - 1/1 Pistons giveaway hat from the 10-11 season

center/power forward Andre Drummond - 1/1 2012 Pistons Draft hat


Missed out on the following:

power forward Jason Maxiell - 0/1 (signed; just missed him)

point guard Jonny Flynn - 0/1 (signed; just missed him)

power forward Charlie Villanueva - 0/1 (signed; just missed him)

center/power forward Greg Monroe - 0/1 (signed; just missed him)

point guard Brandon Knight - 0/1 (was about to reach for my 2012 Draft hat and paint pen, but I had to pull them back; Drummond was coming off a little bit behind him and I didn't have time to reach for my 8 1/2 x 11 Pistons promo photo I had for Brandon)

small forward/shooting guard Terrance Williams - 0/1 (didn't stop to sign)

small forward/shooting guard Corey Maggette - 0/1 (didn't stop to sign)

point guard Will Bynum - 0/1 (didn't stop to sign)

shooting guard Rodney Stuckey - 0/1 (didn't stop to sign)

assistant coach Dee Brown - 0/1 (didn't ask)

assistant coach Roy Rogers - 0/1 (didn't ask)


Walked out and waited by the parking lot to see if I could catch any of the players as they boarded the bus back up the road to the Palace. Got the following to sign:

small forward Tayshaun Prince - 1/1 trading card

Rookie small forward Khris Middleton also signed, but I had nothing for him. Being one of the first ones out to the parking lot, saw Pistons' team president and basketball HOFer Joe Dumars exit the arena and headed to his SUV. Had absolutely nothing for him, as I didn't expect him to show up, so just left him alone. Majorly regretting it too since I could have gotten him 1-on-1 before the other graphers came over. Oh well, maybe next year, I'll remember to bring something for him then.

[sigman101]

Nice to see some of the Pistons signed at the open practice. I have graphed the Pistons open practices before and they are usually hit or miss on signing.

[tboculosis]

Detroit Lions' defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh made an appearance for a paid signing he was doing at the Fanatic U store out in Garden City, MI tonight. Paid the signing fee along with the inscription fee and got Ndamukong to sign my 8 x 10 photo with the inscription of "10-10-10 1st NFL INT", finally finishing off this piece that was already signed by Louis Delmas and Chris Houston.

[tboculosis]

Went to graph the Charlotte Bobcats at their hotel as they boarded the bus to the preseason game against the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Got the following to sign for me:

assistant coach Brian Winters - 1/1 trading card

power forward/center Bismack Biyombo - 1/1 trading card

small forward DaJuan Summers - 1/1 Pistons giveaway hat from the 10-11 season

head coach Mike Dunlap - 1/1 trading card

center Byron Mullens - 1/2 trading card

forward Tyrus Thomas - 1/1 trading card (1st time ever getting him; not much of a signature, but at least he signed)

shooting guard/small forward Gerald Henderson, Jr. - 1/1 trading card


Missed out on the following:

small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist - 0/1 mini-basketball (ran with a blue Sharpie and signed mostly photos only for like 5 people; wouldn't switch to my king-sized Sharpie for my mini-basketball and another grapher's full-sized basketball)

center Brendan Haywood - 0/1 (recognized him the last second before he boarded the bus)

guard Ramon Sessions - 0/1 (ignored with his earbuds on)

shooting guard Ben Gordon - 0/1 (didn't see as he may still have a house here or got picked up)


Didn't need anybody else.




Later at night, went to try for post grunge/alternative metal rock group Seether after their show at the Fillmore in downtown Detroit. Only got bass guitarist Dale Stewart to sign my 8 x 10 photo when he came out about a couple of hours after the show had ended, signed and took photos with everybody (forgot to mention to him that I partied with him, John, along with members of Finger Eleven four years ago up in MN). Was told that drummer John Humphrey already boarded the bus. Frontman Shaun Morgan was the last to exit the venue, but was escorted by security right onto the bus and didn't sign for anybody. Will have to wait to get this piece completed then.

[tboculosis]

Pro football Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow, Sr. made an appearance for a paid signing he was doing at the Gibraltar Trade Center out in Taylor, MI today. Paid the signing fee and got Kellen to sign my mini-helmet along with the "HOF 95" inscription.

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Graphed the Detroit Lions as they arrived to check-in to their hotel. Got the following to sign:

safety John Wendling - 1/1 trading card

offensive guard Stephen Peterman - 1/1 8 x 10 Lions logo photo

cornerback Jonte Green - 1/1 8 x 10 Lions logo photo

safety Erik Coleman - 1/1 trading card

wide receiver Calvin Johnson, Jr. - 1/1 full-size replica helmet

defensive end Cliff Avril - 1/1 mini-football

linebacker Stephen Tulloch - 1/1 8 x 10 blown-up photo of me with him (personalized with "Go Lions" on it)

safety Louis Delmas - 1/1 trading card

defensive tackle Nick Fairley - 1/1 trading card

wide received Titus Young, Sr. - 1/1 8 x 10 photo

running back Mikel Leshoure - 1/1 trading card


Missed out on the following:

quarterback Matthew Stafford - 0/1 (ignored)

cornerback Chris Houston - 0/1 (said he had to go)

wide reciver/special team Kassim Osgood - 0/1 (came over right after Calvin; went for Calvin instead)

linebacker Travis Lewis - 0/1 (said he had to go)

defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh - 0/1 (ignored, of course)

quarterback Shaun Hill - 0/1 (ignored)

wide receiver Brian Robiskie - 0/1 (was on the phone and ignored)

tight end Tony Scheffler - 0/1 (ignored)

wide reciever Ryan Broyles - 0/1 (just waved)

defensive end Willie Young - 0/1 (was with his wife and carried his kid so nobody bothered him)

offensive tackle Jeff Backus - 0/1 (must of came through the front)

defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch - 0/1 (came through the front)

running back Joique Bell - 0/1 (must of came through the front)

cornerback Bill Bentley - 0/1 (must of came through the front)

offensive tackle Riley Reiff - 0/1 (came through the front)

cornerback Alphonso Smith - 0/1 (came through the front)

defensive end Lawrence Jackson - 0/1 (came through the front)

tight end Brandon Pettigrew - 0/1 (came through the front)

offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus - 0/1 (came through the front)

quarterback Kellen Moore - 0/1 (didn't see)


Ronnell Lewis, Jason Hanson, and Justin Durant also signed. While waiting for the Lions to arrive, saw baseball HOFer Frank Robinson walk out of the hotel. Of course, he ignored the dealers, so I didn't bother asking. The dealers also saw baseball HOFer Hank Aaron and commisioner Bud Selig get into a SUV around the corner. Hank just laughed, while nobody asked for Bud.

[tboculosis]

Attended the Detroit Pistons 1st game of the season and home opener against the Houston Rockets at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, MI. Graphed the Rockets' side. Got the following to sign for me:

forward Marcus Morris - 1/1 program

Rockets TV analyst Matt Bullard - 1/1 trading card

forward/center Patrick Patterson - 1/1 trading card


Missed out on the following:

guard James Harden - 0/1 trading card (was just a little bit out of the way of him when he was signing)

guard Jeremy Lin - 0/1 8 x 10 photo (it was a mad house when Jeremy came over; just missed him being a little out of the way)

head coach Kevin McHale - 0/1 trading card (said he had to go)


Didn't need Scott Machado, Omer Asik, and Carlos Delfino. Everybody else either didn't come out or already headed to the locker room.

[tboculosis]

Michigan native and member of the gold medal-winning 2012 Summer Olympics US Women's Gymnastic team, Jordyn Wieber, made an appearance for a free signing she was doing at the Meijer store out in Auburn Hills, MI as part of the 2012 Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions tour rolling into town today. Got Jordyn to sign my 8 x 10 photo along with the inscription of "GO USA!" on it.