Any regrets from 'graphing (TTM or IP)?

[LakersMC]

Just wondering. Do you have any regrets from 'graphing (TTM or IP)? Like not getting someone's autograph when you had the chance...

For me, I think my biggest regret was not getting Kobe's autograph when I had a golden opportunity a few years ago. My wife & I drove to the gym, and saw him just standing on the curb waiting for his driver. Stupid me. I took like 2 minutes to find a parking spot & ran over. By then, he was gone. I saw a guy who got him to sign some cheap red toy basketball. I should have just dropped my wife off, or just parked illegally. Wasn't thinking. Of course, I wasn't expecting to see Kobe at the gym. So I was unprepared. Oh boy ...

[cyberer]

I was in Atlantic City for a weekend of gambling with some college buddies. Lo and behold, by coincidence, the Maxwell Football Club award banquet was that night in our hotel. Ndamakong Suh was right in front of me (his senior year of college), and I didn't ask him- and he's subsequently gotten impossible to get to sign.

But, even worse, Drew Brees was there. I saw a few guys decked out in Saints mardi gras attire and they said they were going to get him to sign. Like an idiot, I went and gambled instead. Who knows who else would have been there.

I didn't have any items on me, but the experience alone would have been worth it.

To your story, that sucks man, sorry you didn't get Kobe. That's a once in a lifetime type coincidence.

[r0yals2012]

everytime I have been unprepared/couldn't get cards out fast enough. I have finally come up with a better system.

[Rudickulous]

Went to the Cavs vs. Knicks and had cards of almost everybody and got Landry Fields to sign my ticket stub. I didn't have a program and more bench players came over to sign. One I didn't even recognize, a young Asian player that they just recently called up to the big leagues. Didn't think twice about him. Took a picture of him and let him walk by after he finished signing...two days later, Linsanity Erupted. I felt like a fool.

[bobreaker50]

I went to John Madden's HOF induction in 2006 and had a blast and got otis sitrunk, Tom Keating, Art Thoms, Gerald Irons, and Rob Ryan's autographs, but missed out on getting Lester Hayes because I tried getting Al Davis when he was talking to Jerry Jones after the enshrinement ceremony was over knowing full well that Davis wouldn't sign anything. Also I regret not having my camera ready for that day. The only picture I have with anyone from that event was with Joe Avazano who was the Raiders special teams coach at one time.

[lambeauleap87]

Tailgated with Evan Turner, David Lighty, and Dallas Lauderdale back in like '09 right at the height of Turner's popularity. Didn't have a Sharpie or anything, but they all ended up being relatively irrelevant so it wasn't a big deal. Still a cool experience and I'm lucky that's been the worst of it.

[SLNoble13]

The regret this year for me was not going to Chipper Jone's Jersey Retirement from the Durham Bulls. He arrived at the park that day around 2-3 in thr afternoon and signed for everyone who was waiting (6 in total). I didn't think he was going to get there that early so I went post game and he had already left in the middle of the 3rd inning and got on his plane to head back home.

[walker066]

Mine I will always regret is when Mariano Rivera came to my house in 2002 and all I had was a stupid Yankees hat!! Why wasn't I prepared!!!

Of course I sent him a 8x10, baseball, and photo of him at my house during Spring Training and I never got it back.

[LakersMC]

I was in Atlantic City for a weekend of gambling with some college buddies. Lo and behold, by coincidence, the Maxwell Football Club award banquet was that night in our hotel. Ndamakong Suh was right in front of me (his senior year of college), and I didn't ask him- and he's subsequently gotten impossible to get to sign.

But, even worse, Drew Brees was there. I saw a few guys decked out in Saints mardi gras attire and they said they were going to get him to sign. Like an idiot, I went and gambled instead. Who knows who else would have been there.

I didn't have any items on me, but the experience alone would have been worth it.

To your story, that sucks man, sorry you didn't get Kobe. That's a once in a lifetime type coincidence.

BTW, graphing at a casino (when the situation comes up) is awesome. You can hang out inside the hotel & have a legit excuse. So they can't kick you out.

everytime I have been unprepared/couldn't get cards out fast enough. I have finally come up with a better system.

Most of the long time graphers around here use the photo corners to put their cards in a photo album thing. Is that what you came up with?

Went to the Cavs vs. Knicks and had cards of almost everybody and got Landry Fields to sign my ticket stub. I didn't have a program and more bench players came over to sign. One I didn't even recognize, a young Asian player that they just recently called up to the big leagues. Didn't think twice about him. Took a picture of him and let him walk by after he finished signing...two days later, Linsanity Erupted. I felt like a fool.

Haha. Don't lose any sleep over it. Maybe you would have sold it at the height of Linsanity!

I went to John Madden's HOF induction in 2006 and had a blast and got otis sitrunk, Tom Keating, Art Thoms, Gerald Irons, and Rob Ryan's autographs, but missed out on getting Lester Hayes because I tried getting Al Davis when he was talking to Jerry Jones after the enshrinement ceremony was over knowing full well that Davis wouldn't sign anything. Also I regret not having my camera ready for that day. The only picture I have with anyone from that event was with Joe Avazano who was the Raiders special teams coach at one time.

Yes. Choosing between 2 players while graphing is tough. And getting stiffed makes it even worse! That's when you gotta bring the wife.

Tailgated with Evan Turner, David Lighty, and Dallas Lauderdale back in like '09 right at the height of Turner's popularity. Didn't have a Sharpie or anything, but they all ended up being relatively irrelevant so it wasn't a big deal. Still a cool experience and I'm lucky that's been the worst of it.

I think Evan Turner has plenty of upside. How did you end up tailgating with them? Friends of friends?

The regret this year for me was not going to Chipper Jone's Jersey Retirement from the Durham Bulls. He arrived at the park that day around 2-3 in thr afternoon and signed for everyone who was waiting (6 in total). I didn't think he was going to get there that early so I went post game and he had already left in the middle of the 3rd inning and got on his plane to head back home.

Ouch, that hurts. That's a once in a lifetime - like the story I posted. Like, how many times is Chipper gonna be in NC?

Mine I will always regret is when Mariano Rivera came to my house in 2002 and all I had was a stupid Yankees hat!! Why wasn't I prepared!!!

Of course I sent him a 8x10, baseball, and photo of him at my house during Spring Training and I never got it back.

I think everyone is wondering --- why was Mo at your house?!?!?

[yankeesfan1324]

Mine isn't one time, but a long term thing. I got autographs on baseballs for around 5 years (2004-2009 or so) at Columbus Clippers games without paying any attention to who it was signing. I'm sure I have some of players who ended up in the MLB, but I have no clue. I also got them on cheap balls and with sharpies.