Tboculosis 2011 IP Thread

[tboculosis]

After getting out of work today, headed straight to graph the Miami Heat at their hotel. Terrible signing team and cold weather doesn't mix. Got the following, who were the only other ones to stop and sign, as they boarded the bus to the game:

assistant coach Keith Askins - 1/1 trading card

Mike Miller - 1/1 trading card (good to see him still cool about signing and not crossing over to the dark side)

Juwan Howard - 1/1 trading card


Zydrunas Ilgauskas signed before I arrived there. Of course, their big 3 ignored and didn't even acknowledge the small crowd. Everybody else ignored as well.

[tboculosis]

Attended the local sports talk radio station's (97.1 The Ticket) 2nd annual SportsFest held at the Suburban Collection Showplace out in Novi, MI today. Got the following, who were there signing for the autograph sessions, to sign for me:

former NFLer Herman Moore - 1/1 8 x 10 photo (asked if he would include the inscription of "4 x Pro Bowl" on it as well, which he did)

former NHLer Brent Fedyk - 1/1 trading card

former NHLer Joe Kocur - 1/1 trading card

former NHLer Darren McCarty - 1/1 trading card (didn't wait in the long line for him as I got him to sign after he came off the interviewing main stage a few minutes before coming over to sign for his autograph session)

Detroit Pistons' forward Austin Daye - 1/1 8 x 10 photo

former NHLer Chris Chelios - 1/1 trading card








In between some of the sessions, I wandered off to check out the other happenings around the SportsFest. Was able to pick up some additional autographs of other personnels who were there:

Detroit Pistons' dance team, "Automotion" - 1/0 8 1/2 x 11 photo signed by 73% of squad

MMA fighter Brendan Seguin - 1/0 8 x 10 upcoming fight promo

MMA fighter Jason Fischer - 1/0 8 x 10 upcoming fight promo that was already signed by Seguin

fitness model Kristi King - 1/0 8 x 10 photo she was handing out








Didn't get former NHLers John Ogrodnick and Jason Woolley, as I've gotten them before and didn't have anything for them to sign. Didn't get any of the Detroit Tigers' alums (Dan Petry, Frank Tanana, Dave Rozema, & Rick Leach) during their autograph session as I have gotten them before, with the exception of Leach, and also had nothing for them to sign. Former Piston Rick Mahorn was signing in the Detroit Pistons' area, but I didn't get him as I was in line for Austin Daye at the time. Saw former Piston Don Reid walking in, but didn't bother him. Didn't need Lions' kicker Jason Hanson, as I've gotten him before. And majorly missed out on Barry Sanders, as my wristband number was 1 number off from one of the 100 random numbers they picked for people to line up for his autograph. Despite not getting Barry, still had an enjoyable experience at this year's SportsFest. Can't wait to see what they have in store for next year's event!

[sigman101]

Nice job at that event. Just wondered how long was the line for Austin Daye??? Also from seeing your scans there, I never seen that photofile of Austin Daye. Where did you get his photofile at???

[tboculosis]

Nice job at that event. Just wondered how long was the line for Austin Daye??? Also from seeing your scans there, I never seen that photofile of Austin Daye. Where did you get his photofile at???

Austin Daye's line was a little long to start, but saw it nearly emptied out after 40 minutes, while I was waited in Chelios line after getting Daye. The Photofile photo is Austin's only Photofile photo out there right now, I bought mines at the Pistons' Locker Room Store, but Detroit City Sports also sold some of them on-site at today's event as well.

[tboculosis]

After work today, decided to graph the Atlanta Hawks at their hotel. Yes, their A-hole of a security guard was there, but this time he was a little bit cooler, so I didn't have to psychologically dissect him. He was still a jerk to the other graphers, preventing the players from signing blank printer paper or floorboards, citing that it has to be a photo image of the player or so to be able to be signed. Still got the following to sign for me as they boarded the bus to the game:

Josh Smith - 1/1 trading card (1st player to board the bus; only me and another grapher got him as we were the only 2 graphers there before the others arrived)

assistant coach Tyrone Hill - 1/1 trading card

Al Horford - 1/1 trading card

Hawks' VP of basketball operation/color analyst/HOFer Dominique Wilkins - 1/1 trading card

Jason Collins - 1/1 trading card

Zaza Pachulia - 1/1 trading card

Etan Thomas - 1/1 trading card

head coach Larry Drew - 1/1 trading card

Mike Bibby - 1/1 trading card

assistant coach Lester Conner - 1/1 trading card (gave a huge "What!", as if we're asking him for money, when we asked him politely to sign; told the other grapher he was too old and had to ask me for my age before signing. I'll probably never ask this dipstick to sign ever again. Honestly, people like him should be honored that anybody would still want his autograph, let alone know who he is)

Jamal Crawford - 1/1 trading card

Marvin Williams - 1/1 trading card


Missed out on the following:

Damien Wilkins - 0/1 (got escorted by their security guy onto the bus)

Joe Johnson - 0/1 (got escorted by security guy)

Maurice Evans - 0/1 (escorted as well)

assistant coach Kenny Gattison - 0/1 (came out while Tyrone was signing)

Hawks' Player Relations & Programs Manager Duane Ferell - 0/1 (came out while Marvin was still signing)





Didn't need anybody else. Afterwards, drove up to the Palace for the Pistons vs. Hawks game. Decided to graph the Pistons at their tunnel. Got the following to sign for me as they came off the court after pregame warm ups:

DaJuan Summers - 1/1 giveaway poster of Daye/Summers/Monroe/Jerebko that was handed out from the game vs. the Knicks earlier in the season

Austin Daye - 1/1 giveaway poster of Daye/Summers/Monroe/Jerebko

Jonas Jerebko - 1/1 giveaway poster of Daye/Summers/Monroe/Jerebko

assistant coach Brian Hill - 1/1 trading card

Jason Maxiell - 1/1 trading card

assistant coach Darrell Walker - 1/1 trading card

Chris Wilcox - 1/1 trading card

Richard Hamilton - 1/1 Meijer promo photo that was already signed by Ben Gordon, Rodney Stuckey, and Charlie Villanueva (kind of regret getting this signed by Rip as he just scribbled a huge "R" over Tayshaun's face, but I'll take it since Rip's days in Detroit are numbered)


Missed out on the following:

Greg Monroe - 0/1 giveaway poster (didn't get completed as he gave a lame excuse that he had an interview and walked to the back without signing for anyone)

Tayshaun Prince - 0/1 Meijer Pistons promo photo (ran to the back without signing )

Will Bynum - 0/1 photo (ran to the back without signing; surprised to see him do that since he always signs)

Ben Wallace - 0/1 Meijer Pistons promo photo (never seen this guy signed inside the Palace so I didn't have much hope)


Terrico White signed, but I didn't have anything for him. Could have gotten Duane Ferrell, but he was being escorted by the Hawks' most awesome security guy. Brought a photo for T-Mac and a giveaway poster for Charlie Villanueva, but neither of them came out for pregame shoot around.

[tboculosis]

The Detroit Red Wings held their Red Wings Days at Meijer at the store out in Westland, MI tonight. Originally schedule to make an appearance there was Red Wings' forward Patrick Eaves, but he suffered an injury in yesterday's game against the San Jose Sharks. Replacing him for the appearance was Red Wings' alumni John Ogrodnick. John offered to sign 2 different promos, he was handing out, to me, but I kindly declined and only ask him to sign 1 for me.

[tboculosis]

Attended a local independent wrestling show, CLASH wrestling, out at the Taylortown Trade Center in Taylor, MI. Wrestling on the card was former TNA wrestler Petey Williams and current TNA wrestler Shark Boy. Got Petey to sign all 3 of my cards that I brought, also purchased one of his 8 X 10 signed promo photo. Got Shark Boy to sign only 1 trading card that I brought.

[sigman101]

Did you try for the Jazz this weekend???

[tboculosis]

Did you try for the Jazz this weekend???

Nope, didn't go for the Jazz this weekend. Plus I've heard they stay at the other hotel, so didn't even tried.

[tboculosis]

Attended O'Reily's Autorama car show at Cobo Hall in downtown Detroit today. My primary target was former WWE wrestler Shawn Michaels, who was brought in to sign and take photos with fans at the show today. However, despite arriving at the show 2 hours prior to Shawn signing, the line for him was insanely long and I had no chance of getting to him even if I waited. So, decided to walk the floor to check out the show's exhibitions for an hour, before getting in line for Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola's (MTV's 'Jersey Shore') signing. Got Sammi to sign my 8 1/2 x 11 photo and a picture with.



A little bit after the show, attended an independent wrestling show, XICW, held at the Ritz bar in Warren, MI. The main draw was former ECW/WWE/TNA wrestler Rhino. Purchased 1 of his signed 8 x 10 TNA photo and also got him to sign all 4 of my cards that I brought.