IP-Chicago and burbs:arfmax:2015

[arfmax]

Yesterday, I went to the Chicago Wolves vs. Iowa Wild AHL hockey game at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL, and after the game, waited by the player exit for a little bit (wife and kids were getting antsy waiting around), and got a couple of autos. I was able to get 1 auto on a card from defenseman Brent Regner, one autograph on a card from winger Magnus Paajarvi, and 2 autographs, one on a card, and the other on a free Hero Card 8x10 that was given out before the game of forward Colin Fraser.

Photo of the Wolves autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psilsbardp.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2015: 95

[arfmax]

Today I went to a Meet and Greet with former University of Michigan guard Glenn Robinson III, who was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2014 NBA Draft and now plays for the Philadelphia 76ers. I didn't know it, but it was an event for Michigan Alumni in Chicago, so I kinda crashed their party. I was able to get 4 autos, on cards, from Mr. Robinson, for free, at the humorously named Ay Chiwowa tequila bar, in Chicago, IL.

Photo of the 4 GRIII autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2nnfklw5.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2015: 99

[arfmax]

This evening, I traveled to Milwaukee, WI, for the Milwaukee Bucks "See the Future Event", which was a season ticket buying opportunity at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, as well as a viewing of the Bucks away game in Philadelphia on the Jumbotron, and also the unveiling of the new Bucks logos and colors at halftime. This event was free, and also had two current injured Bucks in attendance, and multiple Bucks legends. The two injured Bucks were both rookies, Damien Inglis and Jabari Parker. The legends in attendance were Michael Redd, Vin Baker, Bob Dandridge, Jon McGlocklin, and Oscar Robertson. All of the players mingled with the crowd, taking photos and signing autographs for the entire first half of the game, with the exception of Jabari Parker and Oscar Robertson, who only came out at halftime to the stage, and would take pictures with fans on stage who had bought season tickets at the event only. I stayed for a little after the picture-taking started, but didn't feel like waiting for them to get through the whole line and then be escorted out a restricted area, which seems to be how the two of them got in.
I was able to get two autographs on cards of legends Jon McGlocklin and Bob Dandridge, two autographs on cards from current Bucks rookie Damien Inglis, two cards signed by former Bucks star Vin Baker, and three cards signed by former Bucks star Michael Redd. I also took a tour of the Bradley Center, mostly the suites, and even saw the locker room, which was cool.

Photo of the McGlocklin and Dandridge autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psbjpoldmv.jpg

Photo of the Inglis, Baker, and Redd autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psx8lsnrwa.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2015: 110

[dscards]

Great Michael Redds! He sure was fun to watch when he was healthy.

[arfmax]

Redd was very nice, he had a large group who kept coming to him, and he took pictures with everyone, signed one thing for everyone, and even recognized some people and talked to them in more detail. I was most surprised by how big Vin Baker was, he is much taller than I remember!

[arfmax]

Tonight, I went to an event for the Chicago Blackhawks road playoff watch party which featured Blackhawks legend Denis Savard. I was able to get two cards signed by Mr. Savard, as well as two promo 5 x 7's, all for free, in Antioch, IL.

Photo of the Savard cards:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psoqfffu24.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2015: 114

[arfmax]

Today, I went to the Chicago Wolves vs. Toronto Marlies AHL hockey game at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL, which is the last regular season game for the Wolves, and it was also Team Set Trading Card Giveaway. I waited after the game the player exit and got a ton of autos. My two kids also got autos on most of the team set trading cards as well. I was able to get 1 card signed by defenseman Joel Edmundson, 1 card by forward Shane Harper, 1 card from center Jeremy Welsh, 1 card from winger Magnus Paajarvi, card from center Colin Fraser, 1 card from winger Rob Bordson, 1 card from team captain, defenseman Brent Regner, and 1 card signed by head coach John Anderson. I also got 2 cards signed, 1 from this years team set and 1 from last years team set of defenseman Jani Hakanpaa, 2 cards signed, 1 from this years team set and 1 from last years team set of center Adam Cracknell, 2 cards signed, 1 from this years team set and 1 from last years team set of winger Cody Beach, and 2 cards signed, 1 from this years team set and 1 from last years team set of winger Sebastian Wannstrom. Finally, I was able to get 2 cards signed, one from a team set and one from another set of defenseman Mathieu Brodeur, 2 cards signed, one from a team set and one from another set of winger Benn Ferriero, 2 cards signed, one from a team set and one from another set of defenseman David Shields, 2 cards signed, one from a team set and one from another set of winger Yannick Veilleux, 2 cards signed, one from a team set and one from another set of of center Philip McRae (Basil McRae's son), and 2 cards signed, both from another set of goalie Jordan Binnington.
Total at the game:28

Photo of the autos for the players that I only got one card signed:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psfmvbvick.jpg

Photo of the autos on two different team set cards:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9l9bohhx.jpg

Photo of the autos on two different card sets:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psj80xv96a.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2015: 142

[arfmax]

Last night, I went to a taping of the Bears Pre-Draft TV show featuring former New York Giants safety and free agent acquisition of the Chicago Bears, Antrel Rolle. They gave out tickets during the show, and mine was pulled, which I gave to my daughter, and she got to go on the set and ask Antrel Rolle a question, which was asking about his draft day experience. She was thrilled, and is a natural! We also won an autographed white panel Bears football, and after the show, I was able to get an autograph on a card from Mr. Rolle, and my daughter also got a card autographed, and personalized. Two autos for me, 1 for her, and a lot of memories, for free, in Vernon Hills, IL.

Photo of the autographed Rolle card:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psrnew9vgq.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2015: 144

[arfmax]

Hopefully the start to a big football auto week with the NFL Draft here in town. This evening, I attended the 2015 NFL Draft Party presented by the Retired Professional Football Players of Chicago. They have a large list of players in their association, but many of them were not in the league long, and have no cards or photos of them. The party was expected to be attended by Richard Dent, Otis Wilson, Emery Moorehead, Wendell Davis, Gale Sayers, Brent Novoselsky, Tim Tyrrell, and a bunch of other names that I do not know (Ron Cheatham, Fabien Bownes, Oliver Gibson, Brian Glasgow, Ike Hill, Mike Hoban, Robert Mackey, Marc May, Corey Mays, Ray McElroy, Ahmad Merritt, Ben Sankey, Les Shy, Shafer Suggs, Kinnon Tatum II, etc.) I brought cards for the few players that I knew, and there were a ton of former players in attendance, but the only one that I recognized was Gale Sayers. I got Mr. Sayers to sign two cards. The event was free, but was at a bar in a popular part of downtown, so I had to pay for parking. I wish the other players I knew were there, but you can't call an evening with Gale Sayers autos a failure.

Photo of the Sayers autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...pso961b9xi.jpg


-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2015: 146

[arfmax]

Draft Week in Chicago. Yesterday evening, I went to an appearance by former Dallas Cowboys legend Michael Irvin, who was doing a radio show interview. The event was in a smallish bar, and was a bit of a disorganized mess. When he got there, he came in a side door and people swarmed him outside, and he signed a few items while walking. Then he went downstairs in the bar, where he stayed for 45 minutes. The radio station said to make a line and he would sign afterwards, so we formed a line to the side of stage. After a long interview and every person having the opportunity to ask him a question from the front middle of the room, the show ended, and instead of using the line on the side of the stage, Michael Irvin just reached into the crowd in the middle of the stage, and grabbed random items to sign, and brought people on stage who were wearing an Irvin jersey for photos and autos. Then he stopped and talked to random people who were already on stage (VIPs?), ate some food, and generally had no rhyme or reason.
On the positive, I was able to get two autos on cards. One when he was coming in (the one without HOF inscribed on it), and one when I got tired of waiting and asked a potential VIP in a very tight dress to take the card up to him when she was returning from the bathroom, and lo and behold, he signed it and inscribed HOF 2007.

Photo of the two signed Irvin cards:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psaa7vyqt9.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2015: 148