IP-Chicago and burbs:arfmax:2017

[arfmax]

This weekend, Bob's Discount Furniture opened up three stores in Wisconsin, and are having former Packers players at each store. Today, I took the family to Brown Deer, WI, and got autographs from former Packers running back Tony Fisher, who signed 4 cards and 1 8x10 for me, for free, and former Packers running back and member of the Packers Hall of Fame Ahman Green, who signed 9 cards and a McFarlane that I found in my LCS yesterday. A great event, and I am going to a different Bob's on Sunday for 2 different players.

Photo of the Fisher autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psu83zlxei.jpg

Photo of the Green autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psyodry0wp.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2017: 111

[JoLas]

That Ahman Green McFarlane came out really nice!

[arfmax]

That Ahman Green McFarlane came out really nice!

Thanks, I thought so too! I did a Brandon Marshall McFarlane 2 years ago which didn't come out as nice, so I was thrilled with this one

[arfmax]

This weekend, Bob's Discount Furniture opened up three stores in Wisconsin, and are having former Packers players at each store. Sunday, I took my older daughter to Racine, WI, and got autographs from former Packers kicker Chris Jacke, who signed 3 cards and 3 8x10's, and former Packers wide receiver and member of the Packers Hall of Fame Antonio Freeman, who signed 4 cards and an oversized 4x6 card that was in a Packers 1997 Factory box set.

Photo of the Jacke autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psh1a95puq.jpg

Photo of the Freeman autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psms8y31vi.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2017: 122

[arfmax]

This evening, I went to a Chicago Blackhawks radio show taping with special guest Nick Schmaltz, rookie center for the Blackhawks. Mr. Schmaltz signed two cards for me, for free, in Oak Lawn, IL.

Photo of the Schmaltz autos (terrible signature, can't make out any letters):
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psua5wxdju.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2017: 124

[arfmax]

Yesterday, I went to a free signing at an auto dealer in Oak Lawn with legendary Chicago Blackhawks and Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Hull. Hull signed one thing for free, and then each additional item was $20, so I just went for the 1 free, and had a card signed, which was a ePack exclusive card that he had never seen before.

Photo of the Hull auto:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psi1smf2ru.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2017: 125

[arfmax]

Today, I went to an appearance by Chicago Blackhawks goalie Scott Darling, at an auto dealership in Libertyville, IL. Mr. Darling signed 5 different cards for me, for free.

Photo of the Darling autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psffer2o1v.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2017: 130

[arfmax]

Thursday evening, the White Sox had their annual rally the day before single game tickets go on sale at various Hooters and Beggars Pizza locations around Illinois and Indiana. Some had former players appearing, and so I went to the appearance at Hooters in Melrose Park by former pitcher Donn Pall. Mr. Pall signed 7 cards for me, for free, and we chatted for a bit about autographs, TTM, etc. He says that he still gets about 5 requests per week at his home.

Photo of the Pall autographed cards:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psbjlrr8re.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2017: 137

[arfmax]

This evening, I went to the Milwaukee suburb of West Allis for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sports Show, for an appearance by Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jeff Janis. Mr. Janis signed 4 cards for me.

Photo of the Janis autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...pstjclarzm.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2017: 141

[arfmax]

Last night, I went to another regular season game of the new D-League Team, the Windy City Bulls against the Iowa Energy. There are only 2 more home games, but I will be out of town next week and will miss them, so this was the last chance. I sat by the visiting Energy side, and before the game, I was able to get 2 cards signed by Perry Jones III, 2 cards signed by Jarell Martin, 4 cards signed by Deyonta Davis, the latter two are Memphis Grizzlies players on assignment in the D-League. After the game, while they were running off the court, I got JaKarr Sampson to sign 1 card. The other player I was trying to get was Wade Baldwin IV, but he would not come over after the game ended (the Energy lost a close one, and Baldwin missed a shot at the end, so I understand).
On the Windy City Bulls side, the Chicago Bulls had sent down their recent trade pickup Cameron Payne, and he played in the game. After the game, he was the designated Windy City Bulls player to come to the autograph table and sign for fans. I handed him two cards, and asked him to please sign in blue, holding out my blue Sharpie, he ignored me, signed one card in black, and pushed them back to me. He seemed to be ok doing two autos for kids, but I haven't been able to pass for a kid in a long time. In attendance at the game to watch the team were current Bulls Isaiah Canaan and star Jimmy Butler, along with former Illini hoops star Dee Brown, and Jarrett Payton, the son of Walter Payton and a former University of Miami running back. Unfortunately, Butler was courtside, and had a hoodie up the whole game, so I couldn't get near him, and he snuck out the side, so I couldn't ask for an auto. He did take some photos with fans who were sitting courtside, but he was very low-key. After the game, Isaiah Canaan and Dee Brown went on the court and were shooting and playing with someone's kid, so I got Canaan to come over and sign two cards for me. Finally, I saw Windy City Bulls player Alec Brown come out into the stands, and I had him sign one card.
13 autos on the night. I wish they played closer, I would love to go to more games, but it is a bit of a hike for me, but prices are good, player access is great, and seat locations are outstanding.


Photo of the Windy City Bulls (and Chicago Bulls) and Iowa Energy autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psofpjzfzu.jpg


-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2017: 154