The Tribe Has Spoken

Sports, sports, sports!

That's all I seem to blog about lately!

Time for a much needed shift in direction, on the autograph front.

"The Tribe Has Spoken"

On May 17th, while searching a website that's great for autograph news, I stumbled upon something that caught my attention.

Before I reveal what that information was, let me set this up properly.

We all have 'guilty pleasure' television shows that we always watch, but don't always tell our friends about! My wife always watches the Bachelor/Bachelorette shows. My mom, she loves American Idol and Dancing With The Stars.

For me...my guily pleasure television show is Survivor.












I love it.

There, I said it!

So, when this website mentioned that a Survivor contestant was going to be in Ontario...I began to smile.

One of the greatest Survivor players ever, was going to make two appearances in two South-western Ontario horse racetracks. The tracks, were Flamboro Downs and Western Fair Raceway, near Hamilton and London respectively.

The Survivor appearing was to be Stephenie LaGrossa.


















Commonly known as just 'Stephenie' to most Survivor fans, she was to appear on the 23rd at Flamboro Downs, and the following day in London's Western Fair Raceway. Her autograph signing was to be 2 to 4pm in Flamboro, which is the signing I decided I would attend because of it's proximity to my home in Guelph, Ontario.

Flamoboro Downs is about 25 minutes driving time, through the countryside, from my home.

I told my wife, Corinna, about Stephenie's appearance and she decided that she would join me in meeting the Survivor...as Corinna really enjoys Survivor as well!

I started looking up images of Stephenie, on various websites, to see if there was anything cool to get signed. Since, this was a appearance at a casino/racetrack, I figured that there would be a giveaway picture of some sorts...possibly a 4x6, 5x7, or a 8x10. I hoped that I could get my own picture autographed and recieve one of the giveaways...if I asked nicely enough! Corinna was hoping for just a giveaway for herself.

After searching google images, I found a cool looking cast photograph of the Survivor's from 'Heroes vs. Villains', and decided that this would the pic to get signed by Stephenie. I know that other Survivors, like Ethan, Boston Rob & Amber, and Johnny Fairplay (to name a few), and travel to Ontario to for signings...so this way I could have something to get signed if other contestants from 'Heroes vs. Villains' come to Ontario for a signing.













After deciding on the photo, it was now the waiting game.

Fast forward to the Sunday, of the signing.

After driving south to Flamboro Downs, from Guelph, we arrived at the racetrack about 30 minutes before the signing. We entered the building, and headed for the casino part of the racetrack...where the signing was to take place.


















Now, before I continue...let me give you a head's up. Since, we weren't allowed to bring our camera inside the casino...sadly, there are no photos of my 'autograph encounter'.

I'll use photos from the internet for reference. These pics aren't my own.

When Corinna and I walked inside the casino, immediately to our right was a table set-up for Stephenie's event. Apparently the casino was giving away an HD television everyday in the month of May, and brought in Stephenie to help promote their contest. We scouted out the line in front of the table, which had a tropical theme around it(Surivior-ish?!), and found no one.

Yup, no one was in line.

So, Corinna and I did what came naturally...we played a few slots!

After a small donation to the casino, we heard over an announcement that Stephenie had arrived and had was beginning to start her autograph signing. When we made our way back to the entrance of the casino, where she was signing, a few people had already lined up. In the line-up, we were approached by a representative of the casino, and asked if we were 'Winner's Circle' members. I said that we both were members of the casino's VIP club, and he asked if he could see our cards. Of course, neither Corinna or myself had our cards with us, so the rep said that with our cards, we could enter a contest to win a very private meet and greet dinner with Stephenie later in the afternoon. Good enough for me! He took our information, and went to get us both some new cards.

When he returned, we were still in line, he gave us both our new cards, entry ballots into the meet and greet with Stephenie, 5 dollars in casino cash, and a ballot to enter the draw for the HD televison! Pretty cool, eh?

For those that know me well...know that I'm a very, very "lucky" person. I'll just leave it at that.

After stuffing all this paperwork into our pockets, it was our time to meet one of the greatest Surivior contestants to play the game!


















I approached Stephenie, with Corinna at my side, and said hello. She welcomed us, smiling, asking us how we were doing. After our greetings, I showed her my Survivor; Heroes vs Villains cast photo, and she looked very impressed. After signing only her 5x7 giveaway photos, she looked at us as real fans for having something for her to sign!

"Wow, guys...this looks like the promo's the network gave out!" Stephenie said, looking at my picture, and then rubbing her finger over the image to see if it was truly a giveaway. "No" I began, "I found it this cool shot, on Google images". "It's really cool" She answered. "Where would you like me to sign it?" Stephenie asked. I looked at the picture, and saw that she was standing in front of Colby Donaldson (another fan favourite). "Would you mind signing right above Colby?" I suggested.

She took her black Sharpie, and beautifully signed her autograph, adding an incription.














She signed her name, then added S10, S11, S20, and finally a 'smiley face'. Her inscription, which she seems to add to everything she autographs, represents her 3 seasons on Survivor.

After she signed my 8x10, I asked her some autograph questions, that she agreed to answer...I'll post the 2nd "AQW..." later this week, featuring our short conversion!

After our private Q&A about signing autographs, Stephenie signed a 5x7 for Corinna and I individually. This was the giveaway, that featured the OLG Slots logo and Stephenie posing for a candid Surivior photo.












We thanked Stephenie for her time, shook hands, and parted ways.

Or so we thought.

It was at this point we noticed my friend Mike, and chatted with him for a few minutes, after he got a few things signed by Stephenie LaGrossa. After our conversation with Mike, we went back into the casino for another quick donation!

Afterwards, Corinna and I walked out of the casino, and sat down in the lounge area to take a proper look at all the paperwork we were given earlier. We began to fill out the ballots we were given, and properly read the other ballots we recieved. I filled out a pair of ballots for the meet & greet with Stephenie, as Corinna did also, and then Corinna put our ballots into the drum for the 4pm draw. I put our televison ballots into another drum...hoping for a big screen win!

After taking a walk around the building, seeing the sights of Flamboro Downs, it was soon time for the draw for the meet & greet. The draw for the tv was to happen at midnight...we weren't staying that long!

We saw the racetrack officials gather around the drum, and began to pull out 5 ballots. There was at least 100 ballots filled out, and I figured that our chances were slim.

But we did have hope!

They began to announce the 5 winners, over the speaker system, and our names...weren't included.

Corinna said, "Alright Mr Lucky, you can't win them all! Let's go home". I agreed, and we began to walk out of the atrium, headed for the parking lot.

"Our 5 winners have 5 minutes to claim their prize, or we will draw again until we have 5 winners!"

Those were the magic words that stopped us both in our tracks! Corinna and I, smiled at eachother, and quickly decided to stick around to see what would happen.

After the longest 5 minutes of our day, 3 winners claimed their great prizes, leaving 2 prizes unclaimed.

"We will be drawing two more names for our meet and greet with Stephenie LaGrossa, and full dinner..."

I looked at Corinna and said, "They're going to pull your name!". She laughed, and responded; "I never win, you're the lucky one here!"

The rep's began to announce the 2nd set of names..."Fred (I can't remember his last name)...and..."

You pretty much know who they pulled next right?!

Me.

After they announced my name, I looked at Corinna who was just smiling and shaking her head. "See...you always win!". I just laughed, and went to go over to where the ballot box was, to claim my prize.

The rep's told me that I just won a private meet and greet with Stephenie, where there will be a professional photographer taking pictures of the winners with Stephenie, and private Q&A session, and a 5 star dinner in the private 'Confederation Room'. I asked if I could bring my wife with me, and they said yes, that the prize was for the winner plus one guest. I thanked them a million times, and walked back to where Corinna was.

"The good news is that I won the prize, the bad news is I can't bring anyone with me!" I said to her, pulling a prank...as I often do with Corinna.

"Nice try, I heard what they said...I'm going with you!" She responed laughing, giving me a shot in the arm!

After sharing a laugh, talking about the prize, and figuring out what questions we would ask in the Q&A, we waited until 5pm...when the private event began.

We headed upstairs, above the casino, to where the seating was to view the horseraces, and spotted the 'Confederation Room', off in the secluded corner of the area. After realizing that Flamboro Downs was host to the annual 'Confederation Cup' race, we put 2 and 2 together on why this private room has this distinct name.

At 5pm, the rep's invited the winners and their guests into the Confederation Room. They had a photo area set up in the back corner of the room, where Stephenie was waiting for everyone to come in for private, professional photos. The photographer had a great little set up, with a couple lamps, and a black backdrop.

We were about the 4 or 5 couple in line, and we were checking out our surroundings, as we waited for our turn to say hello to Stephenie again.

The had a massive buffet table set up against the far wall, which was about 15 feet long. In front of the bar area, was a dessert table that was about 7 feet long. Between us (against one wall), and the buffet dinner wall, was about 10 round tables...all beatufully decorated in white.

Flamboro Downs did it up.

It was our turn with Stephenie, to have our picture taken. She smiled at us, as she said hi guys...hopefully recognize us from earlier. The photographer quickly explained that this photo will be available after the dinner for us to take home, as I stood beside Stephenie, and Corinna stood on her other side. Stephenie commented on that I should in the middle, because Corinna and her were both wearing the same colour (white)...I responded by saying that she was the celeb here, and she should be in the middle! She laughed, and said ok, as the photographer took a couple of shots.

Afterwards, we thanked her and the photographer, and we were directed by the rep's to find a seat at any table, and help ourselves to dinner.

Music to my ears!

Corinna and I picked a couple spots facing where Stephenie was hopefully going to speaking, and headed over to the big buffet table.

Oh my word...they did it up. 5 star is truly what this spread was!

We started at the bread area, where there was 3 different loaves of bread, and a huge bowl of various buns. Next was the salad bar, where you had 3 types of salads to build. After grabbing a small Greek salad, next was the pasta. I can't begin to remember how many styles they had, but I took some Rigatoni. Next was the main courses. They had 'jerk' flavoured ribs, smoked Salmon, roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes, chicken wings, steamed vegeatables, two kinds of rices, breaded lamb chops, and a honey ham.

I grabbed a little bit of overthing, and headed back to our table, where Corinna was waiting for me. I smiled at her, and mentioned how great my luck was! She laughed, and began with her salad.

After dinner and a quick jaunt to the desset table, the Q&A was about to begin.

Stephenie took a mic, and walked into the centre area, and began to talk about her life. She mentioned that she grew up in a catholic family, in Philadephia, the only sister to 3 (or 4?) older brothers. She spoke about her college career, then began to talk about her audition tape that she made to try and get on Survivor.


















She explained that, she and some her friends went to a Bon Jovi concert in Philly, and that Jon Bon Jovi picked her out of the crowd and brought her on stage to dance with him during a song!

So she submitted that scene to Survivor, saying that "If Jon Bon Jovi could pick me out of a crowd of thousands, you should be able to, too!". This got a huge laugh, and a round of applause!

She also went onto mention that she is now engaged to Philadephia Philles starting pitcher, Kyle Kendrick, and that she owns a pizza restaurant named GIGI Restaurant & Lounge in Philadelphia.














She began the Q&A session after this, and I had the first question!

I asked her how her shoulder was feeling, (as she separated in the first episode of Heroes vs Villains) and if James ever apologized for how her treated you on H vs V?

Stephenie began to explain how her shoulder got injured, and that not everything went down as it was broadcasted on tv. She told us how it happened, and how she had to pop it back into it's socket during the challenge. She also went on to say that she participated in the challenge after the injury was corrected! I won't comment on what she said about the editing of her injury, but you can all probably figure it out.

When she went to answer my question about James, a few people booed! During H vs V, she was labelled kryptonite by fellow cast member James Clement due to her inability to listen to the designated leader and his repetitive statements that whatever tribe she is on, it will be destined to fail. He, in my opinion, really came off as a bully, and eventually led a group to vote her off the show.

Stephenie said that during a wrap party, in which her fiance Kyle Kendrick also attended with her, that James approached both of them together as a couple...and apologized to both of them for his actions during Heroes vs Villains. She smiled as she said this, seeming to be touched that James said this to her and her partner. I was glad she shared this private moment with us all, when all she had to say was that "it was dealt with".

Corinna got ask a question next, which was "Where does everyone go, after the get voted off the island?" Stephenie gave a very honest answer! Sorry, but I won't reveal what was said here...I don't want to get sued by the producers of Survior! But if you ever cross paths with me, just ask...I'll tell you in person.

Stephenie went on to reveal some things like, that it takes 3 days of filming to fit into each 44 minute episode. Contestants really do stink after awhile, but 'you get used to it!". There are over 500 employees for each season, running around the tribes and setting up challenges. That Playboy has asked her 3 times to appear nude, and she has said no all 3 times..."The fact I have a Catholic family, with older brothers and a dad, kind of makes it difficult to do Playboy!" she joked.

She really gave open and honest questions into Survivor, which I'll be happy to share with you, if you ask in person.

After the hour long Q&A session, which had a great amount of laughs!, it was time for Stephenie to get going. The photographer returned with framed photos of our pictures with Stephenie, which she then handed out to the winners! When we got our photo, we quickly saw how special it was. Flamboro Downs had put in a special matte, that had an OLG Slots logo, the date, and had Stephenie autograph the matte for us! It looked great!















We both went over and shook Stehenie LaGrossa's hand one final time, and said goodbye.

What a great day.