As you know, I'm currently writing about 3 signings that I attended over the span of 2 days...that were all free! I hoped you enjoyed my Camilo Villegas autograph adventure! Now, let's get moving to the next chapter.
NBA 1st Rounder or NHL Rookie of the Year?
For over a month, I was checking the 'Rogers/NBA 3 on 3 Challenge' webpage for any autograph news. It's a tournament, that takes place in major cities across Canada, for basketball amateurs...aka "street-ballers". The Toronto stop was coming up, and the webpage promised a NBA player, or two, to appear at the tournament.
This was good news for me, as I currently own an unsigned basketball that I purchased for Chris Bosh to sign. The only problem was...Bosh didn't make the signing, leaving me with a basketball that I purchased on the way to the signing! Not to mention a couple of 8x10's too, but that's a story for another day. Bosh does make appearances in Toronto often, so I'm not too worried about the 8x10's.
Back to the story.
A couple days prior to the Toronto tourney, the website said that the player scheduled to appear would be the Toronto Raptors 2009 1st round pick, DeMar DeRozan. I thought this was terrific news! I have the chance to get the 9th overall pick, before he becomes an NBA superstar on my basketball...for free! Awesome! He was scheduled to sign from 10:30am to 11:30am, at the CNE grounds, where the 3 on 3 tournament was being held. I was afternoons that week, which meant very little sleep Friday night going into Saturday morning. I'd have to be up, ready, and on the road by 9:15am to get to downtown Toronto on time, safely. After talking to Corinna about my plans for Saturday, I got the green light to go!
Then things changed for me...drastically.
Friday afternoon rolled around, and I was checking my regular autograph-news websites when I came across some potential weekend changing information!
The 2009 NHL Rookie of the Year, Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets, was going to be appearing in Kitchener for a free signing...at the same time as DeRozan in Toronto!
WHAT TO DO?!
Let me explain a few things here; Firstly, Mason just finished doing a public signing, a few weeks back, at Frameworth (a Toronto autograph/collectables shop) for $25.00 an autograph...which isn't a bad price at all for an Rookie of the Year Award Winner. The chance to get him...for free...was tempting to say the least. Secondly, Kitchener, Ontario is a city that neighbours my city of Guelph. Actually, the cities of Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, and Guelph could merge one day to become one mega-city, they're all so close to eachother! So, when the chance to get an autograph within my city limits occurs, I (usually) jump at the chance. Not only just to gain an autograph, but to support local businesses in hopes that they'll bring in another signing!
Steve Mason was to sign autographs at "Sportzone", a sports equipment retailer, for their grand re-opening Saturday morning, starting at 11am. Sportzone is exactly 24 km's from my house, whereas the CNE is exactly 90 kms.
10 minutes or 1 hour?
Goalie or Guard?
After stressing for about 15 minutes, I chose.
DeMar DeRozan...another time.
The fact that Mason was around the corner, made the decision for me. I'll have to get that basketball signed, yet another time! Now, the tough part...what to get signed...on such short notice?!!
I realized that there was no way for me to travel to Frameworth, Frozen Pond, or AJ's Sportworld to see if they had 8x10's of Mason...as I had to be at work in about 1 hour...leaving only Saturday morning available to get something done! None of those stores weren't going to be open in time for me to get back to Kitchener for the signing in time. The tough part about Guelph, being a autograph collector, is that there really is no place in town for supplies.
Then, I had an idea. I would have to print off my own photo of Mason. I would of liked to have had a puck, but like I said...short notice was killing my preferences. I went to Google, and looked at the images of Steve Mason the website had to offer. The good news was...I really liked one picture, that luckily enough, was large enough to print off! I saved the image to my computer, and loaded it on my 'jump drive'. Then...off to Toyota, to make Corolla's & Matrix's I went.
Saturday morning, I got up, showered, and got ready to roll. I decided to got to Walmart to print off my Steve Mason 8x10 AND another photo of something...that you'll find out about in Chapter 3 of this 3 parter! Like the suspense I just created?! After Corinna decided to join me, we were off to Walmart, and then the neighbourhood autograph signing! The time was 9:30am.
We entered Walmart, went into the photolab, and I was surprised that no one was using the photo machines! Ususally, when I want to print something off quickly, there is a bunch of people trying to print off their vacation photos! I used the instant printer, and printed off the Mason photo. I also put in an order the my "other" photo. After paying for both images, we were on our way to Sportzone...my stomach had other ideas though!
After a detour, for a quick bite, we finally got headed in the right direction! A hungry man, is a irritable man!
We arrived at Sportzone around 10:45ish. When we approached the front doors, we noticed that Bauer hockey had a display booth set up outside their front doors, and was showing off new products. Another time, I thought, walking by. Then a family walked out, with their autographed items...he was here already, and signing early! Awesome! I couldn't tell you how many times I've waited (and waited) for celebrities to show up super-late...I'm looking at you Jaromir Jagr and Dominik Hasek!
We entered this sports-superstore, and were impressed by the size of it. It really reminded me of "National Sports", if you know who they are. I walked up to the line, and sized it up. We were about 40-50 people deep, with most being families in front of us. I noticed one or two regulars...guys who go to every single signing, regardless of it's price or location. I wonder if these guys actually work?!
I mentioned to Corinna, that I wanted to take a looksy at the signing table to see what was going on. After she said yes, I walked towards the front of the line, checking out the people, and scanning what they had to get signed by Mason. There was a few people that had his OHL team jerseys, both the Kitchener Rangers and the (hated) London Knights. There was some Columbus Blue Jackets items, but not too plentiful. I guess the short notice bug, just didn't bite me in the butt!
The store had 2 shooting cages, much like a batting cage, but with a hockey net for people to try out potential hockey sticks and such. At the far end of the one shooting cage, was the signing table with Steve Mason and a Sportzone employee, who was directing traffic. I noticed to the right of Mason, was a stack of 8x10's. Were they free?! I watched the next family go up to meet and greet with Steve Mason. They handed him their jersey, which he signed. Mason then turned, took a couple of the 8x10's and autographed them for everyone there. Yep, they were free. YES!
Excited, I went back to Corinna and told her the good news. I asked her to verify my claim...just to make sure that it wasn't just for kids, that it was indeed for everybody. She went and checked out the surroundings, and came back with a positive response. It looks like another free 8x10! First Camilo Villegas, up and coming star in the PGA...now, Steve Mason, up and coming star in the NHL!
Now, the waiting game. Stupid lines!
After about 20 minutes or so, we were next in line. After the family in front of us, vacated the shooting cage, we were up. Corinna and I walked into the shooting cage.
Corinna trailed behind me, ready with our camera, to document this autograph adventure. I approached Steve Mason, and spoke; "Hi Steve, how ya doing?". He replied with "Good, you?". I was good also, and I handed him my Walmart printed photo, and asked him to sign it. I heard Corinna take a shot.
While he signed my photo, I asked him to add his "Rookie of the Year" inscription. Adding this inscription, generally adds value to it, as it's usually a rare item to be found beneath an autograph. Now, usually most players, who've won the award, will inscribe the following..."ROY 2009 or ROY '09". It's just the abbreviation with the year they won the prestigious award. Steve Mason did one better! He actually took the time, and wrote out "Rookie of the Year" entirely! A rare feat!
I was very appreciative of that inscription. I asked him if he could sign one of the giveaway 8x10's for my wife and I, which he did kindly. As he signed this one, I asked if it was okay to have a picture with him? He said sure! Walking behind the signing table, I joined Steve Mason, and Corinna took our posed picture. Afterwards, I shook his hand and thanked him for his time.
All said and done, passing on the Raptors first round pick, for the NHL's Rookie of the Year...was a good move.
We took a walk around the store, to see what the had to offer. This store was a complete sports store, covering almost all sports! We were impressed. Leaving the store, we saw that the Bauer set up, was still there. We took a good look at their offerings, and we were given a couple of free Bauer water bottles!
Man, was this our day...or what?!
Well, readers, that's it for chapter 2. Another free signing, another free 8x10, thank you very much!
Please come back this weekend, as I'll finish up the 3 parter, with the finale. Want a hint on who it is? Here's clue...He's a Toronto Maple Leaf legend.
Take care,
C.
I'm very curious who the Leaf's Legend is....
ReplyDelete