Well, a few weeks ago...I got to scratch one off of that short list.
Let's do this, with a timeline.
Let's roll.
"Number 4"
7:41am; Sleeping, quite nicely. Then the bloody phone rang. It's Ernie's number. I decided to answer my co-worker's way-too-early call.
7:42am; "Chris, wake up man. Bobby Orr is going to be at 570news, for a 9am appearance" Ernie yelled at me! "What?!!" I replied, still half-asleep. "Buddy...Bobby Orr is in Kitchener, and is going to be at 570news...we need to go and try for his autograph!". I instantly went from neutral to 5th gear, in a nano-second!"
7:43am; The conversion continued. "Alright man, I've got a 12 inch McFarlane figure, I'm going to try to get him to sign the base" I said. "I've got a puck and a 6 inch McFarlane base, I'm trying for" Ernie responded. "You know, I heard he only personalizes autographs and is strict one per person!" I mentioned. "Gotta try!" Ernie responded. "Alright, let's try to get him on the way in...I'm grabbing a quick shower and I'm out" I said. "See ya there, he's supposed to be on the air for 9am". "Ok, see you there". I said, hanging up.
7:44am; I decided to text my army buddy Richard to see if he wanted to come along. "Going to try for Bobby Orr, leaving in 10 minutes, coming?" I texted him. I text my friends Ryan and Bill with the news also.
7:46am; Stepping in shower, my Blackberry went off. "Yes!" Is all Richard said!
7:57am; Out of shower, deodorized, and dressed.
7:59am; Got McFarlane base, heading out the door.
8:03am; Picked up Richard, about to turn Highlander in Kitchener's direction.
8:10am; Hitting traffic on Hwy 7. Very common between Guelph and Kitchener. Big pain in the butt though!
8:22am; Searching for parking spot, 570news building is in our sites...one hound outside.
8:25am; The Highlander is locked up, and is safe. Richard and I quickly walked across King St., headed for the front door.
8:26am; No sign of Ernie yet. Funny...he lives in Kitchener!
8:27am; The hound says that Orr went in, and his manager said no autographs to him. Orr is just with his manager, and no other entourage. The fact that Orr didn't sign for one person...makes my heart sink.
8:30am; I call Ernie to see where he is, and to give him the update.
8:33am; No sign of Ernie, but people are walking out of the 570news building with signed Orr stuff. Starting to feel upbeat again.
8:37am; Richard and I scout out the building for exits, finding only 2. If Orr leaves out the back door...we'll see him!
8:40am; After chatting with the hound, Richard and I decide to investigate which vehicle Orr came in.
8:43am; We discover that Orr and his manager has parked on King St., in a new Equinox. Now we know, where they're headed after Orr's interview!
8:45am; Sitting outside 570news, enjoying the sunshine.
8:47am; Guess who shows up?! Ernie comes walking down King St., Richard gives him a hard time about showing up late! Lotsa laughs!
8:51am; More people coming out with autographs. Maybe it's time to try going into the radio station?
8:54am; Ernie and I consider going up...but pass, as it's time for his interview. Maybe afterwards.
9:04am; Ernie tunes in 570news on his iPhone (Boo!) and we all listen to his interview.
9:06am; Both Ryan and Bill respond with "good luck" on getting Orr. They can't make it.
9:09am; Richard decides to help Ernie get his puck signed. Ernie's going to try to get his 6 inch McFarlane base signed.
9:14am; We're sitting around chatting about Orr's website and authenticating company that handles his autographs.
9;21am; Ernie show us the pictures he brought along. If he can, he'll try for more. I'm content with my base, at this point.
9:28am; Take a walk showing Ernie the back of the building, and Orr's ride.
9:30am; Orr's interview ends. Now the nerves are jumping.
9:31am; A mother and her 2 daughters show up, trying to meet Orr also. Now our group is at 7.
9:36am; Ernie and I decide to make a leap of faith, after hearing on the radio that "Bobby Orr wanted to know, how many people are outside?". My heart sinks again. If Orr wanted to know how many people there are...he probably won't sign leaving! Ernie and I make our move. We enter the building.
9;38am; In elevator heading up to 570news office.
9:41am; Turned away at the front desk! Secretary repeats what we just found out...Orr wants to know many people are outside.
9;44am; Back out front, in the sunshine. I love summer!
9:47am; Action! Out walks Orr's manager! No Orr though. Not good.
9:49am; The manager walked out to the car (we were right!), and drives off. I figure he's going to bring to the back of the building...so we walk to the rear of the 570news building.
9:51am; I was right. The car pulls up. Suddenly, the garage door opens...and the car heads underground.
9:53am; With the car now out of sight...it's gone from tough to impossible. I explain to everyone, that Orr will just hop in the vehicle...the car will drive out...and keep going. He won't stop for our group, which now has 2 more people...as a young couple arrived with a McFarlane figure of their own.
9:55am; Ernie's nervous. I'm panicked. Richard was cautiously optismitic. "Don't worry guys, Bobby will see the 2 young daughters and their signs, and stop and sign. Hopefully he'll sign for everyone else too!" The retired soldier said. I liked Richard's attitude.
9:59am; No sign of Orr. Another person joins the group. He's wearing a Orr jersey. This is getting far too big, I think to myself.
10:04am; We hear a car start, inside the building. The 2 young girls stand near the garage door...good move, as Orr would see them, and their Orr signs first!
10:06am; Things start to move in slow motion for me. Here we go, I thought, as the garage door began to open.
10:07am; The GM product began to roll forward towards the exit and our group, with the manager driving, and the greatest defenseman of all time in the passenger seat. For the first time in my life, I saw Bobby Orr! I grinned at the sight. That grin turned into a full blown smile, as I saw something that made me feel great. Bobby Orr reached down, and lifted up...A BLACK SHARPIE!
10:08am; Bobby Orr rolls down his window and greets the 2 young girls, thanking them for their cool signs! After a second...he says "This isn't working for me!" and opens the door, and steps out of the car to sign autographs!
10:09am; Richard spots a pin on Orr's shirt, and asks him if that's a 'Support the Troops' pin? Orr said yes! Attaboy Bobby...support our Canadian Heroes!
10:10am; After almost 20 years of waiting, I finally get to meet (arguably) the great hockey player of all time! I said "Hello, Mr. Orr!" He replies "Hello, whom do I make this out to?", as I hand him my McFarlane base. "My name is Chris, and thank you for stopping to sign for us!". "My pleasure" Number 4 answers. I looked down, and watched him sign "To Chris, Good Luck Always, Bobby Orr". And in the span of about 3 or 4 seconds...I got Bobby Orr's autograph! I thanked him, and stepped aside for Ernie!
10:11am; Things kinda turned into a blur at this point. Call it shock...happiness...whatever! I was just stunned looking at my autograph! Ernie got his base signed...and a picture with Orr. Richard got Ernie's Boston Bruins puck autographed.
10:12am; Instantly, my mind clicked. I didn't get a photo with the Hall of Famer! Orr was autographing for the man with the jersey, when I asked Bobby directly for a picture with him! "Sure, just give me a minute...I need to sign for everybody!" Incredible answer! Simply incredible.
10:14am; With my Blackberry in his hand, Richard zoomed in on Bobby Orr and I. I was standing next to the legend, with our arms around eachother...when Richard took our picture together!
10:15am; Looked at Richard's pic...and loved it!
10:16am; We all thank Bobby Orr, as he finished signing for every person waiting...and hopped into his car, waving goodbye as we watched the GM pull away!
10:17am; We highfived eachother on our success!
10:20am; Still on a personal high, we walked back to our vehicles! Ernie discovers something...his picture didn't turn out! Oh no! Well...at least he got 2 autographs in total!
11:00am; Back home, with a new autograph. The autograph of number four...Bobby Orr. A new highlight of my large collection.
Epilogue; Many thanks to Ernie for tuning into 570news, so early that wonderful morning, and waking me up! Thanks to Richard for coming out, staying positive, and helping us out! And the biggest thanks to Mr. Orr, for being incredibly kind...when most would've driven on by their fans!
Thanks for the read! As always, your comments are welcome! (Don't forget to leave your name!)
Ps- Just a side note...Ernie finally did get that picture with Bobby Orr, after all...as we met Orr the next day in Waterloo! (No autographs)
