SHAQ!!!

The fact that Shaq was the last active member of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players meant he was still playing long after I received my lithograph. Even though I have had the litho for over 10 NBA seasons, I had not had luck getting Shaq to sign my litho. Between not being able to attend games, or the team he was playing for leaving town right after the game, things had just not gone my way. After he retired, he was still in the public eye, as he did pre-game for TNT, and was in numerous commercials. When I got the list of signers for the November Chicago Sun-Times show, he was one of the marquee names! I paused, however, when I saw the price; two hundred ninety nine dollars! I thought this might be a once-in-a-lifetime event, so I bought a ticket. When the day arrived, I wanted to be sure to be in view of him when he walked to the table, so Will could get an idea of just how big Shaquille is. Our number came up quickly, as I had number 57. When it was our turn, I made a request: I wanted him to sign his first and last name. He signed the litho, and made a point to talk to Will, which I thought was sweet. I asked him for a group picture, and he said “Sure.” It wasn’t until I had left the table, and was at the PSA/DNA table, to get it authenticated, that I noticed that Shaq did exactly as I had asked. He had signed the lithograph, “Shaquille O’Neal”! I have never seen ANY autographs of his with his full first name. Not that they don’t exist, but I am saying that I have never seen one. Even though it was the most expensive autograph I have ever paid for, it was one of the coolest autograph experiences I have had in a very long time.

Coming up next...SHAQ!

I will be getting Shaq's autograph on November 17th. On the litho, of course! Pictures, description, and my ravings to follow in about a week! Stay tuned.

Bob Pettit!!

There have been signings that I have looked forward to for a long time, and there are those that, dare I say, I have passed on. This one fell in the grey area in the middle. I was not sure, even two days before, if I would go. I had seen the advertisement on an autograph website about a month before, but just couldn’t convince myself that I was definitely going. Since I would not have to take the day off, and my family could go with me, I decided to make an entire day of it. We all loaded in the car around 7 a.m., and we headed to St. Louis! After the drive, we stopped at the Arch and spent a couple of hours enjoying the monument and the waterfront. The signing did not start until 7, and I wanted to be one of the first in line so we could get back on the road home. James Worthy’s picture was just below Pettit’s, and Worthy had signed above his picture instead of below! I had to ask Mr. Pettit to squeeze his autograph beside Worthy’s. He smiled and said, “No problem.” I asked Bob who was the toughest person he ever defended, and he answered Bill Russell. A very long trip was worthwhile, as I am one autograph closer to being finished with this monumental task! This was one autograph I did not think I would get, so it was extra special.

No, I didn't give up....

Okay, Okay. I know it has been a REALLY long time since I have posted, but there hasn't been much going on in the autograph world with me. I got a couple of new autographs on my NBA litho, Elgin Baylor, and Jerry Lucas. But what I am posting about today is NASCAR. There are always plenty of autograph opportunities when the NASCAR series comes to Michigan. What makes me extra pumped this time around is that I have been in contact with Roger Curtis, President of MIS, and he says there will be an autograph session with multiple drivers on race weekend. The better part? I AM GUARANTEED PASSES TO THE SESSION!!! I am hoping that Jeff Gordon will be one of the signers, because I want my nephew Jared to meet JG. Everyone - and I mean everyone - in our family has met Jeff(including my 3 year old son) except Jared. Hopefully I will get more information tonight on MIS Live!, a video chat with Mr. Curtis. He stages them before the race to get people talking about NASCAR and MIS. Wish me luck!