The Autograph Connection: Random Thoughts February 2003

Random Thoughts & Autograph Experiences
February 2003

It's Spring Training time again. Be sure to check out my Spring Training Journal, which will be updated every week here on the site (I'll give you the URL after my first trip). Every Saturday, with the exception of the 8th, will be devoted to autographing and baseball, always a great combination.

Here's the game plan (subject to change)...

Prez Day: Tampa Bay first thing in the morning and Yankees on the way home

Feb 22: Detroit in morning then driving to Philly's camp

March 1: LA in Vero, Expos on the way home (time permitting)

March 15: Minor leagues-D'Rays vs Toronto

March 22: Montreal (plays St. Louis...will probably do the minor leagues)

March 29: up in the air but probably Minor leagues-Phillies vs Toronto

I'll be taking a half day of work sometime during the first two weeks to attend the Houston camp. Here's the autographs that I desire this Spring Training:

Tom Lasorda: need him to complete my Victory Team USA set

Biggio: still haven't gotten his autograph though everyone says he's easy...hmmm.

Kirk Gibson: now a coach for the Tigers, should be fairly accessible

Wade Miller: underappreciated and one of the best throwers in the game

Joe Kennedy: need him to complete a Rays poster already signed by Huff and Hall

Jim Thome: tough signer but might be easier to get with a new team

Gavin Floyd: if all the hype is correct, this guy is going to be good

Any former Mariners out there like Raul Chavez, Brian Lesher, and Gene Kingsale (cups of coffee with the Mariners)

Matt Sinatro: followed Lou to TB...always been tough (why?)

The Masters dilemma in Augusta

The Masters Golf Tournament has become a political hotbed and has turned one of sport’s most storied traditions into an utter joke. First there was Martha Burk, head of the National Council of Women’s Organizations, who wants to boycott the Masters because the private club doesn’t allow women. Let me reemphasize this point: Augusta is a private club. It doesn’t have to allow women as club members.

Next there was the PGA who remained on the fence about the issue and wouldn’t address the issue but because they allow the tournament to be played in Augusta, they are “guilty” by default in discriminating against women. So what does the PGA do? They allow Annika Sorenstam to compete in a men’s event causing more people to get their tighty whiteys in a bunch. Then the KKK decided they were going to protest at the Masters against Martha Burk. That’s just what Tiger needs. I’m sure Tiger, the biggest draw to any golf event, wants to participate in an event that has the obviously racial discrimantors picketing outside the greens.

Throw into the mix the Reverend Jesse Jackson. I’m sure Al Sharpton will get involved now that Jesse is involved. Advertisers are nervous because they don’t want to be perceived as endorsing the discrimination. Add in media coverage, both positive and negative for every group involved, and we have the media circus that the PGA adores, even if the spin is not entirely positive (the legendary quote of “any news is good news”).

This situation is out of control. No golfer wants to make a stand on the issue because they are worried that they may lose millions of dollars in endorsements if their employers feel that their stance may cast a dark shadow on their product. I think that in itself is riduculous. Who will ever equate gender inequality with a golf product? Aren’t the manufacturers already targeting the male audience so what would it matter if Arnold Palmer said who’s side he’s on? Have you ever seen a golf ad, not in Women’s Golf magazine, that featured a prominent female golfer, like a Nancy Lopez? I haven’t.

So, who’s side am I on? No one’s side. It’s not because I’m a “fence sitter” but because all parties in this situation have made me utterly sick in using sports as an outlet to voice their political and personal agendas. To me, sports is an outlet to escape the political worries of the world and in today’s world, we have many political worries. So for me, my idea of protest: I’m not watching the Masters. True, nobody’s going to care what one golf enthusiast is going to do but I don’t want to feel as though I’m endorsing any of the parties involved in the dispute.

The Glove comes off in Seattle

The trade of my favorite player, Gary Payton, has marked the end of a wonderful era for Sonics basketball. OK, so the Sonics never won a championship under the leadership of the Glove, but I'm still ticked off about the Payton trade. Not only is my favorite player gone but my next favorite player in Mason is gone as well. I can't stand Ray Allen (overrated and a crappy defender) and I can't stand Elden Campbell either (in the Kenny deal).

I'm in a state of mourning today. I wore my black socks to work the day after the trade to mourn.

In-Person Autographing

San Antonio Spurs: Couldn’t have been a better day for autographing. Was able to get David Robinson on his last trip to Florida as a player as he came back from practice. That in itself made it a good day for autographing. Plus, another autographer needed an extra P.J. Carlesimo photo…so, he got an extra David Robinson photo signed for me and I got him an extra P.J. photo signed. Not a bad trade-off, eh?

The Spurs stayed at a different hotel than most teams and the hotel they stayed out make it hard for autographers. Security told us that we couldn’t come up to the front doors, where the bus was for the team, so we had to stay about 50 yards from the entrance. This made it hard to coerce some of the players to come over and sign. Luckily a number of players decided to walk to the arena or took cabs so they had to walk past us.

We called over Gregg Popovich and he started signing for us. He asked, “Why are you guys all the way over here?” We told him how the hotel wouldn’t allow us to be any closer. “Well, you’re not going to get any autographs over here,” he told us as he finished signing. As soon as he walked back to the entrance, he started talking to one of the security guards. The guard pointed Popovich to the head of security and started pointing to us. A few minutes later, the head of security came over to us and said, “You all can come up to the entrance but you have to form a single line.” We couldn’t believe it. I’d never seen a coach stick up for autographers before. Because of Popovich, we were able to get Tim Duncan and Tony Parker.

So, big time kudos go out to Popovich. Here’s my haul:

Gregg Popovich: custom ic
Mengke Beteer: custom ic
David Robinson: photo
Tim Duncan: SI
Tony Parker: printout
Speedy Claxton: 4 photos, 2 cards (with that many extra photos, who wants to trade something for one or two photos?)
Emanual Ginoboli: printout
Stephen Jackson: printout

Tigers Fantasy Camp & Devil Rays signing: I went for the second weekend of Detroit Tigers fantasy camp. I went mainly because I had heard that Frank Tanana was going to be at the camp and I wanted to interview him for my book. However, Tanana was a no show.

With that disappointment, I then asked around to see if Willie Horton, who typically is at these camps, was present. Willie has alluded me for years and this year would be no different. He was in camp but had to leave camp early because his hemorrhoids flared up again (no, I’m not making this stuff up).

As usual, a few guys not listed on any web sites showed up to participate, leaving me without any items for Dan Petry and Guillermo “Willie” Hernandez. I’d never gotten Willie before, so I had him sign the back of my business card.

Kaline was being a punk, ignoring the few autograph hounds that were at the camp. I didn’t stay around for the end, but I can only expect that Kaline wasn’t going to sign for anybody but the actual campers.

Here’s my haul at the camp:
Mickey Lolich: photo
Dave Rozema: photo and three cards
Lance Parrish: 6 cards
Don Wert: photo
John Hiller: photo
Jason Thompson: 2 cards
Darrell Evans: photo and 1 card

Then, it was off to Tampa for a stop on the Devil Rays Care-A-Van at the Westshore Plaza. Had to wait in line for about 45 minutes but it was great to be in line with other baseball fans to talk about everything regarding baseball. Here’s my haul at the signing:

Rocco Baldelli: Baseball America and 2 cards
Lance Carter: customized index card and a photo that the Rays provided (if anyone has cards of this guy, please email me)
Aubrey Huff: 2 cards and a poster of him, Hall, and Kennedy (still a punk even though he was at this signing…you can tell that he just doesn’t like to sign)
Carl Crawford: 3 cards
Nick Bierbordt (spelling?): 3 cards
Toby Hall: 3 cards, a poster of himself, and the aforementioned combo poster

I am not sure why I decided to start the combo poster since Joe Kennedy has been the toughest Rays player to get (at least for me). But, with the seemingly 70 non-roster invitees that the Rays have at Spring Training, I just might go see the Rays one day this Spring instead of waiting to see the Rays during the regular season.

New Jersey Nets: I really don’t like this team. Full of attitude and bad signers. I was able to get Richard Jefferson and Kenyon Martin for the first time and now that I got Jefferson and Martin, I doubt I’ll make another trip any time soon for this team. Eventhough I did get a number of autographs, the team is not friendly. Kidd only signed for about 4 people and Byron Scott wouldn’t even acknowledge us. Kelly Tripuka, one of their broadcasters, only signed for one person even though I was right next to that person and I had a photo of Tripuka (a photo of Tripuka!). Here’s my haul:

Brandon Armstrong: printout
Anthony Johnson: printout
Aaron Williams: printout
Jason Collins: printout
Brian Scalabrine: printout
Tamar Slay: printout
Kenyon: Photo
Richard Jefferson: ESPN Magazine
Rodney Rogers: 2 cards
Chris Childs: 1 card
Kerry Kittles: 1 card

This month's mailbox

Jim Clancy: Expansion year Toronto Blue Jays pitcher who had a very solid career. Didn't fill out my questionairre. Signed 1 card.

Vance McHenry: shortstop for the Mariners in the early 80s, only played in about 18 games. Signed two customized index cards.

Michael Rosenbaum: Lex Luthor on TV's "Smallville." Sent a 8 X 10 personalized photo. Took about 6 months for this one. Second success from one of my favorite TV shows (also got Kristin a few weeks ago). And, no, I'm not typically a big fan of "sci-fi" shows but "Smallville" is just great fun.

Todd Dunn: Former Brewers prospect and Team USA baseball player from the early 90s. Had a cup of coffee in the bigs but didn't do much with his opportunity. Signed 3/3 cards.

Ron Musselman: Played briefly for the Mariners in 1982 (pitched 12 games). Signed 2 index cards.

Luke Walton: son of Bill and a nice hoops player at University of Arizona. Signed two printouts (said he could keep the other if he wanted). Took about 4 months.

Jimmy Piersall: former MLBer and broadcaster. Signed one printout care of his address in Arizona.

Roger Salkeld: Once a top prosect for the Mariners, Roger blew out his arm and his career. Signed 4/4 cards in ballpoint.

Al Downing: A good pitcher for the Yankees and Dodgers back in the day, Al is known mostly for being the pitcher who surrendered Hank Aaron's 715th home run. Finished with a record of 123-107. Signed two printouts (told him to keep one but signed both).

Final Thoughts

From ESPN: There still are no suspects in Tuesday's overnight theft of player equipment from the team's locker room. Two bats and a pair of shoes were taken from Alex Rodriguez's locker and Kevin Mench lost a pair of sunglasses.

Which makes me wonder…is Ruben Rivera in camp?