The Autograph Connection: Random Thoughts March 2003

Random Thoughts & Autograph Experiences
March 2003

If you're looking for my Spring Training journal, please click here.

Should I stay or should I go now?

The last few days have caused me great speculation. With the conflicts in the world, autographing just doesn't seem that important. As I stood outside the visiting NBA players' hotel, and watching Kevin Garnett, Wally Szerbiak, and Anthony Peeler all walk by a few of us autograph hounds and not take two minutes out of their day to sign an autograph, I pondered the question:

What the crap am I doing here?

I've already gone through this debate a few years ago on my web site (see the following diatribe.) I've seriously thought about giving up my blue sharpie to focus on other things but I know that it's just mostly talk. I'm so far into this hobby that it'd be hard for me to put the cap on my blue sharpie and never ask for another autograph. But there are a ton of things about my hobby that I've grown tired of. Hence, this month's rant is about the things I hate about my hobby.

I get tired of the stupid, pushy fans trying to get autographs. You would think that the players were passing out 10 pound gold bars at the same time as when they're signing autographs. I also get tired of people always asking "Who's that player?" Sure, I do it occassionally...for minor league camps. It can be hard to figure out who Jason Pridie or Jeff Francoeur is since they are not featured on ESPN everyday. But, if you can't tell who Dean Palmer or Andruw Jones is, please don't come out to the ballpark for autographs.

And, because I operate this web site, I have more to hate about this hobby. I get tired of some of the emails I have to wade through. Don't get me wrong. I've met a lot of great people via my web site and even gone autographing with a few of them. But, I get stupid emails all the time. The latest stupid email was "I see that you have a Ervin Johnson signed Sonics card on your web site for $3. That's Ervin "Magic" Johnson, right?" Why would I be foolish enough to sell a Magic Johnson card for $3? Did Magic ever play for the Sonics? COME ON PEOPLE! Let's have some common sense!

In regards to my web site, I also get tired of people saying "You have a nice web site but it's too slanted on Seattle sports." You're right. Clever observation. I am too focused on getting Mariners autographs. But guess what? That's not going to change. As long as I have holes in my Mariners collection for Enrique Romo, Steve Braun, and Joe Simpson, I will continue to write former Mariners and get excited when I add another former Mariner to my collection.

Lastly, it's hard for me to idolize the guys that I'm getting autographs from. I mean how many of these guys do I want to put "on a pedastal" or be the kind of person that I would want my kid to look up to? I used to admire Kirby Puckett. Ouch. I used to admire Ken Caminiti. Ouch. Robert Parrish. Ouch. Warren Moon. Ouch (and that's what his wife said). Thank heavens for guys like David Robinson who is the salt of the earth. Unfortuntely the really great guys are retiring and leaving a huge void in the league.

I now understand why Mac Maroon shut down his fine web site. More power to him to be able to have the fortitude to shut down his web site and walk in greener pastures. I've questioned whether or not to shut down my web site as well. I did for nearly a year while I was getting situated in Florida (do you remember when I had my own domain name and not this Geocities site?). Could I do it again, this time for good? I'll continue to ponder that question. Your thoughts are always appreciated. Send me an email at the_autographer@hotmail.com

And please don't ask me if I have any Magic Johnson cards available for purchase at $3 a piece.

The Ides of March

I stopped looking at my CBS Sportline Bracket Challenge standing. Last look, I was something like in 188,000th place. That's what I get for choosing Weber State and Xavier as sleepers.

In-Person Autographing

New York Knicks: Did better than expected, considering it was the Knicks. Othella didn’t stop to sign, even though he was only the second player on the bus. One word: Georgetown. Show me a Georgetown alum that is a good signer. I don’t know of any.

Spree stopped to sign for everyone but Houston was a no show for practice. Not sure where he was since none of the papers have mentioned that he might be hurt or possibly miss the game. Didn’t get Walt Frazier as he took a taxi to the arena and because of that he didn’t walk past us autographers.

Here’s my haul:
Latrell Sprewell: card
Herb Williams: 2 cards
Kurt Thomas: card
Charlie Ward: card
Michael Doleac: Magic Magazine
Lavor Postell: printout
Don Cheney: printout
Shandon Anderson: photo
Lee Nailon: card
Travis Knight: 2 cards
Howard Eisley: card

Utah Jazz: It helps to go autographing without any lofty ambitions. I went for the Jazz to get John Amaechi and Andrei Kirilenko and was able to get both players. I didn’t even bring items for Stockton and Malone because I knew that they wouldn’t stop to sign for me. After living in Utah and meeting this guys on occasion, I knew that they wouldn’t stop to sign any autographs. What did surprise me was that Jerry Sloan didn’t stop. He was almost always automatic for an autograph in Utah. Calbert and Mark Jackson also didn’t stop. I didn’t have any other items for Padgett or Ron Boone but they were accomodating as usual to those who had items. Here’s my haul:
Kirilenko: 1 of 2 cards
Greg Ostertag: 1 of 2 cards
Matt Harpring: 1 of 2 cards
Amaechi: finished up my Magic Magazine with him and Doleac on the cover
DeShawn Stevenson: photo

Miami: The Heat were in town…and it was certainly hot waiting outside for them. All the players, repeat, all the players signed though I missed the two Butlers who were the first two players on the bus. But, Riley wouldn’t sign and McAdoo didn’t sign either (which, in my previous encounters with Bob was shocking…he was great everytime I’ve ever asked him). Eddie Jones did not travel with the team.

Why can’t all players be as nice as Ken Johnson? Super nice guy…wish he would actually get some playing time. And, the Phons (LaPhonso Ellis) remains on my list of favorite players. He always has a smile on his face and always accomodates the fans. Class Act. Here’s my haul:

Malik Allen: printout
Travis Best: card
Anthony Carter: card (will only sign cards…no floorboards!)
LaPhonso Ellis: card
Brian Grant: 1 card
Eddie House: 1 card
Mike James, Ken Johnson, Sean Lampley: all signed printouts
Vlad Stepania: 2 cards (his autograph still sucks)
Keith Askins: 1 card

Memphis Grizzlies: Shane Battier is a punk. Now that I've said that, I feel better. I only went in the morning but I heard that Jason Williams signed for everyone in the afternoon (dang it!). But I was able to get a few players that I'm happy to add to my collection, namely Pau Gasol and Robert Archibald (who last time wouldn't stop to sign). I was also happy to chat with one of my favorite players of all time, Hersey Hawkins, who does TV for the Grizz. I told him that I grew up outside of Seattle and loved watching him play for the Sonics. He says that his family missed living in Seattle and has thoughts about moving back there eventually. Here's my haul:

Gasol and Archibald: each signed a printout
Mike Miller: card
Brevin Knight: card
Wesley Person, aka "WP": card
Hubie Brown: newspaper
Hersey Hawkins: magazine

Minnesota T'Wolves: I haven't had an adrenaline rush in regards to autographing for most of the NBA season. Last time I got excited about getting someone's autograph dates back to probably getting Doc Gooden back in January. But, getting Kevin McHale's autograph for the first time was exhilarating. I've had a Boston Celtics photo of him that has gathered dust for years since he retired before I got into autographing and he never travelled with the team to Utah.

The usual guys didn't sign: Garnett, Wally, and Joe Smith. However, I didn't expect much from any of them. Here's my haul:

McHale: photo
Troy Hudson: photo
Radoslav, Igor, Loren Woods: printouts
Flip, Randy Wittman, Jerry Sichting: coaches printout
Marc Jackson: card
Kendall Gill: card

Philly Sixers: Didn't get the Answer because the question was "Why is it 40 degrees in Orlando and why didn't I bring a coat?" I'm not sure if he signed or not. I did wait around long enough for the first bus going over to the game and got Keith Van Horn for the first time. Here's my scant haul:

Van Horn: photo
Eric Snow, Sam Clancy, Monty Williams, Kenny Thomas, John Salmons, Aaron McKie: all one card each

This month's mailbox

Jack Sikma: former All Star Center for the Seattle Sonics and the Milwaukee Bucks, he was a part of the 1979 World Champion Sonics team. Signed one printout c/o his company in Seattle. He kept one of the printouts I sent him (which was more than fine...)

Gary Heale: Indoor Soccer player during the 80s for the Tacoma Stars. Signed two customized index cards. He remained in Tacoma and is head of Sparta America. Their address is: Sparta America, PO Box 7619, Tacoma WA 98406

Scott Podsednik: Now with the Brewers, Scott played outfield for the Mariners the last few seasons, only played in about 30 games. Signed two customized index cards.

Allen Simpson: Pitching prospect for the Mariners in 1982. Signed 2 custom index cards.

Dan Rohrmeier: played 7 games for the M's in 1997. Signed two customized index cards.

Gary Eave: Pitched in 8 games in 1990, mostly known for pitching with the Braves. Signed my two customized index cards but didn't sign the Braves trading card I sent.

Justin Kaye: Once a top prosect for the Mariners, he's now trying to make the Red Sox out of Spring Training. Signed 1 cards in black sharpie but autograph is absolutely ugly.

Kevin Pasley: Backup catcher for the Dodgers and Mariners in the mid 70s. Hit his only home run while with the Mariners in 1978. Signed two custom index cards.

Josias Manzanillo: Josias is now with the Cincinatti Reds after spending the last few seasons with the Pirates and spent some time with the Mariners in the late 90s. Signed two custom index cards and a baseball card. Sent to the Reds spring training facility.

Mark Kotsay: Outfielder with the Padres. Signed 2/2 cards.

Billy Koch: Now pitching for the White Sox after a nice year in Oakland. Signed 2/2 cards.

John Flaherty: First time getting this original Devil Ray. Signed 2/2 cards. Great to see him make the Yankees squad.

Jose Offerman: Infielder now with the Expos in Spring Training. Signed 2/2 cards. Spent some time last season with the Mariners.

Final Thoughts

Randy Johnson just signed an extension to stay in Arizona for another two years. And to think that five years ago, Seattle thought Randy's bad back was going to curtail his career. What has he done since leaving Seattle? Four Cy Youngs and a World Series ring. Sigh.