autograph hounding

[tourze]

Does anyone do any NHL team autograph hounding? If so, which cities? I'm looking to do some 50-50s (where I send 2 cards of a certain player, one for you to keep and the other for you to get signed for me)
email me: tourze@yahoo.com

[bostonbs]

i get quite a bit of in person things from the Bruins. My step-father has been a close friend of Johnny Bucyk's since the late 60's. All we have to do is make the quick call and we can go into private practices at the Garden. Its real cool because theres nobody else in the whole place except for us, and usually a few people from the press.
First time i ever went to a private practice was in 94 and Ray Bourque gave me 2 of his game-used sticks and signed them for me. He also took me into the locker-room where i got to meet Oates and for some reason Nilan was haning out in there. I ended up leaving there w/ Ray's 2 sticks signed, Kvartalnov's stick, John Blue's stick, and a whole sh*tload of autographs. Being around 12 years old at the time it was prob the greatest day of my life.
Sorry to ramble, but yea i get to see the players quite a bit.

Ryan

[tourze]

please ramble on, thats so cool! Sadly of everything you said, what stuck out the most was the mention of Dimitri Kvartalnov!!! You can't believe how many rookie cards I have of his from the massively overproduced card days!!!

[bostonbs]

yea Dmitri was one of my favorites. It was kinda funny cuz when we were watching them practice that day, he was trying to backhand the puck out of the zone or something like that and his stick flew out of his hands and went up about 15 rows into the stands. I ran up and grabbed it and ran back down to the bench to hand it back to him and he put his hand up almost like saying no, and then Brian Sutter said 'you can keep it'. So when Dmitiri came off the ice he signed it for me.
Definatly a memorable day. I've got some cool pictures i took too of me with Ray, in the lockerrom, Adam Oates, Jon Casey. That was my first of probably at least 100 that i've been to now, and they never get old. Every single time im going, i get just as excited as i did that first time.
I must say too, Ray Bourque is an absolute class act. One of the nicest human beings you could ever meet.

Ryan

[BigBear1888]

Man, that sounds great. I got to do kind of the same thing when I was twelve but it was at a Pittsburgh Steelers practice. Johnny Bucyk is a favorite of mine from the George Plimpton book. He signed a card for me a few years ago. Nice man.

[Tarantulaman]

Guys,

Did anyone in the Montreal area go to tonight's game against the Blackhawks and get any of the legends that were there to celebrate the 82 years of Chicago-Montreal games? The game wasn't bad on TV but had to be great in person and you know Bobby Hull must have been signing up a storm. Anyone go to it?

Andy

[FALCON]

That is funny you say that, I used to do in person stuff in Philly in the late 80's and still do AHL stuff and Ray B was one of the biggest jerks I have ever met!! He would wait for us to get someone to sign and run out of the hotel lobby onto the bus so he would not have to sign, was a real dissapointment.
But good times like having coffee with Moe Mantha in a Hotel Lobby or meeting Mario Lemiuex in person during his rookie year and actually taking to him for about 10 minutes, or giving Marcel Dionne directions to a mens store for a new dress shirt, or driving Bob Sauve and Sean Burke to the arena after they missd the team bus are priceless and I hope my son will choose continue the hobby??

After 9-11-01 the entire in person autograph scene changed so much! At the Hotel's, Arena's and even practice arena's it has become impossible to get near the players! It makes me laugh when I get kicked out of an hotel or rink parking lot just trying to get a 20 year old rookie to sign an autograph. Some times I think I would have a better chance of meeting the president of the United States??

I guess that saying holds true... all good things come to end but I still love the hobby!! Sorry for rambling....

[bjt72]

I remember one time back in the 80's at the Hilton in Toronto when the Bruins where in town. It was the night before the game and I waiting for the players to come to the restaurant to have dinner. I needed a drink so,I got on the elevator to go up a floor to the vending machines .

Has I was coming down back down Ray Bourque was on the evelator he has heading to the lobby to pick his pizza's. I found that out when we got to the lobby.He knew I was a collector, he asked me to hold the elevator for him. He stood just outside the elevator paid for his pizza's,we went back up to his floor. He told me to wait,he came back and signed for me. I was the only one to get him that night. He was good then,but I guess as time went on he became difficult..

But I understand all the great's did Brett Hull,Stevie Y,Lemieux,Gretzky during the 90's.

[bostonbs]

i have actually gotten Hull, Gretzky, and Lemieux all through the mail. Hull signed 4 cards and an 8x10 for me, took about a month, Lemieux signed 2 cards and an 8x10 for me but it took about a year, and Gretzky i wrote to c/o Phoenix and his place in LA and he signed 1 card from each letter.
As for Steve Y, i think the only chance is catching him in person on a good day or ebay. I dont think i've heard anyone getting him TTM.

Ryan

[midnightoyl]

i got Steve Y
this spring ...wrote his agent and he signed two cards for me and they were back within a few weeks...included a letter...really nice sigs as well.

[bostonbs]

would you mind posting the addy you used?

Thanks
Ryan

[midnightoyl]

Larry Kelly
Octagon Athlete Representation
66 Slater St - 23rd Floor
Ottawa, ON K1P 5H1
Canada
Attention Steve Yzerman

[bostonbs]

thanks midnight i appreciate it

Ryan