Actor/Comedian Kenan Thompson 11/27/12

This was the first time I thought I was going to fail in a very long time.

I had learned when I graphed Uconn's fall concert, that they tend to bring their acts in super early, but I decided to try for Kenan before his show anyway. I waited probably 45 minutes, but to no avail. I then went and sat in my car to warm up during the show, and went back out 10 minutes before it ended.

I should add that during this entire trip, it was snowing.

After the show, more and more people kept coming to the back, which always drops the chances of an auto quite a bit.

There was no event security, but Kenan's bodyguard was getting really angry, and tried to get everyone to leave. He tried telling us another spot to wait, but I obviously called his bull$h!t and stayed in my perfect spot.

He then targeted me, and got really rude. I actually just kept quiet, which I think angered him even more because he kept trying to get a reaction out of me. I'm used to this now, so it didn't bother me and I waited another 35 minutes or so.

I heard the other people saying, "This kid knows what he's doing, let's stay here." I was annoyed, but they had just as much of a right to be there as me, even though they all only wanted photos, which to me is very annoying.

Kenan then came out with his bodyguard, and to my astonishment, his bodyguard told him, "Hook this kid up."

It was still snowing, and I feared that the auto would smudge, but Kenan said, "Let me do this quick so it doesn't smudge." He was truly very nice.

Afterwards, he took a group shot with everyone there.

I got 1 11x14 done:

 

Total Autographs for 2012:1141

Uconn Vs. Stony Brook 11/25/12

I went to Uconn again today for some rare Sunday winter graphing.

After the game, I waited for Jim Calhoun, so I could finish up the last 11x14 I had. He took a long time to come out this time, but as always he was very nice.

 

Next, I was able to get Omar Calhoun again, he is a nice kid.

 

Finally, I got Shabazz Napier. Luckily for me, he was with his family again.

 I got 2 magazines:

As well as 2 of these 11x14s:

 

Total Autographs for 2012:1140

 

10,000 Hit Giveaway

Due to the success of my blog this year, and to give my thanks to all of my readers, I am going to be giving away a signed Chris Carpenter card (same card, but may be different than the exact one pictured).

Chris Carpenter played for the Red Sox this past season, after being traded to them before the season for Theo Epstein.


I will be entering all names who enter on random.org to pick a winner.

I am not responsble for any issues in the mailing of the card.

To enter, all you have to do is comment below with your email address or email me(if you want your email address to be private) at Garrettberthiaume@Sbcglobal.net

Basketball Hall of Fame Tip Off Tournament (Ohio State,Washington,Seton Hall, + Hall of Famers 11/17/12&11/18/12)

A few months back I won tickets to this tournament, which had 8 teams, the notables listed above in the title.

Day 1 was immensely better than day 2, mostly due to teams sitting in the stands watching other teams in the tournament.

After I got to the arena, I learned that there would be about 5 signings throughout the day on the concourse. This was both very exciting and somewhat disappointing, because I of course would have printed up 8x10s of all of the hall of famers.

I started off my day by meeting Hall of famers Artis Gilmore and Mel Daniels, meeting two hall of famers at once was really cool.

(Since I am at school, some photos are blurry, they will be fixed over Thanksgiving)
Like I said, I wish I had better items, but the pic with was cool anyway.

 

To carry on with the Hall of Fame theme, later on I met Bob Hurley:

 

Celtics Legend, Satch Sanders was also on hand, it was awesome to meet an 8x Champion.

Kara Lawson, of the Connecticut Sun was also there, she is also an Olympian so that was interesting:

In between all of these signings, I went to work with some of the teams in the tournament.

My main focus was Ohio State, and I got everyone who I wanted over the weekend, except for Deshawn Thomas.

I got Head Coach, Thad Matta 2 different times. 1 was after their game coming out to watch Washington, and 1 was at halftime of the Washington game when he was going back in.

             

Former Duke player/Syracuse football player, Greg Paulus, is now a video coordinator at Ohio State. He told me he would sign after the game, and he did not disappoint.

Aaron Craft was very nice. He signed whatever people had:

I got 2 guys in a program(Evan Ravenel, and Alex Rogers)

I did a team sheet as well:

From Top to Bottom: Lenzelle Smith Jr, Sam Thompson, Evan Ravenel, Alex Rogers, LaQuinton Ross

I only tried for Washington on Day 1. Aziz denied me, but I was able to get C.J. Wilcox to stop:

I got Head Coach, Lorenzo Romar, during the Ohio State game in the tunnel:

On day 2, I only got 2 autographs.

First, I got former player-turned assistant coach, Shaheen Holloway:

Shortly after, I got Fuquan Edwin during warm ups:

All in all, for not graphing the hotel at all, and just from being at the arena, I had a successful first go at this event.

Total Autographs for 2012:1131

Uconn Vs. Vermont 11/13/12

I went over to last night's game against Vermont, and came away pretty happy. Right away I noticed that Jim Calhoun was in attendance again, so he was my main target post game, as I had brought my 11x14s for him.

After the game, he came out rather quickly, and I got him to sign my photo, as well as a picture with him, which I had never seen before!

(Per usual, I will post better scans once I make it home to the scanner)

After that, I found my way back inside, and waited for Ryan Boatright, and Deandre Daniels as they came up.

Boat was nice as always:

After that, the only player really left was Shabazz Napier, who I never have high expectations for, but his family was there so he was VERY nice. I mean he is a polar opposite when his family is or isn't there.

I got a picture with him as well.

Total Autographs for 2012:1099

Uconn Vs. American International 11/1/12

I did the Uconn Vs. AIC exhibition for the second year in a row tonight, and I didn't go home disappoointed.
Here is a link to LAST year's game:http://gbautographs.blogspot.com/2011/11/back-on-blog.html
Upon arriving to Gample Pavillion, a security worker informed me that the girls' basketball team would be signing autographs in a room inside the arena. This was pretty cool, because I had  never  graphed the girls, and many of the Uconn girls go on to play in the WNBA.

I ended up going through the short line twice, and I got 2 huge posters signed by the entire team.

After the game, I was walking towards the door, when I saw former head coach, and legend, Jim Calhoun walking towards the locker room. I remembered where he parked in the past, and he came out after a little bit. He was very nice tonight; Not to say that he isn't nice, but he was more talkative than in the past.

I wasn't expecting to see him, so I got him on a ticket:

After I got Mr. Calhoun, I snuck my way back inside, more to get out of the cold than anything, and got a few guys. My main targets were Shabbazz Napier, and freshman Omar Calhoun, who had a hell of a first game, exhibition or not.

I was kicked out before Shabbazz came up, but I was able to get Brendan Allen on 3 photos(2 pictured, because I gave one to a friend:)

While I was getting him, Ryan Boatright came up, but I had left my other photos on a seat towards the other side, so I got him on my poster:

The last player I got was Omar Calhoun:

I left soon after this, because I had gotten the majority of what I needed, plus a few nice surprises.

Total Autographs at this game:31

Total Autographs for 2012:1090