The Pittsburgh Penguins recently held a charity event where each player served as a celebrity team captain for a competing bowling team.  The shirts worn by the players were then autographed and auctioned off on NHL.com.  So whose jersey do you think garnered the highest bid?  Nope – think again.  Nope – not him either.  And no, this isn’t yet another Marc-Andre Fleury plug either.

I was thrilled that McFarlane Toys finally decided to do a Marc-Andre Fleury figure, as I have been bugging them for years to do so.  But it would have been nice if they actually took the time to spell his name correctly.

There are actually several variations of the base of his figure, some with a patchwork fix-it job and some that look natural and are spelled correctly.  Regardless, this type of thing should not be happening.

We have noticed a recent influx in knock-off NHL jerseys, the ones that are being illegally manufactured and imported from China.  While the average fan may not notice a difference, the quality of these jerseys is horrendous.  The names and numbers are made from the wrong material and are often sewn in the wrong font.  The jerseys themselves are lightweight and extremely prone to ripping.

When the cost of oil shot up in 2008, UPS started adding a surcharge to all shipments.  Even though fuel costs are now reasonable again, UPS still charges the added fee.  Last year, they added a $1.00 surcharge for deliveries to residential addresses.  That fee has since gone up to $1.50, and now $1.85.  If you spell one letter of a street name wrong, or list the zip code incorrectly, there is an $8 charge.  That amount is up from $5 only two years ago. 

This jersey was seen at a recent autograph signing:

How would you like to be the promoter who booked New Jersey Devils players Niclas Bergfors and Johnny Oduya for an autograph session in New York on March 21?  Both players were shipped to Atlanta in the Ilya Kovalchuk deal.  Talk about bad luck.

I was surprised to learn that 25,000 Olympic volunteers had to PAY for their uniforms, which consist of a top and pants.  The cost – only $700.  I wish I could find some volunteers that will pay for the privilege of working.

Some random observations that have been taking up space in my mind.

NHL hockey pucks from Sher-Wood (formerly InGlas Co) are made in Slovakia. This would just be the rubber puck itself, as they are printed and designed in Quebec.

We recently actually had someone return a signed puck they had ordered because “I wanted a Bobby Hull Blackhawks puck, not a puck from Slovakia.”

Along those lines, can I make a respectful request to customers in general?  Be nice.  If you wanted an autographed Doug Gilmour Leafs puck and got sent a Calgary puck by mistake, just let us know and we will correct he mistake.  It’s amazing when we receive emails saying “This is entirely unacceptable and I will never do business with your company again.”

By no means are these occurrences frequent, but they do happen.  It is extremely busy during the Christmas season, and quality control suffers a little in the process.  All you have to do is inform us of the situation and it will be rectified.  If your steak dinner is brought to your table with fries instead of a baked potato, do you storm out of the restaurant?  Mistakes are bound to occur in the course of doing business, and we appreciate everyone’s patience while things get sorted out.

We are big fans here of Toronto Maple Leafs rookie goaltender, Jonas “The Monster” Gustavsson.  Everyone that sees him play says he is the real deal.  He was an extremely late bloomer, not hitting the radar of NHL scouts until he was 24 years old.  At least twenty-five teams showed interest in him in the off-season, and after a marathon tour and a lot of self thought, he decided the Leafs were the best team for him.

He lost his father a few years ago, his mother over the summer, and has since had two heart procedures performed.  Mix in a groin injury and it has been a difficult start to his career on this side of the ocean.

But Cookie (I like to call him ‘Cookie Monster’) has taken it all in stride and has the attitude of a champion.  He is still projected as the Leafs goaltender of the future and we foresee him becoming one of the top backstoppers in the league.

In a recent auction of game-used jerseys from the November 7 Hall of Fame game, Gustavsson’s sweater sold for more ($1,550) than any other player on the Leafs.

So a professional athlete had an extramarital affair; what a surprise.  You are rich, you are famous, you are in shape, and you are on the road a lot.  What do you think these guys do with their nights?  By no means am I condoning cheating on your wife – I am just saying it is far more prevalent than you would think.  What would you do if beautiful women threw themselves at you on a regular basis?

So Brian Burke’s son is gay.  Good for him and it’s great that Burkie accepts him as he is.  Is this really newsworthy?  I suggest we keep the sexual orientation of celebrity relatives out of the sports pages. 

I wrote several months ago about the demise of the BC Sports chain of stores in the Northeast U.S.  I commented how that took away another autographed memorabilia outlet and was not good for the hobby.

On a positive note, some stores in the chain have emerged from liquidation proceedings and reopened.  On a negative note, I received an email from a former store employee saying they stiffed several employees on money-owed when they (temporarily) went under and have no plans to make good on these debts.

Has anyone checked out my predictions (made in September) in the current edition of The Pond Chronicle?

Joe Thornton will finish top-3 in scoring.  Ryan Getzlaf and Zach Parise will each get 100 points.  The Red Wings will take a huge step backwards.  The Flyers will have goaltending issues.  Tim Thomas will struggle.  Carolina and Montreal will not make the playoffs.  The Sharks and Flames in the Western Conference and the Capitals and Penguins in the East.

I am thinking of renting myself out as an oracle.  Just pay no attention to my pick of Nikita Filatov as top rookie and we are good to go.

Thank you for all the positive comments about my last blog, The Autograph Collector’s Manifesto.  Make sure you print out a copy and show it to anyone that questions why you collect what you do.

Hobby icon Richard Scott is back with a new collector’s magazine called The Wantlist.  Make sure you check out his new website and consider a subscription to the magazine.  And no, I am not only saying this because I am a columnist. 

Sorry Leafs fans, but it is true.  Phil Kessel was burned in a deal last year and has no desire to make any public autograph appearances in the near future.  This is too bad, because Toronto drives the memorabilia market and Leafs fans really need someone to cheer for.  Someone besides The Monster, of course.

Thank you to McFarlane Toys for moving up the release date of NHL Series 23.  The new projected arrival for the first week of January will get us the figures in time for our January 8 autograph session with Marc-Andre Fleury.  Heck – it saves me a trip to Pittsburgh to get them signed.

In the same series is a new Alex Ovechkin figure that has people raving about the unique pose.  While it is definitely a cool figure, am I the only one that thinks it looks exactly like ‘N SYNC’s Joey Fatone?

I attended last month’s HOF Induction ceremony in Toronto and in one way it was a very unique experience.  This was my seventh year enjoying the ceremonies, but it was the first time I had ever seen current and recently retired players in attendance.

A number of Devils’ players (Brodeur, Langenbrunner, White, Parise, Pandolfo, Clarkson) shocked Lou Lamoriello by flying in to attend the ceremony.  This was no small feat, as Lamoriello keeps tabs on EVERYONE affiliated with the team, and surprising him is not the easiest of tasks.  Lamoriello even noted their attendance in his speech and comically mentioned that he hoped they anted up for a private plane since they better be back in New Jersey in time for curfew (they had a game the next night).

 Nicklas Lidstrom and Chris Chelios were in attendance to support Steve Yzerman, and I was able to spend some time with Mike Modano, who along with Brendan Morrow, came to see Brett Hull’s enshrinement. 

Obviously the NHL schedule played a part in allowing these players to attend, but it was a great bonus having them in the room.

I wrote several months ago about the Autograph Alert website and its commitment to exposing forgeries and fraudulent dealers within the hobby.  While not sports focused, this site is still a must read for anyone that thinks a company is reputable or beyond reproach just because their name is recognizable.  JSA, PSA/DNA, and a number of the large auction houses have been exposed and we commend the proprietors of the site (who are anonymous) for the work they are doing.  While the site often makes a great case, please remember that anyone mentioned in a negative light is innocent until proven guilty.

I apologize, but my post-playoff celebrations have caused me to fall way behind on my blog.  In order to speed things up again, I will provide brief summaries from a number of recent events.

The NHL Awards – Las Vegas, Nevada

It was an ambitious undertaking to try the league’s annual trophy presentation in a market where ice is most prevalent in hotel vending machines and casino drinks.  Nonetheless, there was great fan support at the function itself, even if the majority of cab drivers and casino employees had no idea the event was even taking place.

That being said, the televised show was a travesty, with endless poor choices and terrible production values.  Nothing says NHL Entertainment like Chaka Khan and Robin Thicke (roll eyes).  I mean – who comes up with these things?  Chaka Khan?  What the heck does she have to do with hockey?  Has she even had a paying gig since 1984?  With all the talent in Las Vegas, someone in some meeting somewhere actually said, “How about Chaka Khan?”, and got the approval of dozens of others.  What were they thinking?

It was bad enough that they had her perform TWICE during the televised portion of the show, but those in attendance had to agonize through three additional performances during commercial breaks.  Needless to say, the washrooms filled up quickly each time she was announced.  The Super Bowl gets Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones; we got Chaka Khan and the son of Alan Thicke.   Ugh!!!

There were some high points though.  The appearance of Vladimir Konstantinov as a presenter was a great treat.  Turning the event informal was also nice.  Why should people be sweating in tuxedos in the Vegas heat.  The attire ranged from three-piece suits to t-shirts and shorts.  As Daniel Negreanu said to me, “In Vegas, you are never overdressed and never underdressed.”  I would have to think that those in t-shirts were definitely underdressed.

Entourage’s Kevin Connelly introduced the Stanley Cup, but forgot to mention Coach Dan Bylsma, who escorted it in.  I hope he didn’t fly to Vegas just to be forgotten.  Alexander Ovechkin concluded his acceptance speech for the Pearson Trophy with, “What a life”.  Watching this guy in action both on and off the ice, he may be the happiest person on the planet.

What can be done about speeches from Russians at the Awards?  Ovy speaks pretty well (unlike at the MuchMusic Video Awards), but both Evgeni Malkin and Pavel Datsyuk struggled.  They both tried and were somewhat entertaining, but it did not make for good television.  Kirk Muller may as well have been speaking in Russian since you couldn’t understand a word that he said.

It was a nice change last year when they decided to hand out the Jennings, Ross, and Richard Trophies during the Stanley Cup playoffs.  Why bore an audience by introducing a trophy where the winner has already been pre-determined?  This year, they went back to boring us. 

For the majority of awards, they did not even show the nominees in the audience.  Would it not make sense to have their images on screen, a la the Oscars and Emmy’s, so you can see reactions once the winning name is announced?  I was not even aware Martin St. Louis was in the room until I saw him afterwards in the hotel.  I did see plenty of shots of Brian Burke chewing gum and Pavel Datsyuk walking past a seat-filler to accept his awards.

There were numerous Poker Stars commercials played during the broadcast, each featuring Torontonian Daniel Negreanu.  The charismatic Negreanu is well known for wearing Leafs or Team Canada jerseys when he plays poker events, and is probably better known across the U.S. than any hockey player that was in the room.  Negreanu was in the room as a spectator, but was not included in the telecast.  Why?  Michael Buble was brought on stage twice, but was not asked to sing.  Did they not want to hurt Chaka Khan’s feelings?  Connolly and Jeremy Roenick were also brought on stage two separate times.  Did they not have enough presenters?

Were you aware that the World Series of Poker (WSOP) commissioner, Jeffrey Pollack, is the brother of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman?  And that the Stanley Cup was part of a WSOP bracelet presentation?  Is poker not gambling, and is there not a fine line being crossed when the Cup is being used to promote a gambling event being run by the commissioner’s brother?  Somewhere, Rick Tocchet has a big smile on his face.

Tim Thomas is a true showman and made everyone laugh on a couple of occasions.  He said that over the years he’d been more concerned getting his name on a roster than on the Vezina.  It’s nice to cheer for the underdog.

The Bridgestone NHL Leadership Award was presented to Jarome Iginla.  I’m not sure I like that concept.  Next year, are they going to introduce the GoDaddy.com Hart Trophy and the Pillsbury Toaster Strudel Calder Award?

The after-party was a lot of fun, as the giant pool area of the Palms Casino was a unique setting.  Only a handful of players stayed for an extended period, but they were each given their own catered cabana.  Getting near Ovechkin’s cabana was quite an undertaking, but I eventually was able to get in and congratulate one of my favorites.  I was given a hug in return.  Mike Green and Pavel Datsyuk were much easier to get near.

The next two Awards shows are in Vegas as well, as the NHL cut a three-year deal with the Vegas Travel and Tourism Bureau.  Lucky us.

 The NHL Draft

I got to Montreal early on Draft day morning to do an autograph session with Marc-Andre Fleury.  This was his first post-Cup autograph event and his merchandise is prevalent on our website.  I am still really happy for the kid and had no problem giving him copies of each photo that he requested for his father.

I stuck around for five hours awaiting the start of the picks and intended to stay for the entire first found.  It did not work out that way.  Not only did every team feel the need to congratulate the Penguins on winning the Cup and thank the Canadiens and the city of Montreal for their hospitality, but this year it seemed each club had to send up their token Francophone employee to speak to the crowd in French.  Then there were in-arena interviews broadcast over the scoreboard with each of the top picks.  Add in the fact that each team seemed to take their full allotted time frame to head to the stage and it really became a monotonous affair.  It was so boring it was painful.  I waited until the Leafs called out the name “Nazem Kadri” with the seventh pick, then headed for the door to drive back to Toronto.  Luckily there was endless construction near the airport in order to ensure my arrival after 2:30 a.m.

Recent Signings

Doug Gilmour was an autograph guest a few weeks ago and he is still a great guy.  He talks to everyone, writes whatever you want, and comes around the table to you for pictures.  “Killer” is still immensely popular in the Toronto, although his coaching gig in Kingston has severely limited his time for this kind of event.

Dave “The Hammer” Schultz followed Gilmour’s appearance and Schultzie is also a treat.  How many guests do we get to sign hammers?  I thought his career was cut short by injury, but Schultz said that wasn’t the case.  Scotty Bowman hated him in Pittsburgh and he was never given a chance to play.  I will have to yell at Scotty for that one.

Larry Robinson made his third appearance at “The Pond” and he is still amongst my favorite guests.  He is also amazing with everyone and does whatever is asked of him.  Larry has taught me about hunting and polo and other topics that were foreign to me.  When Larry was given the Cup for a day following New Jersey’s 2003 Stanley Cup championship, I spent several hours celebrating with him and his family.  That day will always hold a special place in my memory bank.

Finally, Bobby Hull was our in-store guest last week.  Bobby has been packing them in since we first met in the mid-90’s.  He is one of the greatest and most popular players in the history of the sport, and always takes the time to repay the fans that come see him by speaking to each and every one and regaling them with stories from his playing days.  Bobby is not healthy these days and he signs very slowly.  His body has been through a lot, but his personality continues to shine through.  All hockey fans should own a Bobby Hull autograph.

1992-93 Blue Jays World Series Reunion Dinner

I am thrilled to be involved with the planning of the 1992-93 Toronto Blue Jays reunion weekend.  I was there when Joe Carter hit his Series-winning home run and it may be the last Toronto sports championship I get to see in my lifetime. 

Information on the August 8 gala dinner is available on our website and I hope to see a lot of you there.  So far there are 37 members of these teams that plan to be in attendance.  Team-signed product will be available, and WAMCO (White, Alomar, Molitor, Carter, Olerud) will be making an in-store appearance at Frozen Pond.  Net profits will be directed to the Children’s Aid and Jays Care Foundations, so please come out and support some great causes.

Free Agency

What’s with the Blackhawks only offering Martin Havlat a one-year contract?  That’s a nice way to treat your team MVP.

I’m surprised that no one has made an offer to restricted free agent Jiri Hudler.  He has a great future and Detroit’s salary cap issues would probably prevent them from matching any reasonable offer.

I’m happy that my friend Rick Nash signed a $62 million contract, but I still have no clue why he wants to play in Columbus.  This guy has repeatedly proven that, given the proper linemates, he can be amongst the best players in the league.  Unfortunately the Blue Jackets refuse to give him anyone to play with.  Their big free agent signing this season – the offensively challenged Sami Pahlsson, coming off an 18-point season.  Nasher’s supporting cast is one of the worst in hockey.

An idea for Jim Balsillie.  Why not start up your own team by signing a pile of the remaining free agents to “personal services” contracts.  Then the NHL will have to pay attention to you.  Think about it – he could put together a pretty good team for under $40 million:

G – Biron, Nittymaki

D – Beauchemin, Boucher, Schneider, Sydor, Zubov

F -   Afinogenov, Comrie, Koivu, Kovalev, Kozlov, Lang, Marchant, D. Moore, B. Morrison, Peca, Satan, Sundin, Sykora, Tanguay, Zednik

Sure they would be old and slow, but just look at how many All-Stars and Stanley Cups are on this roster.  And they would still finish ahead of the Leafs.

Roger Federer

The guy wasn’t even sweating.  Is he superhuman or something?

Facts and observations you won’t find anywhere else.

Prior to Game 1 in Detroit I learned I had super powers.  A group of five of us, including Gordie and Mark Howe, were standing at ice level having a discussion when NHL commissioner Gary Bettman happened by.  Bettman stopped to shake the hands of Gordie and his friend Felix.  He then turned and shook the hands of Mark Howe and his friend, and then continued on his way.  I turned to Gordie and said, “Wow – I didn’t realize I had the power to turn invisible like that.”  Everyone laughed, but I had to promise to use my special power only for good and not evil.  I may soon be joining the cast of “Heroes”.  Bettman continues to walk with a bodyguard, even in the secure sections of NHL arenas.

The pre-game media meal the Wings put out for us scribes (or wannabe scribes in this case) is a great bargain for $5.  There is a full buffet consisting of salad bar, chicken, macaroni and cheese, potatoes, rice, vegetables, beef, and of course, an endless supply of Little Caesars pizza.  Beverages and desserts are also plentiful.  Even though the signs say that everyone except Red Wings management must pay the fee, head scout Mark Howe says he doesn’t get charged.  But Howe said the food in the wives’ lounge is even better.

Joe Louis Arena is so small that the Red Wings staff sit out and eat their pre-game meal with the rest of us.  A number of fold-up tables and bridge chairs are put out in the lower concourse, with the first two sporting hand-written placards reading “DRW”.  Ken Holland, Jimmy Devellano, and the rest of the Detroiters are treated no different than everyone else.

The arena is so tiny that Don Cherry was seen having his make-up put on in a car in the parking lot just outside of the media entrance.  They do not have a dedicated room inside the building for such frivolities.  Joe Louis only has two exit areas on the concourse level and probably has the least number of washrooms of any sporting venue on the planet, including your local neighborhood rink.  Once the Penguins move into their new arena in 2010, the “Joe” will be the oldest building in the NHL, not including the renovated Madison Square Garden.  The Wings could really use a new building, but that is obviously not going to happen until the local economy picks up – considerably.

I have never seen more neck tattoos than I did at Game One in Detroit.  That unusual observation aside, I still think Detroit has great fans.  The atmosphere in the building is always electric and the city really loves its team.  The fans are knowledgeable and friendly, more so than in Pittsburgh where I witnessed two different scuffles involving drunken Penguin fans harassing patrons in Wings jerseys.

When Octopi used to get thrown on the ice, their removal would involve maintenance crews coming out with a shovel and bucket.  Now, prepared staff members just skate over and scoop them up by hand.

Gordie Howe conducted the opening faceoff and had the puck in his jacket pocket at the conclusion of the game.  I tried to steal it but he grabbed it back. 

I wish every arena had a store like Hockeytown Authentics.  While their prices are often far from reasonable, at least they attempt to cater to memorabilia collectors.  Nicklas Lidstrom’s game-used skates were on sale for $400 and a strong selection of used gloves, pants, training camp and regular season jerseys were available.  A Scotty Bowman autograph on a cheesy Red Wings puck was on sale for $60, a far cry from the $45 Cdn that Frozen Pond charges (shameless plug). 

While walking to the games along the Detroit River, it’s interesting to see several people fishing off the walkway.  On my way back to the hotel after one game, I witnessed a Hibachi out while several people enjoyed that day’s bounty.  Downtown Detroit is still depressing at night.  Unlike most major urban metropolis’ that have a bustling nightlife, Detroit is a ghost town.  People work downtown and play elsewhere.  If it makes the Motowners feel any better, downtown Pittsburgh (surprisingly) is even worse.   

I enjoy watching the teams’ practice during the playoffs, as much to view the media as anything.  Autograph hounds would have a field day attacking those in attendance, including such well-known names as Ed Olczyk, Craig Simpson, Larry Murphy, Mike Emrick, Don Cherry, Ron MacLean, Mike Milbury, Elliotte Friedman, and Kelly Hrudey.  My Pittsburgh hotel was a similar hot spot for stargazing, especially with the General Managers meetings going on.  I rode elevators with Brian Burke and Jim Rutherford and visited with Luc Robitaille in the lobby.

Is it just me, or are the majority of Penguins players unrecognizable?  The playoff beards surely do not help, but often a group of players will walk by and I will have no clue who they are.  Does anyone know what Kunitz, Scuderi, Cooke, Eaton, Fedetenko, and Satan look like?  The Wings had fake playoff beards on sale for $5, while the Penguins gave all fans a team t-shirt and a towel upon entering Game Three.

On the drive from Detroit to Pittsburgh, why is it that every radio station that has a clear signal either plays country music or rap?

One of the functions I truly enjoyed at last year’s Final was the Prospects luncheon.  The media was invited to a showcase of the top player’s available for the 2008 Draft at an event hosted by Pierre Maguire.  Bios and video were presented and the players were made available for individual interviews.  I found this to be extremely entertaining and informative and actually wrote several articles from what I learned.  For whatever reason, there was no presentation this year, although five of the top prospects (Tavares, Hedman, Duchene, Kane, B. Schenn) were made available for a brief time period.  I’m sure it was a huge thrill for Duchene and Schenn when Sidney Crosby came over and talked to them for an extended period after Game Three. 

I was able to spend some time with Jeff Schenn, father of Luke and Brayden, for the second year in a row.  Could he be the first parent this side of Henry Staal to be lucky enough to go through this twice?  Schenn Sr. said it would be great if the Leafs drafted Brayden.  “What parent wouldn’t want his kids playing together?”  I also learned that Viktor Hedman has a big birthmark on his face, something that unfortunately will definitely take away from his marketability.

A sampling of the cars in the Penguins player’s parking lot – BMW M6, Lexus SUV, Porsche (2), Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Sentra, Mercedes (2), Escalade, and a Range Rover.  Sentra?

Walking through the bowels of Mellon Arena I witnessed Mark Messier run into Ed Olczyk and give him a big hug.  He then introduced him to his son as “This is Eddie.  He played with me in New York when we won the Cup.”  Eddie asked the junior Messier. how old he was and was told “5 ¾”.

I love the way the Penguins put a giant screen in front of Mellon Arena and let ticketless fans watch the game.  By 1:00 p.m. on the day of Game Three, there were already 50 people camped out on lawn chairs.  Apparently up to 5,000 watched some of the games.  Unfortunately, NBC would not allow their games to be shown, which was an extremely petty move from the peacock network.

Last year I visited Honus Wagner Sporting Goods in downtown Pittsburgh looking for a Marc-Andre Fleury t-shirt.  I was surprised to see the only players they carried were Crosby, Malkin, and Jarkko Ruutu.  I tried again this time around, and found t-shirts in stock for Crosby, Malkin, and Brooks Orpik.  These guys must be anti-goalie or something.  I did buy myself a “Malkin in the Middle” t-shirt though, which featured the Conn Smythe Trophy winner surrounded by #’s 87 and 29.

I also paid a return visit to Pittsburgh’s only downtown card and memorabilia store.  Last year I made note of the ridiculously bad autographs they were passing off as authentic.  This year was no different.  The shopkeeper heard me talking to a cohort and asked which autographs I thought were fake.  I asked him if he really wanted my opinion and he said he did.  I showed him two Sidney Crosby pucks with completely different signatures.  He said he buys them from “the kids that hang out at the arena”, and they would “know better” than to sell him anything that wasn’t real.  He then made note that he didn’t really like the Crosby autographs either, but they were “pretty close”.  Did he just tell me that he knew these autographs were fraudulent, but bought them because they were almost real?

The same gentleman was also selling some legitimate Mario Lemieux and Bryan Trottier autographed photos that were in the same binder as Lemieux and Trots signatures that look like they were scribbled by a six-year old.  If you are going to sell fake autographs, would it not make sense to ensure you did not have legitimate signatures nearby for comparison’s sake?  I was told that James Spence Authentication is brought in twice a year to authenticate all their autographs, and sure enough a JSA sticker accompanied every fake item.  I do not think this topic needs any more discussion. 

The only books on sale in the Penguins souvenir store were a Penguins history book with Lemieux and Crosby on the cover, a book about Herb Brooks, and of course – Dave Hanson’s Slap Shot book – The Man, The Foil, The Legend.  You could also get a Penguins Official Game Puck for only $20, considerably more than the $9 Frozen Pond charges for the same item.  Pittsburgh/Carolina Semi-Final t-shirts were available at 50% off and I’m sure there was huge demand for those.  I tried to buy some souvenirs about forty-five minutes after the conclusion of Game Three, but was told they could not sell me anything because they had already counted the money.  Yeah – that makes sense. 

Game Seven at Joe Louis Arena was a phenomenal experience for me.  I met Marc-Andre Fleury as an eighteen-year old just weeks into his rookie 2003 season.  I make no secret of the fact that he is my favorite player and one of the nicest people I have ever met.  He has an infectious personality and just oozes charisma.  If the Maple Leafs can’t win the Cup, then I cheer for Fleury.

A group of eight of us rented a limousine and headed down for the game.  I was not smart enough to properly requisition tickets through the NHL or either team, so I was stuck buying from scalpers.  The Red Wings were allocated 450 tickets for the final game while the Pens were given 250, but those went quickly.  Upper bowl tickets were selling for $500-$800 a couple of days before, but were well over $1,000 by game time, with some scalpers quoting $3,500 a pair.  At that point I did not care; I just wanted to see the game and I paid through the nose.       

The pre-game atmosphere was amazing, as everyone knew they were going to see the Stanley Cup awarded that night.  Penguins jerseys abounded (including a game-worn Fleury on my back) while dozens of Detroit fans paraded around with mock Cups.  But all the jest was good-natured and everyone was getting along.  These were hockey fans through and through.

We stood by Will Call and saw people try to get in with what turned out to fraudulent e-tickets.  Last I saw, a group of four middle-aged gentlemen were looking for a cop.  Welcome to the internet age. 

We got off the elevator at our suite level and were greeted by none other than the champ – Muhammad Ali.  He was barely recognizable and emotionless while sitting on back of a golf cart.  It’s sad to see what the years have done to this once-vibrant being, but it was a thrill to be in his presence nonetheless.

The building was extremely quiet with Pittsburgh holding a 2-0 lead, but when Jonathan Ericsson scored with six minutes left, the fans came to life.  I was so nervous I was shaking.  It seemed like the last thirty seconds took about twenty-five minutes to play.  Why was Jordan Staal taking the final faceoff when he had only won 4 out of 12 to that point?  But Fleury was stellar and the Penguins won it all. 

I could not believe it was happening, but I actually got teary-eyed when Fleury lifted the Cup.  There is a lot of pride involved in seeing your friends succeed, and that moment gave me a sense of satisfaction different from any I have felt before.  I know that several Frozen Pond friends and customers were feeling the same way. 

We made our way down to ice level where at least 3,000 Penguins fans had gathered behind the net.  The players took turns celebrating with us – Bill Guerin even spraying champagne through the glass.  I saw Fleury hug his parents and his girlfriend and I will always remember the smile on his face, as mine was probably just as large.  I love the fact that families now come onto the ice to celebrate; a tradition born only in the last few years.  Prior to that, most of the celebrating took place in the locker rooms.  Now they are out in the open for all to see.

We stayed at ice level for another half-hour and then made our way to the exits.  Detroit fans were congratulating us the entire time.  I am sure they were disappointed but they remained cordial.  It was a great series and it is too bad only one team could win.

Next year – Leafs vs. Penguins.  Yeah – I know they are both in the same division, but a man can dream.  Now if we can only find a way for the Leafs to win it without Fleury giving up any goals…

Being in this business, I have to remain impartial.  Therefore, I don’t care who wins the Stanley Cup, as long as it is Marc-Andre Fleury.

Go Pens!!!

All I have to say is that the Wings seem only able to win on weekends, which should make Friday’s game a lock.

(I apologize to all our customers that are Wings fans.  I have known “Fleurs” since he was 18 and he is my favorite player in the NHL.  Also – a Penguins win would be immeasurably better for the sport of hockey, plus I will get to go to the parade.)

Through my twenties and into my early-thirties, I would spend Sunday nights at my sister’s house watching “The Simpsons” with my two nephews.  This became a ritual I truly enjoyed and rarely missed.  As a result, I have always maintained a close bond and special relationship with Max and Eric and we have Homer, Bart, et al, to thank for it.

We went to the World Premiere of the Simpsons “Toronto” episode together.  We went to see Nancy Cartwright (the voice of Bart) perform her one-woman show.  We went to The Simpsons Movie on opening night.  We’ve been to multiple Simpsons animation art shows.

We also buy each other Simpson gifts with regularity.  The kids brought me back a hand-made Homer puppet from Italy this past Christmas, and I have “gummy” Simpsons from Mexico.  I own several bottles of “Duff” beer, a can of “Flaming Moe”, and an actual “Squishee” machine.  Needless to say, my collection of Simpsons merchandise is quite extensive.

The City of Glendale (Arizona) is trying to prevent the Phoenix Coyotes from moving to Hamilton by claiming to the court that such an action would cost the city in excess of $500 million, consisting of lost jobs, tourism dollars, and embarrassment to the local economy.  I don’t think the city councilors are seeing the big picture here.  Would they rather the team went bankrupt?  All the same things would happen in that scenario.  Does it not make sense to sell the team and at least recoup some of the money owed to creditors, most of which are likely Phoenix-based?

In a perfect world, the Coyotes would be sold for $200+ million to an entrepreneur that intends to keep the team in town, but this is not going to happen.  The team is bleeding $30-$40 million a year and no rational individual will willingly sustain those kinds of losses.  Instead of crying to the courts, why do the cities of Glendale and Phoenix not do everything possible to try and sell more season tickets or whatever is necessary to make the team more attractive to its residents?  If none of the locals care about the franchise, than why are they attempting to save it, and why should anyone care?

I believe Muhammad Ali’s last public autograph appearance was at the 2003 National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago.  My friends at Steiner Sports were running the autograph area and told me I could get a personalized 16X20 photo and my picture with “The Greatest” for the sum of $400.  It wasn’t the money that scared me off, but the fact that the lineup at the time was at least an hour long and I did not have the patience to wait.  So I bypassed the opportunity.

Fast forward to the present day, and Ali autographs have almost completely dried up.  We are talking about a guy that signed a TON of autographs over the years and was a steady seller for us until around 2007.  I always had Ali product in stock and we were sure to bring at least one item to each charity auction in which we participated.  Then the prices started going up - considerably.  A framed Ali photo that once sold for $999 was now retailing for double that.  Boxing gloves and robes disappeared entirely.  Charities were getting upset because we were no longer able to provide their most profitable raffle items.  I was under the impression Ali was still participating in at least one private autograph session per year, but I now believe these events have ceased as well.

We recently had a customer inquire about an Ali autograph, so I went looking to see what I could find.  The cheapest signature available to me was $1,800 U.S. and went up to $4,000 U.S. for a signed punching bag.  These prices were wholesale.  I know Ali’s battle with Parkinson’s disease has had an effect on “The Champ’s” ability to pen his signature, but I would be curious to know if his autographing has stopped altogether.  At $2,000-$4,000 per signature, Ali would easily be the most expensive living autograph.

More than anything, I’m really angry at myself for not standing in line for an hour back in 2003.

Do people still say that defense wins games?

Last year, the Toronto Blue Jays had the best pitching staff in the baseball and finished in the middle of the standings.  Until mid-May of this season, their offense was the best in baseball, their pitching staff was being held together by threads, and they were first in the American League.

The Minnesota Wild had the second-best defense in the NHL this season and finished 19^th overall.  I think it’s time to change the old adage – defense keeps you in games, but you can’t win without scoring.

There are a lot of fans that think HOF broadcaster, Bob Cole, should have retired a number of years ago and I am starting to join the masses.

After Detroit clinched their Quarter Final series versus Anaheim, Cole said they “would be on their way to the Western Conference Final against the winner of the game between Boston and Carolina.”  Uh – Bob.  The last time I checked, both Boston and Carolina played in the Eastern Conference.  Maybe a map of the U.S. would come in handy.

How come Detroit and Chicago haven’t worn their Winter Classic jerseys for any of the playoff games?  Oh yeah – they were sold off and in the hands of collectors within seconds of the conclusion of the January 1^st game.

All Toronto fans of my generation are shocked and saddened by the loss of Peter Zezel.  It seems like the fan-favorite played 8-10 years for the Leafs, but it’s surprising to learn he only skated in 204 games over 3 seasons.  He visited Frozen Pond as a customer on a couple of occasions and now I’m kicking myself for never bringing him in as a guest.  44 is much too young an age for an admired athlete to leave us.

In case you were wondering, these were the best-selling NBA jerseys over the past season:

1. Kobe Bryant

2. Lebron James

3. Chris Paul

4. Kevin Garnett

5. Allen Iverson

6. Dwyane Wade

7. Paul Pierce

8. Nate Robinson

9. Pau Gasol

10. Ray Allen

Allen Iverson and Nate Robinson?  I realize there’s the whole regional thing to take into account, but does Dwight Howard not play in the NBA.  Tim Duncan?  Yao Ming?  Tony Parker?  Dirk Nowitzki?  When I think of a Top Ten list, Nate Robinson is not a name that comes to mind.

My boy Marc-Andre Fleury goes for Lord Stanley’s hardware once again.  I am off to Detroit (probably) and Pittsburgh and will give you a report upon my return.  I will also have a follow up on Coach’s Corner and Sports Collectors Digest, which will definitely make for an interesting read.

One interesting story that I neglected to mention in my previous blog on the Montreal All-Star Game was the fan-friendliness shown by Evgeni Malkin during the skills competition.  While Malkin was engrossed in conversation with another player during a lull in the action, an enterprising fan took it upon himself to throw his All-Star jersey (and a Sharpie) over the glass near where the Pittsburgh star was standing.  Malkin chuckled, then signed the jersey and threw it back over the glass.  Within seconds, several more jerseys and caps came over the glass and Malkin signed them all.  This went on for several minutes, until Malkin was forced to take a seat on the bench for an upcoming event.  The remaining jerseys were thrown back over the glass, unsigned.  Kudos though to Malkin for giving the fans what they wanted.

I was at the Penguins Toronto hotel last Friday, and security usually does a pretty good job of keeping the autograph hounds at bay.  That was until Malkin exited the building.  The hounds know that attending on the property is grounds for a trespassing charge, but they didn’t care.  Malkin got swarmed by at least 35 people.  He scribbled a couple of sigs and then ducked back inside.  A short time later, a car pulled around and Malkin hopped in.  Unfortunately his escape was not meant to be, as the car was forced to stop for a red light a short distance from the hotel driveway.  The hounds chased the car down and started banging on the window.  Malkin obliged with a few signatures, although a pile of autograph hounds in the street was not the safest thing I ever witnessed.  Once the light turned green, the Penguins star was able to make his way to freedom.

I was at the hotel to get some stuff signed by my favorite autograph guest – Marc-Andre Fleury.  “Fleurs” is always in good spirits and I enjoy spending time with him.  The week before Super Bowl, he was to be introduced as First Star of the game and was given a Steelers “Terrible Towel” to wave.  Max Talbot suggested he put on a Steelers helmet as well, and the trainer took off to the dressing room to find one.  The resultant photo will probably be one of our top sellers for the next decade. 

I told Fleury that’s why people love him; because he does stuff like that.  So does Ovechkin, and he is as big a fan-favorite as there is today.  It’s great when these guys loosen up and you see their human side as well.  Unfortunately Fleurs got peppered by the Leafs on Saturday and was not in a good mood after the game.  He made one of the greatest saves you will ever see (off Jason Blake), but all he could talk about was giving up six goals.  It has been a tough season for the underperforming Penguins.

I found it interesting when Fleury told me that Sidney Crosby is far from a locker room presence.  Even though he wears the “C”, Crosby rarely speaks, as Hal Gill, Ryan Whitney, and the aforementioned Talbot are the locker room leaders.  Fleury also said that Paul Bissonnette had control of the music in the locker room (unusual for a rookie), but since he was sent down to the minors, right now the music is “just bad”.    

John Mitchell was another recent Frozen Pond autograph guest and he’s turned off by the amount of country music played in the Leafs dressing room.  He said Luke Schenn and Jason Blake love it.  I was somewhat startled at the Dallas All-Star Game by the amount of players that really enjoy country, as Dion Phaneuf and Rick Nash asked me to be quiet when a country act they liked started performing at one of the parties.

Mitchell is a local boy and a great kid who hopefully will be with the Leafs for a long-time to come.  Brian Burke was quoted in the New York Post as saying the only Leafs that are untouchable at the trade deadline are Schenn, Mitchell, and Mikhail Grabovski.  That being said, it looks like Mitchell may indeed have a future here.

A pleasant surprise after last week’s blog was posted was a phone call from HOF curator and featured subject – Phil Pritchard.  Phil called to concur with my opinion on the dirtiness of slush-filled downtown Montreal, and also to tell me that his family owns a fish and chips restaurant near Oakville, Ontario, and to invite me for a meal.  Who says these blogs are a waste of time; I got a free meal out of it.

I had a contact at McFarlane Toys call me several months ago and ask my opinion for their 2009 lineup of hockey figurines.  Something I immediately disagreed with was the Teemu Selanne figure being released in December.  My postulation was that, if they want to do an Anaheim player, why not come out with Ryan Getzlaf, who is a true superstar and will be a big part of Canada’s Olympic team that will be striving for Gold only a few weeks later.  But they stuck to their guns and are instead releasing a figure of an aging star in whom no one has any interest.  Will there really be enough demand for a Winnipeg “chase” figure to make the inclusion of Selanne worthwhile?  I really don’t think so, and can see this figure warming up the pegs in Wal*Mart’s across the country for a long time to come.  What’s next – a Jeremy Roenick Sharks figure, or maybe Owen Nolan on the Wild?

I was also told that the Montreal Canadiens figure being released in the same series would be tough guy Georges Laraque, but now their listings have a Montreal player – TBD.  Apparently Laraque was suggested by the NHL, as well as myself, so I wonder why things changed?

Jeffrey Morris, the publisher of Canadian Sports – The Magazine, recently sent out a letter to subscribers informing them that the publication has ceased to exist.  This was not a surprise, since there has only been one new issue since last summer.  But I feel bad, having written for the magazine for almost 7 years.  Jeff has been going through some personal and health issues, and, combined with the terrible economy; decided this was a battle that could not be won.

I actually started “The Hersh Blog” because of the disarray of the magazine.  I had things to say, and never knew when my columns were going to run.  So I figured the blog would be the best way to convey my thoughts while trying to stay somewhat current.  Nonetheless, it is never good for the hobby when a long-standing periodical stops publishing.  Hopefully something will eventually step up and take its place.

First there were jersey cards that contained a swatch of a player’s game-worn sweater.  Then came other cards featuring various pieces of equipment – goalie pads, fight straps, baseball bats, etc.  I made mention a short time ago of a new set that had pieces of actual dinosaur teeth and fossils included on the cards.

Now comes the 2009 Topps American Heritage card set.  Included in this set is a JFK card with a swatch of one of his worn sweaters.  Also – a John Quincy Adams card with a piece of his desk, and Martin Van Buren, James K. Polk, and Zachary Taylor cards with a piece of White House roof.  I’ve yet to mention the cards that include a part of Grover Cleveland’s handkerchief, George W.’s tie, or FDR’s pillow.  My only question is – what’s next?  Lincoln’s hat?  Clinton’s saxophone?

Another interesting new card set is Topps Baseball Series 1.  As stated in the press release:

“Randomly inserted in boxes, are NICKNAME LETTER PATCHES sequentially numbered to 50.  Each letter in a player’s nickname is represented…for example collectors can spell out Jackie Robinson’s nickname “J-A-C-K-I-E”.  All the manufactured letters are fashioned after the look and feel of the player’s original flannel jersey.”

Okay – am I the only one that finds it strange that Jackie Robinson’s nickname is “Jackie”?  In a set that features nickname cards of, among others, Babe Ruth (Bambino), Cal Ripken Jr. (Iron Man), Mickey Mantle (Commerce Comet), Ty Cobb (GA Peach), and Walter Johnson (Big Train), why would their featured player be a guy that doesn’t use a nickname?  That’s some quality marketing there, Topps.

Firstly, I must admit that I am a snob.

I may be the only person on the planet that did not enjoy the 2009 Winter Classic.  Detroit beat Chicago by a 6-4 score in the outdoor game that seems to have received universal acclamation as an unqualified success.  The game was the highest rated U.S. hockey broadcast in thirteen years and there is already talk that an annual New Year’s Day encounter will replace the outdated All-Star Game as the NHL’s yearly showcase event.

I, though, did not enjoy myself.  I had already been to a Winter Classic where I had a rooting interest in the Penguins.  My seats were great, the weather was tolerable, the atmosphere was electric, and I had box access for when I needed to warm up.  This time around, my experience was not the same.

The shuttles from the hotel were running late due to excessive traffic around Wrigley Field.  They crammed 1.5 times the regular amount of patrons onto my bus in order to make up for the huge lines that were forming.  The normally twelve-minute commute was claustrophobic and took over 45 minutes, and the bus let us off in the middle of the street a ways from the stadium.  Traffic was at a standstill, and pedestrians were wandering everywhere.  I overheard two police officers say they were going to lose their intersection at any minute, as no one was paying attention to the traffic signals.

It then took another twenty minutes to get through the masses of fans and into my seats.  The third level balcony overhung my second-level seats, so the outdoorsy feeling I enjoyed previously was somewhat tainted.  A giant supporting beam also blocked my view of a good portion of the ice.  Did I mention it was freezing?  I had several layers of clothing on, but they did little to protect my hands and feet.  Dress shoes were not the smartest choice.  Some people are made for cold weather – I am not one of those people.

With my toque, my scarf, and my hood, I could not hear a thing that was being said.  I missed all the announcements and had a lot of trouble following what was going on at ice level.  I also did not care about the game itself.  I know Marty Havlat and Hank Zetterberg a little, but not enough to care either way who won the game.  Once the puck was dropped and once Daniel Cleary got crunched into the Blackhawk bench, I was pretty well ready to leave.  I made it through fifteen minutes of game action, and then left to go watch the balance at Dave and Busters.  Warm weather, hot food, a big screen, and good commentary; what else could one ask for?

The experience wasn’t all bad.  I had never been to Wrigley Field before, so it was great to visit the second-oldest stadium in the Majors.  I walked onto Waveland Ave., where all those home runs are hit, and loved seeing all the bleachers built on top of housing units across the street.  I enjoyed visiting “Wrigleyville”, the area surrounding the field where at least 20 sports bars are filled for all events.  There were easily 5,000-10,000 non-ticket holders within a few-minute walk of the stadium, all having a great time.  I was told this was normal for all Cubs games as well.

Those with tickets seemed to be having a great time, and the National Anthems were loud and memorable.  Most people enjoyed decent sightlines and the ice surface held up well; there were not frequent delays like last year.

But lucky as I was to have had complimentary NHL tickets and prime seats for a sporting event that over 200,000 people could not get tickets for, I did not have a good time.  Yes – I am a snob and am spoiled rotten.  But that does not mean I won’t be at Fenway Park or wherever the 2010 game takes place.  Heck – these events are historical and I love being a part of history.  I will just make sure I am much better prepared for the conditions, and hopefully will be able to come up with box seats.  I mean – that is the best way to watch an “outdoor” game, is it not?

Baltimore’s Le’Ron McClain scored a touchdown against the Dolphins yesterday.  Isn’t this how Quebecers refer to Don Cherry’s broadcast partner?

One of our best selling product lines this holiday season was McFarlane’s NHL Legends 7 wave of figurines.  We have almost completely sold through the 60 cases of product that was delivered in November.  It was generally a very strong year for McFarlane sales overall.  I know the economy is causing problems everywhere, but McFarlane has not raised their wholesale price in years (if ever) and retailers such as ourselves are very appreciative of gestures such as this.  Keep your eyes open for a Marc-Andre Fleury figure at the end of 2009, as well as a Habs Centennial two-pack that is bound to be extremely popular with collectors.

Speaking of Fleury, he was our best-selling player from October-December, dropping Alex Ovechkin down to second place.  These two have been at the top of our Best-Sellers list since right around the time of Steve Yzerman’s retirement.

While I may not have been a big fan of the Winter Classic, I have found this year’s World Junior Championships to be incredibly entertaining.  I don’t know if our American neighbors realize that this tournament is akin to March Madness in this neck of the woods.  These kids are the NHL superstars of the future and we are all watching so we could say we remember when…

Canada’s game against the U.S. was one of the most entertaining I have ever seen, and the last-second comeback against the Russians was the stuff of legends.  I just wish they could get our friend’s name correct; it is pronounced Alex Pit-rangelo, not Petra-angelo or Peter-angelo. 

If you don’t laugh, you obviously don’t get my sense of humor.

Yesterday (November 3) was Johnny Bower’s 60^th Anniversary.  Heartfelt wishes go out to Johnny and Nancy, two of the greatest people I have ever met.

Can you believe a group of kids actually vandalized Don Cherry’s Halloween lawn display?  His pumpkins were smashed (Billy Corrigan was NOT involved) and his goblins were stolen.  Would this group of idiot youth have performed their dastardly act if they knew whose lawn they were desecrating?

Slap Shot 3 is being released on DVD on November 25.  Can you believe someone at Universal Studios actually viewed the time-waster known as Slap Shot 2 and decided that this was a franchise worth pursuing?  Once Steve Carlson (Hanson Brother #17) was finished filming Slap Shot 2 in 2001, he told me that the head honchos at Universal loved it so much they were talking about a full theatrical release and already planning Slap Shots 3-4-5.  I hope Steve has overcome his head injuries.  On a positive note, #3 can’t be worse than the last one. 

Sergei Samsonov sure has turned out to be a good signing for the Hurricanes.  One assist in eleven games for the bargain price of $2.3 million a year.  What a waste of talent. 

Shea Weber was voted the NHL’s 3^rd Star for the month of October.  Dig out your Pond Chronicle #23 (2007) and you will see that someone predicted stardom in his future.  I also mentioned Derrick Brassard as a Calder candidate for this season, and he is currently leading all rookies in scoring.  The #2 scorer amongst rookies is Kris Versteeg, #4 is Jannik Hansen, and #9 is Ryan Jones.  All I have to say is – who?

First Marc-Andre Fleury and now Manny Legace.  What do these brainiacs think is going to happen when someone unknowingly steps on a carpet while wearing skates?

When the price of gas went through the roof, UPS started adding a “Fuel Surcharge” to all packages sent.  Now that gas prices have come down considerably, why are we still paying this fee?  And why have they added an additional $1 fee for all residential deliveries?

A bronze medalist at the Beijing Olympics was Chinese trampolinist, Dong Dong.  You would think that if your surname was Dong, your parents could come up with something different for a first name.

I loved seeing Ian Thorpe referred to as a “butterface”.  That may be the first time I’ve ever heard that term used on a man.

Beckett Hockey and all other aspects of Beckett Sports were recently sold.  I haven’t seen this reported at all in the media, not even by Beckett.

If pitching and defense wins games, then why were the Blue Jays not World Series champions?

Is Chad Johnson now signing autographs as Ocho Cinco?  Will the old ones be worth less?  Does anyone have a Mike Jefferson autograph?

A store (part of a chain) in the Pittsburgh area recently did a public autograph appearance with some of the Penguins players.  They charged $19 for a personalization and $5 for a Certificate of Authenticity.  I wonder if the holofoil was free?  Soon there will be a surcharge if you want an item signed with your choice of marker.

Last year at this time, Simon Gamache was the most popular player on the Maple Leafs, and we made inquiries about bringing him in for an appearance.  Last we heard, his face could be seen on milk cartons.

Why does Canada have a Thanksgiving holiday?  Did we have a Plymouth Rock and pilgrims?  Why do we feel the need to steal another country’s holiday and hold it in a different month?

Patrick Marleau recently played his 800^th NHL game just a month after his 29^th birthday.  Only Brian Bellows accomplished this feat at a younger age. 

I miss Frank and Gordon, the Bell spokesbeavers.

If the Montreal Canadiens were founded on December 9, 1909, then how the heck is this their centennial?  It is their 99^th season in existence, of which they played hockey in 98 of them.  I didn’t realize a 100^th Anniversary celebration lasted for two years.  I guess I should have wished Johnny Bower a happy 60^th last year.

Marc-Andre Fleury told me he would be in town last week for a RbK photo shoot and invited me to the arena to watch.  Upon arrival, I found security to be unusually anal and no one wanted to answer any of my questions.  When I went to ice level I discovered why.  Guess who was taking shots on Mr. Fleury?  Why – none other than #87 himself – Sidney Crosby.  No wonder everyone was acting so strange.  Apparently the commercial and a print campaign will be out in the fall.

Fleury signed a bunch of items for me at the arena.  This was his first signing since his Stanley Cup run and we now have some great photos in stock.  I also got Fleurs to sign one of his bobble heads for my personal collection.  I had been looking for this item for a couple of years and it was very nice of Fleury superfan Joe Crawford to send me one.  Thanks again, Joe.

A couple of days later, I needed Brad Boyes to sign a few items before he left for St. Louis and he asked me to meet him at his workout facility in Etobicoke.  Upon arriving at the ungodly time of 8:15 a.m. (I’m not a morning person), I found Boyesie, but also saw Wojtek Wolski, Jason Spezza, Rick Nash, Aaron Johnson, Jared Boll, and others.  Apparently this GTA crew works out together a couple of times a week throughout the summer.  Now I know. 

Fleury, Boyes, and Wolski are a few of my favourites in the NHL.  They all have lucrative new contracts and I hope they all have great seasons.

This past weekend, I helped out my friend, Aman Gupta, at his annual Comic, Sci-Fi, Horror, Anime, and Gaming show.  What started out as a small comic book show has turned into one of the largest conventions of its kind in North America, with expected attendance in the 50,000 range.  This show is unbelievable in the sense that thousands of people come dressed as their favourite Star Wars, anime, television or movie character.  Just walking the halls you will run into Darth Vader, the Dark Knight, Superman, or Sailor Moon.  This is Geekfest at its finest.   

The first celebrity I interacted with was none other than Henry Winkler - “The Fonz”.  Winkler is not a regular on the show circuit, and the 1,300 people that purchased autographs from him showed the demand was there.  I helped walk him over from the hotel (along with his handler Rob Lockhart and assistant bodyguard Rich Clements) and he could not go more than a few steps without being recognized.  “Hey Fonz”, and “Look – it’s the Fonz.”  I asked him if he gets recognized everywhere he goes and he said he still does, all over the world.  He also said it never gets tiresome.

What made Winkler a great guest is that he didn’t sit behind the autograph table; he stood in front of it.  That way he could interact with each individual fan and shake hands and give hugs.  This was quite unique.  What made him moderately difficult as a guest is that he wouldn’t write what people asked.  A request for “To Bob – Sit on it” would become “Bob – You’re great.”  I don’t think most people minded, but I sure would have loved a “Jump the Shark” quote on my photo. 

Now meeting Buzz Aldrin was a thrill.  I mean – I’ve met a lot of professional athletes, and still love doing so.  But this guy is a real hero and one of the smartest men ever to live.  3rd in his class at West Point.  PHD from MIT in Astronautics.  Flew jet fighters in Korea, and was the 2^nd man to set foot on the moon.  Yeah – we have a lot in common.  Of course I asked him about his appearance on The Simpsons, but I also wanted to know how long it took to get to the moon.  He told me 3 ½ days there and another 3 ½ days back.  I wondered why coming home wasn’t quicker, since it was all downhill, and he replied that orbits don’t work that way.  When you think about it, do we really know if the moon is above or below us?

In a Q+A session, Aldrin told the story how his father was so incensed that he was not the FIRST man on the moon that he stopped speaking with his son upon his return to Earth.  Aldrin then started suffering from depression, became an alcoholic and lost his wife in the process.  I guess even astronauts are human.  Aldrin was far from a good guest.  He would not add any inscriptions to his photos, not even Best Wishes.  His social skills also left a lot to be desired, but it was nonetheless an honour to spend some time with him.

Michael Rosenbaum played Lex Luthor on Smallville.  He just left the show after seven seasons and is pursuing a movie career.  It was interesting seeing him with a full head of hair, as he no longer has to shave his scalp every morning.  Rosenbaum is a die-hard New York Rangers fan who goes to a ton of games in his hometown of Los Angeles.  He counted Rob Blake, Luc Robitaille, and Derek Armstrong amongst his friends, and wished the Rangers played in LA more often.  He was a cool guy, but his signature would make him a perfect candidate to be a current hockey player.

Finally, I was told Sean Astin was a really nice guy.  I am a fan of his from the movie “Rudy”, but others will best remember him from The Goonies or the Lord of the Rings trilogy.  He was extremely easy going and did whatever was asked of him.  He confirmed the stories that the actual “Rudy” (Daniel Ruettiger) was difficult to get along with and was somewhat arrogant.  He also chastised me for not eating my vegetables, as he has been a quasi-vegetarian for a couple of years now.  When he was leaving the building, I let him know that the rumours were true and he is a really nice guy.

Overall – a great week and kudos to Aman on another great show.