I can die a happy man now...a report from HOF Weekend in Canton

BigDaddyBowman

I told my wife that I can die a happy man now because of this:
I met and shook hands with Troy!


and I also met and shook hands with Roger! Holy Schnikees!!!


I have been a Cowboys fan for 31 years....Roger and Troy have been my 2 favs and I was able to meet both in one weekend..Just kill me now......What a weekend! If you have never been to Canton for the Hall of Fame weekend festivities, you are missing out. Here is a brief report from my weekend adventures.

Friday night went to a mall cardshow and signing and met and got graphs of Ed"Too Tall" Jones, Robert Newhouse, and Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson. The next day at the show were about 10 Raider stars of the seventies. Stabler etc.






We then went to the Hall of Fame to check things out the night before the ceremony.







The next morning we went back to Canton for the induction ceremony....the experience was amazing to say the least...a football fans Heaven!





T.J. and Michael Irvin on ESPN.


Madden unveiling his bust.


Mrs. White and son after emotional unveiling of bust:


TROY!!!






Troy and Roger hugging after Troy's speech:


After the induction ceremony...off to the Topps autograph signings in the tents in front of the Hall. A ton of HOFer's to sign...pretty pricey but here are a few Butkus, Jimi Brown, Long, Marino, Sayers, L.T., Steve Young, Griese, Marcus Allen, Blount, Dorsett, Jim Kelly, Montana, Munoz, Youngblood, Carson, Blanda, Lilly, Moon, Otto, Renfro, Wright and more but can't recall.





This is when I got to meet Staubach and his his graph:
What a thrill!



The next morning was when Troy and the current class was signing:



I don't want to sound like a crazed, psychotic, obsessed fan...but I spoke to and shook the hand of my all-time favorite players! OK I know I do sound like a lunatic stalker fan..but I don't care....it was awesome!!! It was also awesome that I was able to have my son meet Troy and shake his hand too!! What a great Father/son moment!!!!!!




Not sure why some of the pictures came out so small...but I will try to fix them later.

Ahmanfan

what kind of prices were the signers?

BigDaddyBowman

Can you say "an arm and a leg!" They were very pricey. The HOF show was promoted by mounted memories. They charge alot. The cost was dependant on who you wanted and what you wanted them to sign, and on what memoribilia. For instance, I got the Aikman and Staubach on an authentic full size helmet. I paid almost $200 for just the helmet!...supply and demand was totally in effect. They had the supply and I had the demand unfortunately! The Aikman was $99 for a flat, $119 for minis and footballs, and $139 for a helmet. If you wanted an inscription you had to pay 25 bucks more! Staubach was about $10 bucks more per item. Of course Aikman and Staubach were the most expensive signers. Depending on the star quality... the upper echelon stars were about $75 for a flat and around $100 for a helmet. Go to the mounted memories website for all the prices.
Them mall show I went to was reasonable. Too tall was $40 on a mini, Newhouse was $15 on a mini and Henderson was also $40.

larryallen73

Very cool. How much did it cost to get into the induction ceremony? Easy to get tickets?

lawnmowerman

<< <i>Not sure why some of the pictures came out so small...but I will try to fix them later. >>



FIX THEM NOW! I need to see them better


Matt

BigDaddyBowman

We bought them via phone the first morning they went on sale..they were about $25 a piece..not too bad. There were plenty of seats still available and alot of scalpers selling for face value before the induction ceremony and also on ebay...so getting a ticket isn't too hard. Getting tickets for the game is a bit tougher. I know the Hall offers packages for the whole weekend. I highly recommend the trip out to anyone who can go..it was an amazing experience.

Tedw9

Great post and pics! It's always a thrill to read about someone meeting an athlete they have always admired. Congrats to you and your son! Thank you for sharing.

Ahmanfan

It was totally worth it though!!

BigDaddyBowman

Worth every penny! It was a great experience. Staubach was a gracious signer. His was still signing an hour after all the others because many other signers were doing assembly line signing, with very little interaction and no pictures. Roger was very hospitable and shook hands and took pictures with all those that asked...that is why he took so long. While waiting in line for Troy, I over heard alot of people complaining abouit Troy. Some of the complaints were that he wouldn't allow pictures, wouldn't shake hands, sat behind two tables (others were behind just one), signing in the wrong spot of the item, being very strict with the insriptions. For instance, someone wanted HOF and the date...well according to Troy's people that was two inscriptions=pay twice. Things like that. I remember telling my wife in line..."maybe we shouldn't have come?"... I didn't want our bubble to burst that thinks so highly of Troy as a player and a person. When we got to Troy he looked exhausted. He had probably 2-3 times as many autographs to sign....I know that I was number 361! After the busy weekend he had I could see why he might not be too friendly. When we got to the table I said "Hello"...he said "hi" back. I told him Congratulations and he thanked me. My son had made a congatulations picture for him and a picture for his 3 daughters. My son in his 5 year old voice said "Troy... I made this for you and your daughters" Troy looked at the pic said " Thank you... I am sure that they will enjoy it." I then asked if my son could shake his hand, he said sure, and I of course then said "Can I shake your hand too?" He smiled and obliged. My son then said " Troy, Troy, Troy until he had Troy's attention...BYE!" Troy smiled again and said "Bye" We were allowed to take pics....obviously with the one of me shaking hands with him. He signed exactly where I had hoped....I had no complaints! It's amazing what a brief minute interaction with a hero can feel like! My wife was the picture taker and was in shock that she was so close to Troy..she has a mini-crush on him! I kept joking...I touched Troy...you didn't!" LOL

QUIK

Great stuff Thanks for shareing

alnavman

Just to add another bit of info....I went down to the card show at the Mall on Friday ..don't know if all the signings at the mall were the same as on Friday night but you could have talked to the three Cowboys on Friday all you wanted...there was no one there when I was in the mall......So if you were a Too Tall, Hollywood or Newhouse fan you would have had a ball.....the card show was not the greatest to me since the majority of the dealers were folks I'd seen at shows in the area before......not sure how the rest of the weekend went but that's a quick report from my Friday experience.

BigDaddyBowman

alnavman
Just to add another bit of info....I went down to the card show at the Mall on Friday ..don't know if all the signings at the mall were the same as on Friday night but you could have talked to the three Cowboys on Friday all you wanted...there was no one there when I was in the mall......So if you were a Too Tall, Hollywood or Newhouse fan you would have had a ball.....the card show was not the greatest to me since the majority of the dealers were folks I'd seen at shows in the area before......not sure how the rest of the weekend went but that's a quick report from my Friday experience.

Alnavman, Are you from Ohio? I agree with your experience. Friday night was dead. Same old dealers with the same marked up product. After about three table visits, I went to a table to check out some 1951 Bowman football raw. IMO just about every card of the dealers 50 or so 1951's were trimmed. They just didnt look right to me. That kind of soured my experience on the show. The signers were VERY slow...I almost felt bad for them! Had to bruise their egos a little! Nonetheless, it was a great opportunity to get the 3 Cowboys graphs.

alnavman

Big Daddy, I'm from Parma....up north......are you from the Canton area.......I used to do shows at the Holiday Inn near the mall....had to stop last year due to family things....my kids are growing up taking more of my time.......it just seemed to me that Friday night was dead for some reason....I work with a guy who set up on Saturday and Sunday and he said it picked up some but I think the shows in the Ohio area just are not doing that well anymore.

BigDaddyBowman

Alnavman
Get out of here! I live in Parma too. I always went to the Strongsville shows..until they unfortunately died out

Skinpinch

Staubach or James Caan?

alnavman

Big daddy...I used to set up at some of the Strongsville shows....not the big annual one when all the out of town dealers showed up but some of the other monthly ones.......I remember when just about every weekend a show was either in Strongsville or in Cleveland or one of the malls in the area...now it's the same dealers at the shows...no new folks come in anymore........

BigDaddyBowman

alnavman
It's a small world. I have probably seen you at the shows. Its good to see that there are still other collectors in Parma! What school cluster do you live? I work at Parma Sr. No doubt...the show scene in the Cleveland area has died....probably the same everywhere though. The BIG Strongsville show was always a great show....the smaller ones were good too. Many of the dealers at Belden Village HOF show were Strongsville regulars..its funny I havnt been to those old Strongsville shows in 10 years, yet as I passed those dealers I can remember what cards I bought from them. Alot of those guys are still trying to unload the same crap as they had 10 years ago!

chaz43

<< <i>Worth every penny! It was a great experience. Staubach was a gracious signer. His was still signing an hour after all the others because many other signers were doing assembly line signing, with very little interaction and no pictures. Roger was very hospitable and shook hands and took pictures with all those that asked...that is why he took so long. While waiting in line for Troy, I over heard alot of people complaining abouit Troy. Some of the complaints were that he wouldn't allow pictures, wouldn't shake hands, sat behind two tables (others were behind just one), signing in the wrong spot of the item, being very strict with the insriptions. For instance, someone wanted HOF and the date...well according to Troy's people that was two inscriptions=pay twice. Things like that. I remember telling my wife in line..."maybe we shouldn't have come?"... I didn't want our bubble to burst that thinks so highly of Troy as a player and a person. When we got to Troy he looked exhausted. He had probably 2-3 times as many autographs to sign....I know that I was number 361! After the busy weekend he had I could see why he might not be too friendly. When we got to the table I said "Hello"...he said "hi" back. I told him Congratulations and he thanked me. My son had made a congatulations picture for him and a picture for his 3 daughters. My son in his 5 year old voice said "Troy... I made this for you and your daughters" Troy looked at the pic said " Thank you... I am sure that they will enjoy it." I then asked if my son could shake his hand, he said sure, and I of course then said "Can I shake your hand too?" He smiled and obliged. My son then said " Troy, Troy, Troy until he had Troy's attention...BYE!" Troy smiled again and said "Bye" We were allowed to take pics....obviously with the one of me shaking hands with him. He signed exactly where I had hoped....I had no complaints! It's amazing what a brief minute interaction with a hero can feel like! My wife was the picture taker and was in shock that she was so close to Troy..she has a mini-crush on him! I kept joking...I touched Troy...you didn't!" LOL >>





GREAT STUFF !!!!!! LOVE IT !!!! Thanks. chaz

AlanAllen

I'll tell anyone who will listen: go to a HOF induction! I went in 2003 and it was incredible. I haven't been able to make it back since then, but I'd certainly like to. My favorite story from 2003: my buddy and I were walking through the hall before the induction, and arguing if Eric Dickerson still held the single-season rushing record. We turned the corner, and I said to my buddy "why don't we ask him?" ED was standing there looking at one of the exhibits He was surrounded by an entourage so we didn't ask him, but still a cool moment.

Joe

goose3

I watched some of it on the tube......I must say I enjoyed listening to Madden speak.

Seeing Roger Staubach on tv was pretty cool. He was the nemisis of my team (the Steelers) back in the day. Hell of a QB!

Did Al Davis look bad or what!? His speech was nice as well.



I live down by Mansfield.....what's it cost to get into that gig?

Carew29

Very cool story!! Felt like i was there. Kids are soooo clutch for pulling off stuff like that. Probably what Troy needed after a very long and "hot" day from what i hear...

Stone193

<< <i>Alnavman
Get out of here! I live in Parma too. I always went to the Strongsville shows..until they unfortunately died out >>


I dated a girl in college who was from Parma Heights - same area?

Isn't that where Drew Carey was from on the show?

BTW, Cleveland is a very underrated city!

mike

Stone193

BigDaddy

Great review and pics!

I'm glad to hear you and your family had a super time. I caught the induction on ESPN - nothing like being there.

Aikman looks too darn young to be in the HOF! Getting his sig in person is worth the trip. I do agree, the fees were a bit much but what can ya do? You'll never find a better place to get the sigs IMO - at the FB HOF!

Thanx - I enjoyed reading this!
mike

BigDaddyBowman

Stone
Parma Heights is about a 15 second drive from my house...real small world!

alnavman

Big Daddy....if you work at Parma Sr then you probably know Preston and Tim....both were teachers there. PReston recently retired and I think Tim left 2-3 years ago....I know Tim is a collector, I've seen him several times at shows....Preston used to be the AD at Parma and Tim coached the baseball team.....I graduated from there in 1970......and I also live near Parma Heights....

Stone: The girl you dated probably went to Valley Forge if she was from PH....unless she went to a catholic school....small world we live in!!!

By the way Drew Carey was from Cleveland, which is north of Parma and Parma Heights......it borders Parman along with several other suburbs......

BigDaddyBowman

alnavman

Preston is a very good friend of mine. He was my assistant last year. I vacationed at his condo in July. Great guy..I am going to really miss working with him. I know Tim too,

alnavman

Big Daddy...next time you see Preston tell him you were talking with me....Al Navolanic. We grew up on Dellwood.....he lived a few houses down and across the street.......turn on your private mail and we can talk more....I hate to bore all the forum members with memories from Ohio!! take care AL.