My day with a legend Kareem Abdul Jabbar, thread now updated with pics and story
thenavarro
Posts: 7,497 ✭✭✭
This is a teaser. Ill update when I get home. Im on mobile phone PDA right now.
Had another fun Saturday today. Living near Dallas occasionally gives me some prime opportunities. I heard a couple months ago about Kareem Abdul Jabbar being in town this weekend to sign autographs. So, y’all know me, I immediately purchased a Jabbar rookie in order to have signed today at the event. This is an event put on by a local radio station called The Ticket, and all autographs are free. That’s both good and bad. It’s good, because of the price, and bad, because EVERYBODY turns out at these things and if you want a free ticket you pretty much have to camp out to get them.. Kareem was signing 400 autographs, and I knew I didn’t want to camp out all night to wait in line to get a free ticket (I would have done it in a heartbeat before I had kids, but now that I’m older, I’m becoming a bit of a “diva”). Therefore, I placed an add on a local autograph board and I found someone willing to be a SHIL for me. (Shil is short for someone who Stands Hours In Line for me ) At first, the requested fee was $10.00 an hour, but I didn’t want to pay that much, so we finally settled on $75.00 set fee. I requested that my Shil be at the event at 4 AM Saturday morning (signing not until 4:15 PM Saturday). My Shil went above and beyond the call of duty and got out there at 3:00 PM Friday!!! He was 44th in line, so needless to say, he’ll be getting more work from me if someone I need comes to town. He called about 11:30 AM this morning and told me that he had secured my ticket, so I set out to the event to pick it up from him as I wanted him to get the ticket, but I wanted to be the one to get to meet Kareem, as I enjoyed watching him growing up. I arrived at about 1:15 with my wife and picked up this from my Shil:
Now, we had 3 hours to burn until the signing, so we walked around a bit and I happened across a Dallas Cowboys display in the distance. I told my wife, we had to go take a look, and she wanted to know why, because she knows that I don’t like the Cowboys at all. I explained to her that I didn’t want to go for myself, but that I wanted to go see if they had anything neat that Lawnmowerman might want to see. She looked at me perplexed and asked who in the heck this Lawnmowerman was. I told her it was some dude that cut grass in Florida or somewhere, but that he was a pretty cool guy on the bulletin board that I get on every night. So we venture out to the Cowboys display and I had her take a picture of this for Lawnmowerman to see. The Cowboys Vince Lombardi Trophies, a few of which his man Emmitt, played a big part in. Enjoy Lawnmowerman: (yes, I’m the fat guy standing to the left, I just noticed that it appears that I'm flippin' the bird to the trophies, but I can assure you, I'm not, I was holding my phone and trying to balance something else in that hand and it just gives that appearance)
Next, we still had about 2 and a half hours left to burn, and my wife was being such a good sport about this, that we left and went to some outlet malls to do some shopping as she wanted some shoes. We got her shoes, and I even found a pair there and got 50% off. I struggled mightily with sticker shock, even with the discount, I still had to pay $38.00 for my shoes. Keep in mind, that I usually buy $12.99 Wal-Mart shoes for myself (I’m quite frugal with the exception of my memorabilia, kids, wife and cars, and don’t see the point very often of paying $38.00 for shoes, when the $12.99 ones work well, I only got these because I’ve started to jog some so hopefully in a few months, I won’t be the fat guy to the left, I’ll be the average size guy to the left. )
So, we go back to the event and just hang out for awhile. Finally, it came time for Kareem. He did a 15 minute radio Q&A before he started signing. It was pretty interesting. It started with an introduction of 6 time league MVP, 6 time world champion, scorer of the most points in NBA history, NBA legend, Kareem Abdul Jabbar. He received a pretty warm welcome. He was asked if he was offered any improper incentives in high school to go to certain colleges. Of course he replied “No” and said that his dad was a police officer, and recruiters didn’t seem to like to visit his house because of his dad. Kareem mentioned that at UCLA, they didn’t allow freshman to be on the Varsity, so he only played Varsity for Coach Wooden for 3 years. He was asked who out of all the players he played against were the biggest challenges for him. He gave what I thought were some surprising answers. He indicated that the person he had the hardest time scoring against was Nate Thurmond, and the hardest person he had to guard were players like Dan Issel, who were a threat outside of the lane with their shooting. Kareem said he didn’t like guarding people like Issel, because he had to get out of his element and go to the top of the key. He was asked that their was an internet survey that put as the 3rd greatest player ever, behind Jordan and Chamberlain, and how he felt about that even though his credentials were strong. He replied that he was happy just to be mentioned and that the big difference was that Jordan got a lot of style points and rightfully so, and that Chamberlain is remembered by everyone for his 100 point game and gaudy scoring average. He was asked what the biggest difference was between today’s players and guys of Kareem’s era, and he said that most of the differences were caused by young players not being taught proper basketball in grade school and throughout the years. He said ESPN has hurt traditional teamwork, by always focusing on the “highlight reels”, and that kids needed to realize that in order for someone to make a highlight reel dunk, that someone had to grab the rebound, pass the ball, set it up etc.. He said the kids today are too concerned with highlight reel plays and less concerned with basketball. Next, he was asked about his movie career. First up was questions about Bruce Lee and how he enjoyed training and making a movie with him. He said it was ok, but in the movie, he got killed in the end. He then laughed and said that seriously, him and Bruce Lee were close friends, and that Kareem used to babysit Brandon Lee for Bruce and how tragic it was for Kareem when Brandon died. Next he was asked about Airplane (one of my favorites by the way), and Kareem says that he gets a lot of attention for that. He said that at least every 6 months on his journeys across the country, that a pilot will come back to his seat and jokingly ask if he wants to take over the plane and finish off the flight. He also said that stewardesses seem to enjoy talking to him about Airplane. Finally, it was time for the signing, and I got to go in the first batch of people because the tickets were numbered and my Shil did a good job. Here is Kareem at the start of the signing after the first couple of people went:
As I got closer, I became concerned because Kareem was refusing to sign some things. I saw him turn down some jerseys while signing others, some photos while signing others, etc, (turns out he wasn’t signing unlicensed stuff I found out). I began to worry if he’d sign my card. Here is me about two people away from Kareem:
Finally it was my turn and the handler took my card and asked if he’d sign “these”, I thought “oh no, here we go”, but Kareem took it and said “sure” and began to sign. I was so relieved that I didn’t even notice he was signing it in silver paint type pen (but thankfully it turned out nice and strong). I asked him if he would sign it Lew Alcindor as well, and he was polite but declined. I thanked him for signing my card anyway and he was cordial and said “Your welcome”. Here is a picture of Kareem signing my rookie with me with my back turned
And last but not least, here’s the newest edition to my HOF signed rookie card collection. The scan had trouble picking up the paint signature properly, but in person, it’s VERY bold and looks outstanding. 1969 Topps Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar):
Had another fun Saturday today. Living near Dallas occasionally gives me some prime opportunities. I heard a couple months ago about Kareem Abdul Jabbar being in town this weekend to sign autographs. So, y’all know me, I immediately purchased a Jabbar rookie in order to have signed today at the event. This is an event put on by a local radio station called The Ticket, and all autographs are free. That’s both good and bad. It’s good, because of the price, and bad, because EVERYBODY turns out at these things and if you want a free ticket you pretty much have to camp out to get them.. Kareem was signing 400 autographs, and I knew I didn’t want to camp out all night to wait in line to get a free ticket (I would have done it in a heartbeat before I had kids, but now that I’m older, I’m becoming a bit of a “diva”). Therefore, I placed an add on a local autograph board and I found someone willing to be a SHIL for me. (Shil is short for someone who Stands Hours In Line for me ) At first, the requested fee was $10.00 an hour, but I didn’t want to pay that much, so we finally settled on $75.00 set fee. I requested that my Shil be at the event at 4 AM Saturday morning (signing not until 4:15 PM Saturday). My Shil went above and beyond the call of duty and got out there at 3:00 PM Friday!!! He was 44th in line, so needless to say, he’ll be getting more work from me if someone I need comes to town. He called about 11:30 AM this morning and told me that he had secured my ticket, so I set out to the event to pick it up from him as I wanted him to get the ticket, but I wanted to be the one to get to meet Kareem, as I enjoyed watching him growing up. I arrived at about 1:15 with my wife and picked up this from my Shil:
Now, we had 3 hours to burn until the signing, so we walked around a bit and I happened across a Dallas Cowboys display in the distance. I told my wife, we had to go take a look, and she wanted to know why, because she knows that I don’t like the Cowboys at all. I explained to her that I didn’t want to go for myself, but that I wanted to go see if they had anything neat that Lawnmowerman might want to see. She looked at me perplexed and asked who in the heck this Lawnmowerman was. I told her it was some dude that cut grass in Florida or somewhere, but that he was a pretty cool guy on the bulletin board that I get on every night. So we venture out to the Cowboys display and I had her take a picture of this for Lawnmowerman to see. The Cowboys Vince Lombardi Trophies, a few of which his man Emmitt, played a big part in. Enjoy Lawnmowerman: (yes, I’m the fat guy standing to the left, I just noticed that it appears that I'm flippin' the bird to the trophies, but I can assure you, I'm not, I was holding my phone and trying to balance something else in that hand and it just gives that appearance)
Next, we still had about 2 and a half hours left to burn, and my wife was being such a good sport about this, that we left and went to some outlet malls to do some shopping as she wanted some shoes. We got her shoes, and I even found a pair there and got 50% off. I struggled mightily with sticker shock, even with the discount, I still had to pay $38.00 for my shoes. Keep in mind, that I usually buy $12.99 Wal-Mart shoes for myself (I’m quite frugal with the exception of my memorabilia, kids, wife and cars, and don’t see the point very often of paying $38.00 for shoes, when the $12.99 ones work well, I only got these because I’ve started to jog some so hopefully in a few months, I won’t be the fat guy to the left, I’ll be the average size guy to the left. )
So, we go back to the event and just hang out for awhile. Finally, it came time for Kareem. He did a 15 minute radio Q&A before he started signing. It was pretty interesting. It started with an introduction of 6 time league MVP, 6 time world champion, scorer of the most points in NBA history, NBA legend, Kareem Abdul Jabbar. He received a pretty warm welcome. He was asked if he was offered any improper incentives in high school to go to certain colleges. Of course he replied “No” and said that his dad was a police officer, and recruiters didn’t seem to like to visit his house because of his dad. Kareem mentioned that at UCLA, they didn’t allow freshman to be on the Varsity, so he only played Varsity for Coach Wooden for 3 years. He was asked who out of all the players he played against were the biggest challenges for him. He gave what I thought were some surprising answers. He indicated that the person he had the hardest time scoring against was Nate Thurmond, and the hardest person he had to guard were players like Dan Issel, who were a threat outside of the lane with their shooting. Kareem said he didn’t like guarding people like Issel, because he had to get out of his element and go to the top of the key. He was asked that their was an internet survey that put as the 3rd greatest player ever, behind Jordan and Chamberlain, and how he felt about that even though his credentials were strong. He replied that he was happy just to be mentioned and that the big difference was that Jordan got a lot of style points and rightfully so, and that Chamberlain is remembered by everyone for his 100 point game and gaudy scoring average. He was asked what the biggest difference was between today’s players and guys of Kareem’s era, and he said that most of the differences were caused by young players not being taught proper basketball in grade school and throughout the years. He said ESPN has hurt traditional teamwork, by always focusing on the “highlight reels”, and that kids needed to realize that in order for someone to make a highlight reel dunk, that someone had to grab the rebound, pass the ball, set it up etc.. He said the kids today are too concerned with highlight reel plays and less concerned with basketball. Next, he was asked about his movie career. First up was questions about Bruce Lee and how he enjoyed training and making a movie with him. He said it was ok, but in the movie, he got killed in the end. He then laughed and said that seriously, him and Bruce Lee were close friends, and that Kareem used to babysit Brandon Lee for Bruce and how tragic it was for Kareem when Brandon died. Next he was asked about Airplane (one of my favorites by the way), and Kareem says that he gets a lot of attention for that. He said that at least every 6 months on his journeys across the country, that a pilot will come back to his seat and jokingly ask if he wants to take over the plane and finish off the flight. He also said that stewardesses seem to enjoy talking to him about Airplane. Finally, it was time for the signing, and I got to go in the first batch of people because the tickets were numbered and my Shil did a good job. Here is Kareem at the start of the signing after the first couple of people went:
As I got closer, I became concerned because Kareem was refusing to sign some things. I saw him turn down some jerseys while signing others, some photos while signing others, etc, (turns out he wasn’t signing unlicensed stuff I found out). I began to worry if he’d sign my card. Here is me about two people away from Kareem:
Finally it was my turn and the handler took my card and asked if he’d sign “these”, I thought “oh no, here we go”, but Kareem took it and said “sure” and began to sign. I was so relieved that I didn’t even notice he was signing it in silver paint type pen (but thankfully it turned out nice and strong). I asked him if he would sign it Lew Alcindor as well, and he was polite but declined. I thanked him for signing my card anyway and he was cordial and said “Your welcome”. Here is a picture of Kareem signing my rookie with me with my back turned
And last but not least, here’s the newest edition to my HOF signed rookie card collection. The scan had trouble picking up the paint signature properly, but in person, it’s VERY bold and looks outstanding. 1969 Topps Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar):
Buying US Presidential autographs
0
Comments
Say hi to Rube from all of us ...
"How about a little fire Scarecrow ?"
Always looking for Chipper Jones cards.
Im a very focused collector of cards from 1909 - 2012...LOL
<< <i>Did you spend the day with Jenna Jamison ? >>
Not IN a legend but with a legend.
Im still traveling. ill be home soon.
mike
<< <i>
<< <i>Did you spend the day with Jenna Jamison ? >>
Not IN a legend but with a legend.
Im still traveling. ill be home soon.
mike >>
1994 Pro Line Live
TheDallasCowboyBackfieldProject
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>Did you spend the day with Jenna Jamison ? >>
Not IN a legend but with a legend.
lawnmowerman
I actually took one picture specifically for you so be sure and check back.
<< <i>
Nice picture of sonic .
Can't wait to hear about your day ...
My Podcast - Now FEATURED on iTunes
Thanks for thinking of me. Seriously, I appreciate it!
Those Lombardi Trophies are awesome
1994 Pro Line Live
TheDallasCowboyBackfieldProject
I suppose him writing Lew Alcinder would be like asking Ali to write Cassius Clay on a card ... but you tried.
Mike - you make a good on site reporter.
cheers
<< <i>great signature - especially for a free signing.
I suppose him writing Lew Alcinder would be like asking Ali to write Cassius Clay on a card ... but you tried.
Mike - you make a good on site reporter.
cheers >>
Chuck,
Thanks for the blow by blow account of your day. It was very interesting. Congrats on adding Kareem to your Rookie Collection.
Matt ... I hope you enjoyed looking at those trophies ... it may be a LONG time until DEM BOYZ see anutta!
LOL
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
<< <i>I could have done without the Lombardi trophies, >>
Hahahaha.....
1994 Pro Line Live
TheDallasCowboyBackfieldProject
<< <i>Mike,
Thanks for the blow by blow account of your day. It was very interesting. Congrats on adding Kareem to your Rookie Collection.
Matt ... I hope you enjoyed looking at those trophies ... it may be a LONG time until DEM BOYZ see anutta!
LOL >>
It may be a long time?? It's already been a freaking eternity.....damn Jerry Jones!
1994 Pro Line Live
TheDallasCowboyBackfieldProject
This also knocks another one off your 50 greatest basketball player list!
Dodgers collection scans | Brett Butler registry | 1978 Dodgers - straight 9s, homie
<< <i>It may be a long time?? It's already been a freaking eternity.....damn Jerry Jones!
Matt: Quit whining, you could have grown up in Michigan, I was born in 64, I've never seen a Championship......damn William Clay Ford!
-John
Ebay ID: jrconcessi
Collecting 1993 Finest Refractors & All Refractors 1993 - 2001, 1964 Topps Psa 8.5 or Better
Soon to be Collecting 1966 Batman Color and all Hall of Famers in all Sports in as High a Grade as I can Afford.
Mike
------
stupid print dots
My Podcast - Now FEATURED on iTunes
<< <i>Those Lombardi Trophies are awesome
It must be disappointing to every other team that my team's greatest coach has his name on just about every Super Bowl Trophy.
"Molon Labe"
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
congrats on the pick up
collecting RAW Topps baseball cards 1952 Highs to 1972. looking for collector grade (somewhere between psa 4-7 condition). let me know what you have, I'll take it, I want to finish sets, I must have something you can use for trade.
looking for Topps 71-72 hi's-62-53-54-55-59, I have these sets started
Eyebone
A question and a comment:
Did you have a backup plan if he wouldn't sign the Alcindor card?
And, as a runner, your knees and back know the difference between cheap running shoes and good ones. If you have a running store in your city, go there to get your next pair. They should watch you walk, see how your feet strike the ground, etc. You wouldn't put $29.99 Wal-Mart tires on a $100K car, would you?
Only an idiot would have a message board signature.
<< <i>Lew didn't mention the Bruin's straight BEAT DOWN of the Irish that morning, did he!?
Nope, and probably good too because I was ready for him and would have promptly reminded him about the Irish's beat down of UCLA's 88 game winning streak in 1974.
Mike
<< <i>
MY HERO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
chaz
Ron
Buying Vintage, all sports.
Buying Woody Hayes, Les Horvath, Vic Janowicz, and Jesse Owens autographed items
I started going to Bruin games about '74, on a regular basis, and the UCLA v. ND games were big every year through the 70's and into the early 80's. It's lucky ND ended that win streak because without that they don't have much to cheer about... certainly not 10 national championships in 12 years.
Ripken, Brooks & Frank Robinson, Old Orioles, Sweet Spot Autos, older Redskins - Riggins, Sonny, Baugh etc and anything that catches my eye.
My ghetto sportscard webpage...All Scans - No Lists!!! Stinky Linky
<< <i>Nope, and probably good too because I was ready for him and would have promptly reminded him about the Irish's beat down of UCLA's 88 game winning streak in 1974.
I started going to Bruin games about '74, on a regular basis, and the UCLA v. ND games were big every year through the 70's and into the early 80's. It's lucky ND ended that win streak because without that they don't have much to cheer about... certainly not 10 national championships in 12 years.
That's cool about the same signs. When I was at Notre Dame, I worked for both Notre Dame Sports Information Department and NBC Sports as well as Society Bank (yeah I had a lot of part time jobs to help pay for things), so I had awesome seats to the events. I even got to work some ND/UCLA basketball games sitting courtside keeping rebound stats. Great times and got to see some incredible players come through. One of the UCLA players I remembered enjoying watching was, I think his name was Trevor something (would have been somone from 1989 to 1993), but I guess he really didn't pan out as I didn't hear a whole lot about him in the future. (sorry for the severely bad sentence, but you know what I mean
Mike