Sports Illustrated?

[Topps206]

Great covers. Nice work.

I saw Means was appearing, would love to get him someday if he’s ever by me.

[Topps206]

I've been tired and busy, so now I've got a chance to share my pickups from graphing NBA Crossover on Sunday.

You had to download the NBA Events App, and they'd give the schedule of who was appearing each day. I saw Dominique Wilkins was appearing Sunday and knew I had to go, having randomly bought his SI from eBay last year in anticipation of one day getting it signed. Little did I know it was going to be this past weekend at Crossover in Indy.

Then I saw Bill Walton was appearing on Friday and was bummed out, but what do you know? I saw on Friday he got added for all three days. So, I scurried over to my nearby card shop, where a bunch of SIs are available for sale, and I picked one of his covers up for $5.00.

The only thing it cost me was $35 for an adult admission ticket, with autographs being absolutely free.

If I had my choice of Walton covers to get signed, I can't say it'd be my first choice, but it certainly does the job and I like it a lot to get it signed for free by a legend.

Wilkins, I was very happy to finally add his cover.

I had a blast shooting hoops at different stations, got my picture taken with the Larry O'Brien Trophy (and I'm fortunate to have had my photo taken with all four trophies from the four major North American sports leagues in my lifetime), took a picture of myself inside the Hoosier bus next to a cardboard cutout of Gene Hackman and also with life sized bobbleheads of Tamika Catchings and Reggie Miller.

It was a blast, way more fun than I would've had just paying for these at a show. I'd reckon I saved a good $90-$100 on Sunday by going.

I'm not sure what could top an experience like that as a collector and fan - maybe if Michael Jordan knocked on my door, gave me all 50 of his SI covers and signed them all for free right before my very eyes, something that wouldn't happen in a million years. But it would take a lot to beat the experience I had Sunday. I'm not sure I'll ever cease to smile thinking about that.

[Topps206]

I had a four-and-a-half hour trip to Westerville today, just outside of Columbus, where I met former Ohio State linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer. I saw an SI available online for $135, he was only $25 today.

I told him he should be in the College Football Hall of Fame and he thanked me.

Also, stay tuned. I'll have another posting/update this month for my next addition. I've now got 121 in my collection between in person/TTM/purchases.

[Topps206]

I took a vacation day to go to Louisville today. Well spent.

I found Will Wolford's 1994 SI cover at the card shop a couple of weeks back, and decided to try to do something different and pay him a visit to where he works now. I went to the receptionist, and after a few minutes, someone told me to come on back and told me to wait in a room. I told him I was there for something later in the night and asked if he'd be kind enough to supply his John Hancock for my SI, and he was gracious and took a photo. He couldn't have been nicer, nor could have the other workers there.

After spending some time at the Louisville Zoo and a nice meal in downtown Louisville, I head on over to Carmichael's Bookstore in Louisville and wait more than an hour for Kentucky Basketball legend Jack Givens, who is famous for being the Most Outstanding Player of the 1978 Final Four and scored 41 points in Kentucky's National Championship Game. I knew he'd sign for me, but I also knew he was going to talk for an hour and then do his book signing. A lot of people turned out and went to another room for him to talk.

I greet him by the front door and tell him who I am, that he agreed to sign for me and would love to hear him talk, but I have an hour-and-a-half drive back and an early day at work tomorrow, and he was so kind enough to sign and take a picture. So, I'm tickled pink.

I didn't pay a single penny for Wolford or Givens.

I also recently got back a sending to a Michigan signing for Steve McCatty, who signed his 1981 cover that featured him and five other Oakland pitchers. I know Matt Keough has passed, not sure how I'll be able to track down Mike Norris, Rick Langford and Brian Kingman. Not bad for $10 and they sent a COA.

Three new signed covers, plus Andy Katzenmoyer earlier this month. Heck yes.

[Huck]

Nice. I have always liked that A's cover and started to track down the players but once Keough passed, I was done.

[Topps206]

Thanks. I know you’ve said that before, but I like the cover and want to get as many covers signed as I can. If only one person signs a cover or I can’t complete it, I still count it. I will say, though, if I have the choice to get a solo cover signed or a cover with multiple people, I’m choosing solo every time.

[Huck]

Originally Posted by Topps206

Thanks. I know you’ve said that before, but I like the cover and want to get as many covers signed as I can. If only one person signs a cover or I can’t complete it, I still count it. I will say, though, if I have the choice to get a solo cover signed or a cover with multiple people, I’m choosing solo every time.

Multiple signature covers can be tough to complete. Currently, I have at least half a dozen covers waiting for other signatures to complete. I have quite a few multiple signed covers with one of the best being the 1968 SI The Rookies. It was a huge sigh of relief when Johnny added the fifth and final signature to the cover. The A's cover would have been a cool one to complete.