Yesterday was a big 1969 Jets day for us. We had Joe Namath, Don Maynard, Matt Snell and Emerson Boozer all signing for the public at the Steiner Sports Store in Roosevelt Field Mall. When I last left you all I was en route back to New York from Cleveland for this monumental appearance. My flight landed at 7:30 AM and I headed straight to the store. Namath was slated to arrive at 10:30 and, with me out of the loop for a few days, had to get set up and prepared for the day. Joe arrived right on time and knocked out a few items in private before the public portion began at 11:00. Joe was unreal with the customers. He asked every customer what their name was and stood the entire time. Namath does not do many public appearances so their was a strong crowd on hand to meet him. Every customer walked away ecstatic. Joe finally finished at about 1:15 (I was three coffees into the day already at that point after not sleeping the night before). After Joe left Maynard, Snell and Boozer arrived. All three signed some great pieces in private before the appearance began. We even did some triple signed product including mini-helmets and an amazing 16x20 of the Super Bowl 3 program cover. Many of the same customers that came out for Namath stuck around to meet the other three. There were also a few new fans that needed one or all of them to complete some multi-signed pieces. The day finally ended at around 5:00 when Emerson signed his last mini-helmet. I was so ready to go home and sleep as there was to be a huge Mets game on Sunday (I am actually writing this a few hours after the disaster at Shea).
With all that in mind I feel the need to address the Mets thing for a minute: Yesterday was incredible. John Maine pitched as strong a game as any Met ever has. He was mowing down batters and gave the team exactly what they needed (a chance). I was there today and witnessed the train wreck live and in person. Needless to say I am incredibly dark right now...but I am confident we will retool and reload in the off-season for the 2008 championship run (a front-line starter, some new arms in the pen and a winter to re-learn plate discipline)
Tomorrow I will be flying out to Chicago for a signing with White Sox pitcher (and Steiner Exclusive) Mark Buehrle. Check back for an update from the windy city.