So here is the conclusion of my trilogy of catch up entries. Unfortunately there are no pictures with this one as I forgot my camera in New York Saturday night (I just got a camera phone so that shouldn't be an issue anymore) Over the past two and a half weeks we have been working on a second round of team signed Giants product. I will be getting much more into this early next week when it concludes Monday. This time the lineup was slightly different than the first go-around. We even added defensive coordinator Steve Spagnola to the new pieces. Out of all the guys on the team I probably enjoyed talking with him the most. Also unlike last time I was around and conducted the signing with Coach Coughlin (who also was really interesting)...but I will leave the recap of the team signing to a later entry.
Last weekend (right after the Goose and Duke appearance) I headed up to Boston with Double C (haven't mentioned him here in quite a while). The purpose of this trip was a public appearance and private signing with David Ortiz in Brockton, Mass. We finally arrived up in Massachusetts a little after 10:00 Saturday night. After "borrowing" a hotel blanket to cover up the product in the back of my rental mini van we went for dinner and back again to hotel for a few hours sleep. Sunday morning, bright and early, we drove over to the Shaws Center to begin setting up for the signing. Unfortunately there was not enough room for us to lay out our pieces properly for Papi to sign so I ended up taking over the corporate office there to expedite the signing. After David signed for the public he popped in the office and signed for about two hours. This session gave us an opportunity to get some incredibly strong pieces signed. Over the few hours David autographed road and home Sox jerseys as well as some of our staple, classic photos and a handful of robust game used pieces. I mention the game used because that leads into the next part of the story. After loading up the product Double C and I drove a half hour north into Boston. We had to go over the Fenway for a pickup/drop off of some game used items as part of our Red Sox/Steiner (Fenway Collectibles) partnership. We were mere hours away from the start of Sunday night's Yankees/Red Sox game and Yawkee Way was mobbed. I have never seen a game at Fenway (I have seen Bruce there in what was arguably in my top five Springsteen shows ever...wasn't the best setlist but the Because the Night was legendary!) so have never witnessed the pandemonium first hand. It was nuts. After getting done what we had to we braved our way out of the Fenway area and back on the road. The whole experience there made me think of the time I did a small signing with Bernie Williams in Yankees Stadium a few hours before a playoff game. I had my car parked in a garage was pulling out as everyone was pulling in...quite a difficult task and it definitely added to my animosity towards Yankee fans. Anyway, we finally arrived back in New Rochelle around 10:45 that evening.
After two more days of Giants signing that brings me to now...Wednesday. I am about to leave the office to head over to JFK to catch a flight down to West Palm Beach. Tomorrow I am signing with the legendary Sandy Koufax. I have never met Sandy and am as excited as I have ever been for a signing. He has always been an idol of mine and cannot wait to kick off the signing tomorrow morning...it's going to be a strong one!
Check back for an update from Jupiter, Florida.