12/29/07: Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA); Tennessee Volunteers/Gonzaga Bulldogs (NCAA)
Hotels - Seattle, WA
I left Seattle today on an Amtrak train to Montana for the New Years weekend, but not before hitting up a trio of basketball teams downtown. The University of Tennessee was in town to play against Gonzaga in the "Battle in Seattle" game at 1pm, followed by T-Wolves and Sonics at 7pm. I hadn't prepped much of anything for the T-Wolves since I didn't have time to get to the card shop this week, so I made one 4x6 each for players for whom I had nothing. The hotels for each team were all within a block or two of each other, making the timing for this very tight. Meeting up with dandickau12, we learned that the bus for Minnesota's morning shootaround would leave around 10:45, pretty close to when Tennessee and Gonzaga were to come out. (The T-Wolves would be holding shootaround at the Sonics practice facility instead of at the Key) We did the T-Wolves first, all the while anxiously looking towards the next block down the street at Tennessee's hotel to see if any players were coming out. Only five graphers total did the T-Wolves, and we were able to snag Mark Madsen, Antoine Walker, Michael Doleac, and Ryan Gomes. Players came out in bunches; there was a large group with Telfair and others, but I went for Corey Brewer since I had a
Sports Illustrated cover for him.
Right after getting Brewer, I left the Minnesota hotel and walked up the street to the Vols hotel. The bus was parked across the street and players had to walk all the way over so access was no problem. I only concentrated on guys I needed, but got whoever else I could if players weren't coming out in clumps. After only about ten or fifteen minutes of waiting around, JaJuan Smith came out first but I was distracted and didn't realize who it was until it was too late. Lofton was next, and he quietly signed everything for me. Two SI's (part of a 50-50), two custom cards I made, and the team sheet. Not much of an autograph but he was nice enough to do all five items. The rest of the team filtered out and I got some guys on the team sheet, including J.P. Prince and Tyler Smith. Tyler also signed two custom cards (he is listed by
NBADraft.net as being a first round pick next year). Surprisingly, yet another Smith on this team, Ramar Smith, said "I'll get you at the game." Well, there goes that idea since I won't be at the game. Bruce Pearl came out and signed my two customs, adding "Go Vols!" after each signature. Definitely nice about fan interaction/signing.
At this point I had gotten all my important Tennessee stuff signed, so I booked it a few blocks to Gonzaga's hotel. Once again I was lucky; not much of the team had come out yet. Unfortunately Gonzaga has some sort of team policy in place about not signing before games on the road, which was probably introduced near the end of the Adam Morrison era. After a couple players said "I can get you after the game..." I didn't ask anyone else. That is, until another collector asked Jeremy Pargo and he started signing. I immediately went over and Pargo quickly signed my Lindy's college basketball annual before jumping onto the bus.
After grabbing a bite to eat, I was starting to walk back to the T-Wolves hotel figuring I had a little bit of time before the bus came back from shootaround. I definitely overestimated on the time because the Minnesota bus passed me on the street about two blocks away from the hotel. I got back as quick as I could, but by the time I arrived players were streaming off the bus! I was able to catch the last player off, the elusive Rashad McCants, who had said "I'll sign after" before shootaround. He did a quick one-per, and I almost didn't get him because he didn't see me at first (I got his attention at the last second and he signed my custom). I went around to the front side of the hotel and waited to see if anyone was out and about after shootaround. The only autograph I got was Ed Pinckney; then, noticing what time it was, I ended my day of autographing and walked to the train station, dreading the long trip ahead.
Minnesota
Corey Brewer 1/1 SI
Michael Doleac 1/1 4x6
Ryan Gomes 1/1 custom card
Mark Madsen 1/1 4x6
Rashad McCants 1/1 custom card
Antoine Walker 1/1 4x6
Ed Pinckney 1/1 card
Tennessee
Quinn Cannington 1/1 team sheet
Chris Lofton 5/5: 2 custom cards, team sheet, 2 SI's (jeffpa 1)\
J.P. Prince 1/1 team sheet
Ramar Smith 0/1 "I'll sign at the game"
Tyler Smith 3/3 custom cards, team sheet
Cameron Tatum 1/1 team sheet
Brian Williams 1/1 team sheet
Bruce Pearl 2/2 custom cards
Gonzaga
Jeremy Pargo 1/1 magazine
