HOLYCOW!25
Jan 18th 2008, 10:40 pm
Well I just got back from the convention. Since I was just borrowing a pass from someone for today, I won't be going back tomorrow or Sunday, but I still loved it.
So after I got there, I waited in the lobby for the people who I was with to get there room. It took about 2 hours, so I had quite some fun waiting there. After about 30 minutes or so of waiting, I see a hoard of people whiz past me, so obviously there was someone big behind me. I turn around, and who is it? RYNE SANDBERG! I fumbled to get my baseball and my marker out of my pocket as I ran over to him and tried to get through the crowd of people around him. So I got it out and was walking up the stairs as he was, trying to get an autograph, and then the person who was in front of me was trying to leave because he signed their ball, and they pushed me back to get out, and then a ton of people went and filled in the space in front of me. So I gave up at that point, seeing that I would never get close enough. So I went back and waited by the door, making sure that I was facing it so if anyone else came in I would catch them right away.
So after about another half hour of waiting, I see Ted Lilly walk in. I ran up to him and only 1 other person had noticed him at that point, so I thought for sure I'd get his autograph. But of course when I asked him, he said he couldn't because he had to hurry upstairs. So I was pretty upset. Then another 30 minutes later I saw a crowd of people around someone, and I noticed it was Gerald Perry, the hitting coach, and I got him to sign my hat.
Then finally around 4, the people I was with got their room all ready, and so we walked downstairs, and quickly saw that a line was already forming for pictures and an autograph with Soriano, even though he wasn't going to be there for until 6:15. But we didn't really care much about seeing the Opening Ceremonies, so we figured we would wait for Soriano. It was worth it though, cause from what I hear, the room with the Opening Ceremonies was packed with people all shoulder to shoulder, which is something I really hate.
But after awhile, I decided to walk around and check out what was going on while my dads friends I was with held my spot in line, and I saw all the booths with jerseys and autographs to sell. I was really looking around for an away jersey with a players name on it, since I only have a home jersey that's blank on the back. But all the places I looked had them for $160, and I only had about $140, and I still needed $15 for the Soriano picture. But finally, I found a place that had jerseys for $125, and when I looked the the Ramirez jerseys, under the price for him it said "$100 for away and alternates". I asked the guy about them, and there wasn't anything wrong with them, they just didn't sell as well as the home ones so they were cheaper. So I got a sweet new Ramirez away jersey for only $100, which is what I paid for my blank one so I was pretty happy with that.
Then I went back in line to wait for Soriano for another hour or so. I was so excited when he came out and the line started moving. I'm glad I was near the front though. I have some pictures that show how close we were to the front compared to all the people behind us. I'll get them up later though, but as a warning, my camera sucks so don't expect any great pictures. So anyways I finally got up there and I GOT TO SIT RIGHT NEXT TO ALFONSO SORIANO! Oh did it make my day. I asked if he could sign my baseball instead of the picture frame thing they give you, but he said he couldn't. But either way it was AWESOME!!!!
Then after that we got some seats in the back of the room where they had the Sports Central stuff. It was pretty entertaining to hear them. I got really mad though because so many people had their cell phones on and this one lady behind me was practicly yelling on her phone. I don't think she realized that it was actually being broadcast on radio. Luckily we were so far in back that I don't think the microphones would have picked it up. I have some other pictures from that, but once again, don't expect anything great, especially cause I was so far back.
But now I'm home, and I've had a pretty exciting day. I think next year I'm gonna get my own pass and go for the whole weekend, because I really want to see more of it.
So after I got there, I waited in the lobby for the people who I was with to get there room. It took about 2 hours, so I had quite some fun waiting there. After about 30 minutes or so of waiting, I see a hoard of people whiz past me, so obviously there was someone big behind me. I turn around, and who is it? RYNE SANDBERG! I fumbled to get my baseball and my marker out of my pocket as I ran over to him and tried to get through the crowd of people around him. So I got it out and was walking up the stairs as he was, trying to get an autograph, and then the person who was in front of me was trying to leave because he signed their ball, and they pushed me back to get out, and then a ton of people went and filled in the space in front of me. So I gave up at that point, seeing that I would never get close enough. So I went back and waited by the door, making sure that I was facing it so if anyone else came in I would catch them right away.
So after about another half hour of waiting, I see Ted Lilly walk in. I ran up to him and only 1 other person had noticed him at that point, so I thought for sure I'd get his autograph. But of course when I asked him, he said he couldn't because he had to hurry upstairs. So I was pretty upset. Then another 30 minutes later I saw a crowd of people around someone, and I noticed it was Gerald Perry, the hitting coach, and I got him to sign my hat.
Then finally around 4, the people I was with got their room all ready, and so we walked downstairs, and quickly saw that a line was already forming for pictures and an autograph with Soriano, even though he wasn't going to be there for until 6:15. But we didn't really care much about seeing the Opening Ceremonies, so we figured we would wait for Soriano. It was worth it though, cause from what I hear, the room with the Opening Ceremonies was packed with people all shoulder to shoulder, which is something I really hate.
But after awhile, I decided to walk around and check out what was going on while my dads friends I was with held my spot in line, and I saw all the booths with jerseys and autographs to sell. I was really looking around for an away jersey with a players name on it, since I only have a home jersey that's blank on the back. But all the places I looked had them for $160, and I only had about $140, and I still needed $15 for the Soriano picture. But finally, I found a place that had jerseys for $125, and when I looked the the Ramirez jerseys, under the price for him it said "$100 for away and alternates". I asked the guy about them, and there wasn't anything wrong with them, they just didn't sell as well as the home ones so they were cheaper. So I got a sweet new Ramirez away jersey for only $100, which is what I paid for my blank one so I was pretty happy with that.
Then I went back in line to wait for Soriano for another hour or so. I was so excited when he came out and the line started moving. I'm glad I was near the front though. I have some pictures that show how close we were to the front compared to all the people behind us. I'll get them up later though, but as a warning, my camera sucks so don't expect any great pictures. So anyways I finally got up there and I GOT TO SIT RIGHT NEXT TO ALFONSO SORIANO! Oh did it make my day. I asked if he could sign my baseball instead of the picture frame thing they give you, but he said he couldn't. But either way it was AWESOME!!!!
Then after that we got some seats in the back of the room where they had the Sports Central stuff. It was pretty entertaining to hear them. I got really mad though because so many people had their cell phones on and this one lady behind me was practicly yelling on her phone. I don't think she realized that it was actually being broadcast on radio. Luckily we were so far in back that I don't think the microphones would have picked it up. I have some other pictures from that, but once again, don't expect anything great, especially cause I was so far back.
But now I'm home, and I've had a pretty exciting day. I think next year I'm gonna get my own pass and go for the whole weekend, because I really want to see more of it.