‘On The Road With Psugator02′ – George Bush, Marlins/Braves, Johnny Bench – June 9, 2011
George W. Bush event
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
June 8
1-4 p.m.
I went primarily for the former President. I knew the Braves stayed at the same venue so I brought stuff for them as well. Not a good day.
Tim Hudson: 0/1…”I don’t have a problem signing,” Hudson said. “I just don’t do it at the hotel.”
Tommy Hanson: 0/1
Freddie Freeman: 0/1
Martin Prado/Jair Jurrjens: missed them by a few minutes
Eric Hinske: 1/1 (SS, ROMLB) in blue ink with “ROY” inscription
Derek Lowe: Missed him because I had walked back to my car for more baseballs, which, of course, I never needed LOL
Chipper Jones: 0/1…probably seven graphers in the hotel and Chipper signed five. I most likely would have gotten him had he exited out the South wing
Johnny Venters/Craig Kimbrel/Diory Hernandez/David Ross/Dan Uggla: saw them but didn’t need them
George W. Bush: never even sniffed him, though I saw plenty of Secret Service
Stryker hip replacement event
Deerfield Beach, Fla.
5:30-6:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 9
Spent an hour listening to two doctors and former Reds’ catcher Johnny Bench discuss the Stryker hip replacement procedure. Bench, a recipient of the state-of-the-art hip, followed the doctors and was quite comical. He then fielded questions from the approximately 50 people in attendance. I was with two other graphers and we watched him grab a Diet Coke near the door and then dip out, not signing a single autograph. Bench did sign 20 ROMLBs that afternoon and they were raffled off, but none of us won any. Oddly enough, Bench did a similar event earlier this afternoon 30 miles to the north and signed a bunch. The woman in charge of the event apologized for Bench leaving so bruskly, saying he “had a plane to catch.” The comment is odd since Bench is doing another of these events tomorrow in a place that is only 30 minutes away.
Johnny Bench: 0/1
W is one of the few IP graphs I’ve ever got. I got him in Sioux City Iowa in 2000 when he was just beginning his run for President. He was really cool and I got him to spend more time talking baseball than politics. Wish I’d have had a ball with me. Back then I was the only one who initially even wanted his graph. I donated a sharpie to the other 5 people who decided to get his graph after I did.