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Friday, January 23, 2009

Should I Stay Or Should I Go

The Braves kiboshed their FanFest this year. I am extremely unhappy about this. To replace it, they are doing an AutographFest at The Ted tomorrow. Some of the players that will be there are Brian McCann, Bobby Cox, Knucksie, Derek Lowe, Marquis Grissom and a bunch of others. I have the perfect opportunity to go since I'm off work, but I'm on the fence about it. I'm kind of pissed that they got rid of the FanFest which was perfect for taking kids and having some fun and replaced it with a bunch of middle aged men standing in line. I'm also quite averse to begging for autographs even when I've paid money for the privilege. So I'm really not sure about going to this thing at all. Here are the Pros and Cons as I see them:

Pros:

Bobby Cox will be signing and I'd like to get his signature on a ball for my Braves Retired Numbers collection, even though his is not technically retired yet.

Brian McCann is my favorite player after Chipper, and he will be signing.

It looks like Cox and McCann are in the same signing line. McCann would be a great consolation prize if I didn't get Bobby's Signature, and Heyward isn't a bad signature either.

I have a camera with extra film in it left over from Christmas that I need to finish up, and this might be a good chance to get a snap of Derek Lowe in a Braves cap.

It's worth $20 and a few hours of my time to hang out at Turner Field for a while.

Cons:

This is NOT a kid friendly event. You can wander around the Golden Moon Casino Level a bit, but it doesn't appear to have anything else going on other than the autograph lines. Young kids will get bored easily.

The one line I really want to be in will be insanely long.

There's no guarantee you'll get anything. $100 "Elite" tickets have been sold to guys looking to sell everything on eBay fans that allow them to jump to the head of every line.

I've already got autographs of a whole lot of these guys. Of course, extra autos are always tradeable.

I really feel uncomfortable asking people for autographs in person. I know it's perfectly fine to do so as long as you are polite, especially when you've PAID for the chance but I personally just feel weird about it.

I'm going to be going back and forth about this probably up until 9:00am tomorrow which is the absolute last moment I can wait before leaving the house to make sure I get there early enough to have a chance at Bobby. I think the kid-friendly aspect might be the deal breaker. If I go, you will all know about it. The good news is there is a free open house on March 28th which I will absolutely be going to. There's also a "Community Caravan" touring around the Southeast, but those are all to far for me to drive. So, should I stay or should I go?

8 comments:

deal said...

Stay - stick to your guns. They messed stuff up - you must register your vote of protest by voting to not go.

Both the PHils and O's have basically gotten rid of their winter fan fests. and I think it's lame. ticks me off.

AlbuqwirkE said...

um.... GO!!!

Anonymous said...

Clearly, the event is meant for grownups, which is not pleasing. So we wouldn't go. But for access, AlbuqwirkE may be right. Beware of waking up on Sunday and feeling like maybe you shoulda done it.

AdamE said...

You should go and take a 04 Lowe card (Red Sox uni) with you. You have my address already.

Serously, the worse thing that happens if you go is you waste a few hours. The worse thing about not going is if you end up regretting it later. You can't turn back a clock.

James said...

Go! You won't get any of them if you stay home. At least you have a chance if you get there.

Anonymous said...

PS Be sure to read this post by The Hamiltonian before you make your decision:

http://thehamiltonian.wordpress.com/2009/01/23/rangers-winter-caravan-hamilton-signing-report/

:)

Captain Canuck said...

well, as a lifelong die hard Braves fan who will never have an oppotunity to ever even have a chance at anything like this..... I say go.
then tell me about it. in excrutiating detail... and pictures. Lots of 'em.

Anonymous said...

If you have kids that you'd be taking with you, stay home. Otherwise, go for it.