Dream Team Autographs

During the 80's I truly felt I was the number one fan of the hit TV show MIAMI VICE that stared DON JOHNSON, PHILLIP MICHAEL THOMAS and EDWARD JAMES OLMOS. I never missed one show as it aired on Friday Night and the one character I enjoyed was LT Castille played by Olmos.He has been a regular every year narratoring DISNEY' S CANDLELIGHT PROCESSIONAL and someone who I have met in the past. As the years have gone by instead of mellowing his personality has become more sour and it showed a downward spiral that I am sharing it for the world. After hearing his narration which he splits between English and Spanish there was 6 of us that had seen him at his hotel earlier where we had a bit to eat but did the courtesy of not bothering him prior to his time at the EPCOT series. Now recently we have met AMERICA FERRERA ,MEREDITH VERIRA and JOE MORTON who all were wonderful and appreciative to a request for a picture and an autograph. So we patiently waited for Olmos and he arrive

     What I am about to expose is something that has been brewing for sometime and all that I am reporting and writing about are in the eyes of truly 2 novices and that of Golfers, their family and actions of the of many that were attending, organizing and viewing of the PNC FATHER/SON GOLF TOURNAMENT held this past weekend in Orlando.     When a legend of a sport attends or participates in an event lately some of the worst its exhibited by a few that is visible to all and has reached a pinnacle that will and should say has begun to change the whole landscape of autographing. This golf tournament which is held at the beautiful RITZ CARLTON with its beautiful golf course is held annually and any further praise to the tournament stops there.  +JACK NICKLAUS probably the greatest golfer of our generation and to some the best ever was playing with his son in this family oriented event . There are other great golfers including +LEE TREVINO,  +HALE IRWIN,  +VIJAH SINGH,  +BERNARD LANGER

Though Daryl Strawberry will probably never make the BASEBALL HALL OF FAME he had a great career as one of the premier ball players in the Major Leagues during his tenure with the METS, YANKEES and DODGERS. With his big lefty swing he drove many a home runs in to the stands and graciously stroll the bases. After his career like so many that only shows that he is human and not a machine developed a drug problem that had taken his life in a downward spiral. With help and determination he beat the odds and now at 53 has opened drug rehab centers that are helping those with that same situation. With an announcement of a new facility bearing his name a couple of us took a nice drive to the open house hosted by Daryl and some of the best eats that I have seen in a long time. Daryl was mingling and chatting with everyone so I approached him to sign 2 First Day Covers that I have had since 1986 with each cover gracing his picture. He hesitated then signed and said" THIS

Its always a true pleasure when you meet a celebrity who is as kind and gracious as they seem tp be on TV or the movies. Now as everyone knows that is not always what materializes but in the case pf Meredith Vieira she is as genuine as she has always appeared.Ms. Vieira was the guest narrator for DISNEYs CANDLELIGHT PROCESSIONAL and was one on my personal list that I always wanted to meet and speak a few words. Most of us still remember her from her days with the TODAY SHOW and sadly when she left the show has never been the same. She cared for her ailing husband and then did Who Wants to be a Millionaire and now her own show appears daily. I have never heard a bad word about her and I will continue to be a Pied Piper on her greatness as a person and the way she handles her fame. As she approached us she was smiling and appearing quite happy after leading the narration that cover over 4 hours . We politely asked if we could ask for an autograph and with a smile a mile wide she said

I have been collecting and meeting celebrities since I was 10 and nothing usually shocks me or surprises me in any way. BUT there are moments.... EDDIE IZZARD was performing in a local venue where he always draws a loyal following and though I had no intention on seeing the show, I have always respected his acting and his comedy genius. He is revered in Europe and is praised by likes of Monty Python over the years and had a major role in the remake of Oceans Eleven and then Twelve. So I decided to take a chance and see if I could meet him after the show. I positioned myself out back and his touring bus was visible so it only became a matter of a waiting game. And that I did. I waited for almost 2 hours and though much of the crowd left the building , still no Eddie. A kind security guard informed me that it might be close to midnight but after waiting this long, it really did not matter. To many graphers it almost becomes a mission when we set our eyes on a special personality. A