Game Used.... Handshake?!

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Rraincock

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I was just at the Old Timer's Game in Calgary (Alberta). During the first intermission, I shook hands with Gerry Cheevers. He didn't look up at me at all... and kind of seemed off put that I didn't spend $30 on an auto. I guess he is burnt out.

After the game, at the auction, I was fortunate enough to shake hands with Brian Trottier (who gave me an odd look when I didn't want an autograph). I also shook hands with Theo Fleury (who was holding his 2 month old daughter at the time) and the always amazing Lanny Mcdonald.

Oh, Lanny. He signed autos for everyone in the room... and extras for the kids and ladies. What a champion of hockey. I shook his hand and thanked him for an autograph card that I got from him when I was 12 (some 15 years ago). He smiled and laughed.



Although Cheevers was a little cold, the McDonald and Fleury handshakes were unbelievable. Yes, I squealed like a little girl. Brian Trottier was in "auto zombie mode" and when I asked for a handshake... I don't think he knew what to do!

All four had great handshakes... with Lanny's and Theo's being the best.




Am I insane for not having a card or a puck autographed? I don't know. I love that I am a little different and I shake player’s hands and thank them for what they bring to the hobby and for the fans.


Here is my handshake list:


Guy LaFleur
Bobby Hull
Maurice Richard
Norm Ullman
Frank Mahovalich
Eddie Shack
Lanny McDonald
Brian Trottier
Theoren Fleury
Gerry Cheevers
Bill Ranford
Mark Tinordi
Joffrey Lupul
Rick Wamsley
Doug Gilmour
Guy LaPointe
Yvon Cournoyer
Jarome Iginla
Colby Armstrong
Ron Sutter





Does anyone else 'collect' handshakes? Am I a true fan or a little flakey?
 
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Handshakes are awesome...players I have met have told me that handshakes show that you want to meet them and don't want something from them, which is why they sometimes don't know how to react. I've collected TONS of handshakes when an autograph was deemed inappropriate for the moment.

Sadly, if Cheevers was off put because you didn't spend $30 on him, then he probably needs the money.
 
My GU Handshakes include,

Probert - just an awesome person, spent 15 minutes talking to me and a friend of mine.
Kocur - shaking hands was like shaking hands with a bag of rocks - to much helmet punching!
Iginla - signed everything put in front of him.
Mike Vernon - just beat the Wings at the Saddledome, so was happy to sign.
Klesla - Meh...
Boogaard - when he played for the Tigers, he was behind me in the line at Orange Julius with Lupul. BoogyMan seemed a little suprised.
Bobby Hull - when the Hawks played the Flames.
Guy Lafleur - Habs at Flames game.
 
My highest profile handshake was Derek Jeter a few weeks ago. He definatly looked suprised when I extended my hand but obliged me and took a picture with me. He was very accomidating.
 
I got a handshake from Bobby Orr at Vic Park arena during a Bramalea Blues vs. Caledon Canadiens Jr. A game back in 94 when he had a nephew playing for Caledon. Although I was only 10 and didn't really know the extent of his accomplishments at the time, I was still speechless when in his presence. He was a good sport that night, I think he signed an autograph for everyone in the arena and the poor guy probably never got to see his nephew play.
 
On topic, unfortunately all mine are baseball related as I worked for the Cleveland Indians for 6 years. Cool stories, though.
 
I got a handshake from Stan Mikita at the All-Star Game in Tampa, and he was a real jerk about it. Really sorry I even bothered him.
 
Rraincock said:
Does anyone else 'collect' handshakes? Am I a true fan or a little flakey?
Click to expand...

I'd say more 'true fan' than flake. I don't ever ask players to sign in person - it just never seems right. Unless I'm paying for the autograph, or they genuinely want to be signing, I feel like I'm taking something from them.

I've shaken hands with:
Daniel Briere
Martin Biron
Rick Nash
Tony Amonte
Brett Hull
Aaron Miller
Rick DiPietro
Rod Langway
Zenon Konopka
Kurtis Foster
Chris Kunitz
Sheldon Brookbank
Michael Holmqvist
Henrik Tallinder
Zach Torquato
Ryan O'Reilly
Miroslav Satan
Mike Bossy

...

There's got to be others. Just the same, it's a cool gesture almost universally understood as a sign of respect. Plus, you're not trying to profit off of them unless you're listing your hand on eBay.

-Michael
 
my handshake list is rather short...

johnny bower(got to chat with him for about 2 hours)
jean beliveau(i have doubles if anyone needs one LOL)
guy lafleur
corey perry(held his gold medal)
john tavares
bobby hull(I was really young at the time)
henri richard

and gordie howe, while doing a private signing with him got to chat it up with him for a couple hours and have some of his Oreo cookies, great story behind that one...one that i won't soon forget! :)


hope i'm not leaving anyone out, i'll edit them in if so...

thanks, Geoff
 
I had handshakes from a few including Ken Dryden. Why not get a handshake and an auto, nothing wrong with collecting both. If I am going to a function that is set up to meet the athletes then I am bringing stuff to get signed. If I just crossed paths with them say at the airport or something then I would probably just be happy to get a handshake or I probably wouldn't even bother them.
 
I have a few on the list

Scott Thornton... I work for him.
Maurice Richard ---my fav, such a nice man that was very receptive to all that met him
Henri Richard
Tiger Williams
Mark Messier
Darcy Tucker
Jean Beliveau
Johnny Bower
Bobby Baun
Ron Ellis
Paul Henderson
Ed Belfour....I met when team Canada practiced here in Collingwood. I actually met him about 10 different times while they were here. His wife was a total stunner and I told him so he got a laugh and just said yeah I know....I was 12 or so at the time.

Well the list does go on so i'll stop there. I have met quite a few of the guys at shows and they all seem very receptive with shaking hands and taking pictures.
 
Working the Alberta Collectibles Shows, I've had the opportunity to shake hands with the following:

Andrew Cogliano;
Sam Gagner;
Glenn Hall;
Johnny Bower;
Gordie Howe;
Jean Beliveau;
Bobby Hull;
Frank Mahovalich;
Ted Lindsay; and
Garry Unger.

All very nice fellows.

Brian
 
When the NHL Awards/Draft rolled into town I met/got pics with:

Sidney Crosby
Alexander Ovechkin
Dion Phaneuf
Joe Thornton
Patrick Marleau
Jonathan Cheechoo
Jaromir Jagr
Rod Brind'Amour
Eric Staal
Lindy Ruff
Kenny Holland
Scotty Bowman
Don Cherry
Ron Maclean
Jonathan Toews
Erik Johnson
Kirk Mclean
Wayne Gretzky

...several other GM's and Hockey Hall of Fame guys

...that was a sweet 3 days
 
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Ive gotten handshakes and autos from the following

Johnny Bower
Bobby Hull
Bobby Orr
Ted Lindsay
Doug Gilmour
Guy Lapointe
Ryan Getzlaf
Cory Perry
Chirs Pronger
Larry Murphy
Marion Gaborik
Tomas Kaberle
 

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