Hi guys, just in case you missed it (for the local folks) I thought you'd like to see this! As we know Kyrie's in Melbourne for the week and today made an appearance at local bball mecca Kickz 101. I decided I'd skip the unfortunately scheduled local card show at Sandown that was on at the same time... very, very happy I did!
My brother and I rocked up 3.5 hours before his scheduled appearance and were not surprised to see already around 200 people in line. Over the next couple of hours though that number probably trebled, even quadrupled!! Here's some pics:
When the man himself pulled up (right on schedule I might add), there was a raucous cheer through the - by then - massive crowd. We were pretty far back from the entrance and I just caught a glimpse of his back and arm as the car rolled past! Lol
However, things got moving pretty quickly from there and before we knew it we were next up to enter...
Picked up a couple of event tees and a pair of his latest Hyperdunks as the line snaked through to the rear of the store and soon thereafter... there he was in the flesh! Couldn't believe it!!
My turn next... grown man acting like a school girl!! Idiot!!!
For those wondering the kicks around my neck are 2008 Hyperdunk Boomers (Australian Olympic Team) Exclusives. Had a very limited global retail release at the time and most of the Australian allocation went to the Olympic team players and officials.
In this photo I'm showing him a bunch of his RC cards and Hyperdunks I've brought with me.
Looking at the Select Hot Rookies Prizm, he said
"Oh, wow that's my rookie card?"
I said "Yeah, um, you can have one if you like" and handed him his Prizm base rookie card. He looks over it for a moment then turns around to give it to his dad!!
As I show him the shoes I say:
"Man, I wish we could have seen you in a Boomers outfit" (being a dual citizen he has previously professed interest in representing the Australian national side... chances of that now are slim to none... shame...)
He smiles at this, and Matty (the store's owner) chimes in:
"Don't we all!"
Then he signs a couple of cards for me along with the Boomers Hyperdunks
My brother getting his event tee and Hyperdunks signed:
After a handshake and (missed! Grrr) photo opportunity together my time with Kyrie was up!
We stuck around the store for another ten or so minutes taking more photos and video - just amazed we were literally a few steps away from Kyrie Irving himself!!
As we regretfully walk out of the store we're both buzzing, still in disbelief of what just transpired.
Now I'm back home I've taken a few quick snaps of the goodies. Enjoy!
Event tee, there were 4 different styles but this is the one Kyrie wore
Closer pics of the Hyperdunks - sigh... what could have been!
And the cards:
Some of you Ozcard guys may recall me recently pulling 2x /25 Hot Rookie Prizms from a 4 box Select break. Very lucky & yet quite bizarre!
I decided to bring one of the two Kyrie Select Prizms today to get signed & had brought along a metallic paint pen for the highly glossed card surface. Being somewhat star/dumb-struck at the time I handed the card over to him, I forgot to pull out the pen that I had specifically bought for the occasion and by the time I fumbled it out of my pocket he'd already signed it with a standard marker - hence the runny ink.
In person vs certified autographs... can you spot the difference?? Lol
So there you have it, day one down, two more occasions to go (Wednesday morning practice session with the Bogeyman and a 2hr clinic on Friday at Kyrie's All Star Camp). What a week it's going to be!
I can't begin to describe how lucky I feel to have had this rare opportunity to meet face to face with a bona fide NBA superstar (we don't get many 'round these parts ya know)! Let alone one so genial and seemingly genuinely appreciative and respectful of his fans. Stay true and grounded young blood... you'll be a great ambassador of the game for a while to come!
Sorry for the long ramble - but jeez I'm still in awe of the days events! Stay tuned for more updates...
Cheers
Ray
My brother and I rocked up 3.5 hours before his scheduled appearance and were not surprised to see already around 200 people in line. Over the next couple of hours though that number probably trebled, even quadrupled!! Here's some pics:
When the man himself pulled up (right on schedule I might add), there was a raucous cheer through the - by then - massive crowd. We were pretty far back from the entrance and I just caught a glimpse of his back and arm as the car rolled past! Lol
However, things got moving pretty quickly from there and before we knew it we were next up to enter...
Picked up a couple of event tees and a pair of his latest Hyperdunks as the line snaked through to the rear of the store and soon thereafter... there he was in the flesh! Couldn't believe it!!
My turn next... grown man acting like a school girl!! Idiot!!!
For those wondering the kicks around my neck are 2008 Hyperdunk Boomers (Australian Olympic Team) Exclusives. Had a very limited global retail release at the time and most of the Australian allocation went to the Olympic team players and officials.
In this photo I'm showing him a bunch of his RC cards and Hyperdunks I've brought with me.
Looking at the Select Hot Rookies Prizm, he said
"Oh, wow that's my rookie card?"
I said "Yeah, um, you can have one if you like" and handed him his Prizm base rookie card. He looks over it for a moment then turns around to give it to his dad!!
As I show him the shoes I say:
"Man, I wish we could have seen you in a Boomers outfit" (being a dual citizen he has previously professed interest in representing the Australian national side... chances of that now are slim to none... shame...)
He smiles at this, and Matty (the store's owner) chimes in:
"Don't we all!"
Then he signs a couple of cards for me along with the Boomers Hyperdunks
My brother getting his event tee and Hyperdunks signed:
After a handshake and (missed! Grrr) photo opportunity together my time with Kyrie was up!
We stuck around the store for another ten or so minutes taking more photos and video - just amazed we were literally a few steps away from Kyrie Irving himself!!
As we regretfully walk out of the store we're both buzzing, still in disbelief of what just transpired.
Now I'm back home I've taken a few quick snaps of the goodies. Enjoy!
Event tee, there were 4 different styles but this is the one Kyrie wore
Closer pics of the Hyperdunks - sigh... what could have been!
And the cards:
Some of you Ozcard guys may recall me recently pulling 2x /25 Hot Rookie Prizms from a 4 box Select break. Very lucky & yet quite bizarre!
I decided to bring one of the two Kyrie Select Prizms today to get signed & had brought along a metallic paint pen for the highly glossed card surface. Being somewhat star/dumb-struck at the time I handed the card over to him, I forgot to pull out the pen that I had specifically bought for the occasion and by the time I fumbled it out of my pocket he'd already signed it with a standard marker - hence the runny ink.
In person vs certified autographs... can you spot the difference?? Lol
So there you have it, day one down, two more occasions to go (Wednesday morning practice session with the Bogeyman and a 2hr clinic on Friday at Kyrie's All Star Camp). What a week it's going to be!
I can't begin to describe how lucky I feel to have had this rare opportunity to meet face to face with a bona fide NBA superstar (we don't get many 'round these parts ya know)! Let alone one so genial and seemingly genuinely appreciative and respectful of his fans. Stay true and grounded young blood... you'll be a great ambassador of the game for a while to come!
Sorry for the long ramble - but jeez I'm still in awe of the days events! Stay tuned for more updates...
Cheers
Ray
