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Paul Allen
#4 is Paul Allen. I mean he has to be on the list just because he
is Paul Allen, right? Not necessarily! Who he is isn’t why
he is on the list. He is on the list because of the reaction I got
when I asked him to sign the ball.
It was September 9th. I remember that date because my favorite
number is 9. A really great part of this story is that I had already
scheduled an appointment to take the ball to Vulcan, Inc. on the
10th to have Jody Patton sign it. She is the Co-Founder and CEO
of Vulcan, Inc. I was feeling kind of awkward because I didn’t
want to have her sign it, then ask, “Do you think you could
get me Paul Allen, too.?” Knowing that she was going to
sign it, I was still faced with a dilemma. I still wanted Paul
Allen.
So, on the 9th I got to the game early with the hopes I could
get John Gruden. I wanted John Gruden because of his roots with
the West Coast Offense and Mike Holmgren. As a result, I was down
near the visitor’s tunnel and the field. Well, when I was
waiting down there I saw Paul Allen walk out of the tunnel and
across the field to the Seahawks side. Along the way, he was shaking
hands and signing a few autographs. I told myself that if I saw
him coming back across I would try and position myself to get
his autograph.
After about a half hour, I saw him coming back across the field.
So, I positioned myself right next to the tunnel in the front
row. Normally, people would not like a guy asserting his way to
the front. Again though, when you have a stainless steel football
with a bunch of signatures on it, people tend to respect that.
As he got closer I leaned over the railing and got the ball in
a spot where he really couldn’t miss it. |
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When he was about
10 to 15 feet away, he looked up, noticed the ball, and this is
the best part. His eyes literally POPPED! It was awesome to see
that kind of reaction from Paul Allen! When I asked him to sign
it, he did, but didn’t say much. However, his reaction spoke
volumes. You could just tell that he liked the ball, a lot, and
that it was like nothing he had ever seen before.
I felt great! I had gotten Paul Allen’s signature, and better
yet, I could take the ball to Vulcan and Jody Patton would see that
I already had his signature.
This story reminds me of a little side story,
and I will make it quick. A couple week's before that, there was
the “Rumble at the Ridge” golf tournament. Dave Krieg
was there and I asked him to sign the ball. I am very particular
in where I want people to sign it, so as to group them nicely.
If you look at the ball, all the coaches are in the same area,
and all the “Ring of Honor” members are in the same
area.
There was a particular spot I asked him to sign it. Well, he decided
to sign it in a different spot. I didn’t say anything at
first, but that was the spot I was hoping to have Paul Allen sign
it, if I got the chance. The day went on and I drove back to West
Seattle after I got the autographs I wanted. The whole time though,
I couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that Dave Krieg
signed the ball in the wrong spot. I decided that I wanted Dave
Krieg to sign it again, in the spot I asked him to originally.
I drove back up to Snoqualmie TPC and found Dave Krieg. Fortunately,
he was doing an interview with KJR. I said to him, “I know
you already signed this, but can you sign it again right here
(pointing to the spot I wanted him sign it).” He said, “What,
you didn’t like where I signed it the first time?”
I said, “No, I'm saving that spot for Paul Allen.”
He laughed and signed it again where I wanted him to.
Two or three weeks later Paul Allen signed it in the spot I had
reserved for him.
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