One man's trash is another man's...autographed trash.

     As mentioned in my introduction, I am an avid autograph collector.  When I am obtaining autographs, I am typically equipped with items for a particular person/athlete to sign.  On a wintry day in March of 2004, I was forced to resort to desperate measures in order to obtain a signature.

     On this fateful Saturday, I was at the St. Louis Mills to watch the St. Louis Blues practice.  I came well-prepared, with a binder full of cards for the Blues to sign.  Most of the players signed after practice, leaving me feeling content with my day at the rink.

     As I was leaving the Ice Zone, I saw a unfamiliar player walking through the hallway.  It was Russian superstar, Sergei Fedorov.  I quickly realized that the Anaheim Mighty Ducks were holding an afternoon practice.  Unfortunately, I had did not have any items for the team to sign.

     I decided that I would have the team sign my jacket, as I concluded that it would be better than nothing.  As the players made their way onto the ice, I noticed defenseman Keith Carney eating a quick snack, a Blueberry Nutri-Grain bar.  He tossed the wrapper on the ground and headed to the ice.  For some reason, I decided to pick-up the wrapper to keep as a souvenir.  As practice came to a close, I noticed Keith was finished with practice: I decided I wanted him to sign his Nutri-Grain wrapper.

     When I presented the wrapper for him to sign, he looked at me with a puzzled looked on his face, asking, "Is that my wrapper?"  I replied, "Yep."  He said, "Well, I guess there's a first time for everything.

     Although Keith Carney was not an All-Star talent, there is little debate that he was a decent player throughout his career.  This item is assuredly the most unique piece I have in my collection.

MR. WOODCHUCK

Today, the HCWAB offices were paid a visit by the legendary, Ranger Joe 

                                             

 and his lovable friend, Mr. Woodchuck. 

Mr. Woodchuck had just one question:

Is this blog made of...wood?

The answer was no.  Sorry, Mr. Woodchuck 

                                                                      

CHEERS: "Where Everyone Drinks From Open To Close And Then Drives Home"

Cheers, an NBC sitcom than ran from 1982 until 1993, is recognized as one of the greatest television shows of all-time.  The bar is owned by Sam Malone, a retired pitcher from the Boston Red Sox, who ironically happens to be a recovering alcoholic.

Throughout the run of the series, Cheers enjoys the patronage of three especially loyal customers: Norm Peterson, Cliff Clavin, and Dr. Frasier Crane.

In every episode of this show, the entire gang assembles at Cheers as soon it opens.  The question I have is: how are the bar patrons, these three specifically, never drunk?

Norm, an overweight man of many careers, would presumably function as the bar's resident drunk.  Perched on his stool from opening time until last call, he is almost never seen without a beer.  However, at the end of the night, he appears perfect sober and makes his way home.

Cliff, a self-professed "proud member of the US Postal Service", is another constant in the bar.  He appears in scenes that occur at all hours of the day, especially during the peak times of mail delivery.  It seems he is an alcoholic mailman but he somehow manages to keep his job.

Finally, we have Dr. Frasier Crane.  He is one of Boston's premier psychiatrists, but in-between appointments with his patients, can be found at Cheers, drinking with the others.  How can a psychiatrist, who is likely counseling alcoholics, provide support when it appears he is one himself?

I realize it is only a television show, but the typical effects of binge drinking are nowhere to be found.

In actuality, each of these three characters should look like this at the end of the night:

Norm

Cliff

Dr. Crane