$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Dec 31, 2007 9:55:11 GMT -5
So, we met the Little Bastard Friday night. It was sort of unorganized, I blame the mall for that, but it is what it is. Emma was very excited, and noticebly nervous. She is in awe of such celebrity status. Hornswoggle is practically on the level of Santa in that fashion.
I will give the little guy credit. As much as they move the lines along, he made a point to make eye contact with everyone, share some words, and offer a hand to shake. When we got up towards the table, Emma was sort of speechless. I coaxed her to say something, and as I did Hornswoggle hit her with, "how are you doing, sweetheart?" He shook her hand. I then exchanged a shake and some pleasantries with him as well.
While reading some year-end stuff on the Torch, I noticed a kudos they gave Hornswoggle for a job well done in 2007. I have to agree. He really played an active role, and was a fun watch. I give him a lot of credit. That said, not sure of the shelf life on such a character, I do hope he is saving his money. This wont last forever. From what I understand he's still a wee one, in age as well as size, right around drinking age.
While we were in a line that actually snaked outside the mall, Emma mentioned that if Finlay or 'his dad' Mr McMahon was not on hand, she was going to ask him where they were. Too bad she clammed up once inside. On the ride home she pretty much convinced herself that Hornswoggle lives with Mr McMahon, and Finlay lives next door.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Dec 31, 2007 10:09:19 GMT -5
It's nice when the wrestlers are personable like that. I remember once meeting Ivory at WWFNY in Time's Square and she was very friendly too.
Were you allowed to take pictures with him, or was that a no-no because of the potential line?
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Dec 31, 2007 10:48:03 GMT -5
See, we screwed up there. You were not allowed to take your own pics, so our camera stayed in the bag. For another $5, you could do a Polaroid. I flubbed, and did not put in for that. Once we got inside, I saw they were funnelling the Polaroid people behind the desk with him, and wanted in. But at that point, they were not taking the cash or giving the ticket.
It was so hectic inside the sports store that i ended up leaving with just the photo to sign, and a sleeve to keep it protected. I was simply not thinking.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Dec 31, 2007 10:50:31 GMT -5
Polaroids may not be as good, but they are better than nothing. Was there a cost to get to meet him in the first place?
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Dec 31, 2007 10:56:51 GMT -5
Oh, heck yeah. $15 for just an autograph, if you were bringing your own stuff to get signed. Another $5 for an 8 x 10, which I purchased, so the whole shebang nailed me for $20. I have no qualms about that, it is what it is, and its fair. For $5 more, I could have got a polaroid as well, which would have been a nice capper to it.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Dec 31, 2007 10:59:07 GMT -5
Would he have autographed the polaroid? Would have been cooler, and you save the $5 for the 8X10. I have an autographed polaroid with the great Gillberg.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Dec 31, 2007 11:11:00 GMT -5
Yeah, I saw some kids with the polaroid signed. I would rather the 8x10. Its more striking, I can frame that bad boy and we can gaze upon it. The evening was worth the $20, seeing the awe in Emmas face. Poor girl...when we got into the room he was in, she could not even look at him. She was really nervous.
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Post by 4dogg on Dec 31, 2007 16:48:35 GMT -5
"smile,and say midget"
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Post by Ms. Jericho on Dec 31, 2007 19:13:09 GMT -5
He kinda yelled at me.
We were waiting in this stupid mall corridor thing behind the walls so as not to block any store entrances and Emma kept wanting to hold my hand because she was all nervous. Being nervous her hands were all sweaty and holding hands with her made my hands all sweaty. So when he went to shake my hand I was like "Aw, my hands are all sweaty." He goes "You're fine!" and grabs my hand. And of course one of the security guys has to use the old "You don't know where HIS hands have been."
Funnily enough, his hands are not much smaller than mine.
He was a pleasant little guy though.
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Post by cactusjames on Jan 1, 2008 4:54:55 GMT -5
Shit Emma had more guts at her age then I did when I met the outlaws when I was like 13 or 14, I pretty much dragged my jaw across the seating area after I saw the Tag Team straps in person. And it's also cool that it was a good turnout for Hornswaggle, it'd have to be 10X worse with a top tier guy. And not for nothing, as long as it was fun for all nothing was lost, but in the future if it isn't as hectic described, the poloaroid is worth it if managable. I got it when I met Michaels and he signed that as well for a fiver like you said, as well as the 8X10 with the sleeve, and the quality is good for the type of camera. I don't mean to come across like a know-it-all, just a heads up, again if it's not a mad house in there. And honestly, i can attest to this, does anyone ever grow out of the star struck mind frame?
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 1, 2008 10:57:56 GMT -5
I am almost 40 years old and I am still a mark for celebs.
I caught a glimpse of someones polaroid, and yeah, it was in good shape for what it was. If I had not been feeling rushed cause of the building line both behind me to purchase the ticket, and snaking down the mall corridor for the signing, I would have figured out the gameplan better and went for the whole shebang.
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Post by cactusjames on Jan 1, 2008 17:43:01 GMT -5
Yeah cause it is worth it, from what I remember they sign the poloroid as well for just the price of the pic, no seperate fees for two signings. Othr places may be differnt, but if it's doable it's really worth it, sort of personalizes it more. A question though, was Emma bigger than Hornswaggle? A pic would have been classic in that case.
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Post by massyanksfan on Jan 2, 2008 12:48:25 GMT -5
Does meeting Hornswaggle count as a midgit sighting?
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 2, 2008 13:05:35 GMT -5
See, I would have to go with a no on that. Cause we actively made an attempt to meet him. Part of the lure of the midget sighting is the spontanaiety.
Now, if walking to get lunch if I saw Hornswaggle ducking out of Old Navy, THAT would be a midget sighting.
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Post by massyanksfan on Jan 2, 2008 15:43:16 GMT -5
Agreed.
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Post by Ms. Jericho on Jan 2, 2008 19:20:04 GMT -5
He is taller than Emma. Acutally, the height difference between Emma and Hornswoggle is pretty much the same as the height difference between me and Hornswoggle. I have heard that he is 4' 4" (or 52 inches). Emma is 43 inches tall making her only 9 inches shorter. However, at 5'2", I am a mere 10 inches taller. That kind of makes me sad.
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Post by thecaptain15 on Jan 3, 2008 12:52:49 GMT -5
"smile,and say midget"
I love a good Odd Couple reference....
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Post by violenta79 on Jan 10, 2008 11:06:31 GMT -5
That's cool Tom. My brother and I met Edge and Christian a few years back at a mall signing and they were very cool. Got autographs and took photos with them. They were very personable and we had a nice conversation with them.
My brother went to the show at the County Center in White Plains friday night and then to the Outback for dinner and he saw about 4-5 superstars at the place. He said Kennedy, Orton and Santino were there with a few others.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 10, 2008 11:10:29 GMT -5
Dana would have been in Heaven if she hit that Outback.
I have heard the same about Edge and Christian from numerous sources. You can almost tell when you see them - they come across as guys just having a good time.
My last real convo with a wrestler was Sandman on some show or another, where he was waltzing around amongst the lobby crowd and such, really drunk. He was a fun one. I remember once I saw Norman the Lunatic pumping gas into his car at a station right outside the Meadowlands after a card, still dressed in his Norman attire.
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Post by cactusjames on Jan 10, 2008 13:00:50 GMT -5
Me and my uncle saw Foley(what a coincidink)at La Guadia(another suprise), but didn't want to disturb him since he was picking up his wife and kids and shit. Other than that, I've never run into one wrestler in a random public place, gas station, resturant etc. When Brentwood High put on a show of indy guys(with some WWF guys) I scored VIP seats(15 bucks) which got me first row. Saw the Rock with the old school IC belt which was sweet(my uncle remembered a story of his friend spitting on Rocky Johnson and Tony Atlas shouting racist remarks, the circle of life), and had a convo with Mr. Backlund. I may have told this but I don't remember but Backlund is walking around ringside during the intermission. Just shouting and yelling at anyone in the front row, very bizzare. But when he's by where I was sitting, I stick my hand over the railing hoping for a response. He stops, looks at my hand and yells, "I don't shake hands with plebians". I replied I wasn't and took school very seriously. He asked me my favorite subject and I lied and said math. When he asked if I had a dictionary in my back picket I said yes and a thesaraus in the other. When the fans behind us started getting louder screaming you suck at a legend, he does his famous Backlund snapping routine, starts screaming and berating these kids calling them rude yelling he's trying to have a conversation with this fine young man(me) and told them to be more like me. Shook my hand and left. Thinking between all the wrestlers I ever met, they have 26 world championships(HBK, flair, Foley and Backlund). Oh and the New Age Outlaws. While my meetings are limited, that's a lot of championships.
But I still find it odd, after almost 15-16 years of watching wrestling, never once have I met a wrestler outside an event of some kind where I could have more than just pleasantries exchanged. On a side note, I met Mr. Backlund one more time at a show at the Coliseum when he was running for some CT office, totally insane and had clue who I was, but he did lie say he did and was very nice, but bat shit crazy to the max.
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Post by 4dogg on Jan 10, 2008 17:40:21 GMT -5
i once asked spike dudley if he was "hittin"molly holly ,bubba ray told me this wasnt a nice thing to say and then responded to spike"yeah,you should be F'n her"
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Jan 10, 2008 18:12:51 GMT -5
James--I am jealous. That is an AWESOME story.
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Post by cactusjames on Jan 10, 2008 18:30:02 GMT -5
It's a little due to me, being able to improv with the man, but he didn't have to spend that much time talking with a 11 year old. It's why one of the few things we both agree on is that everyone should address him as Mr. Backlund. Anything else is disrespectful.
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Post by Ms. Jericho on Jan 10, 2008 20:08:43 GMT -5
I used to work at a school for kids with developmental disabilities (mostly autism) and they used to have a carnival fundraiser. Foley attended the year I was there. He was very nice.
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