Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Kings and Ducks - Oh My!

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities and events throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any) as I become aware of them.  Also, I don't always list every event below, so be sure to check my Calendar.  I always try to favor free signing events over paying events.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

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After last nights thrilling victory what could be better than an little autograph session that includes the hero of the game.  This afternoon, Wednesday, Feb. 24th from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the STAPLES – Mid Wilshire store will be Andy Andreoff & Luke Schenn signing for fans.  Schenn scored the game-winning goal in yesterdays game.  Autographs are free.  Go here for information.

STAPLES – Mid Wilshire 
5407 Wilshire Blvd. 
Los Angeles, CA. 90036 

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Then on Friday Trevor Lewis and Marion Gaborik will be signing autographs at the Wells Fargo – Topanga Village in Woodland Hills on Friday, February 26th from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM.  Go here for information.

Wells Fargo – Topanga Village
6320 Topanga Canyon Road, Suite 1650
Woodland Hills

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If your a fan of the that other hockey club then check out Ryan Garbutt & Nate Thompson at OC Sportscards in Anaheim on Saturday, February 27th from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM.  This is a pay event.  Go here for information.  This is a part of the stores "Customer Appreciation Day" event.  There will be drawings, pack wars, group box breaks, raffles and the Ducks autograph signing.  All autographs are $25 each.

The OC Dugout 
1515 S. Sunkist St, Suite G Anaheim, 
CA 92806 
Phone: (714) 761-6414

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: A Couple of Ducks and Raiders

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities and events throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any) as I become aware of them.  Also, I don't always list every event below, so be sure to check my Calendar.  I always try to favor free signing events over paying events.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

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The top two centerman for the Anaheim Ducks will be signing autographs this coming Saturday, October 25th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the OC Dugout in Anaheim.  A portion of the proceeds of each autograph purchase will go to the charity CureDuchenne, a foundation that searches for a cure to muscular dystrophy.  Go here for ordering/ticket information.

The OC Dugout
1238 S. Beach Blvd.
Anaheim, CA 92804

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* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Congratulations Ducks!

The Ducks are the champions of the hockey world. As a long time Kings fan it pains me to mention those words, but the Ducks deserve it. They were clearly the best team in the NHL. They played a high intensity grinding style of hockey that reminded me of my youth. When toughness was the name of the game and perseverance was key. The Ducks did that and more.

For long suffering Kings fans my words may not assuage the anguish felt by die-hard fans. Nevertheless, it will pass. I would like to point to a post recently put on the Lets Go Kings fan website as necessary reading for the despondent members of the Kings nation.

...And countless LGKers follow him over the edge in some sort of pied piper moment of mass ritual self-pity, I'm not following and I hope LGKers don't also.

First: Congratulations to the Ducks. The won the Cup fair and square, with the best team the league has seen in quite some time, and I still think they never played up to their full potential. Nice job. They earned it.

Second: Yes, this stings. It hurts. It is quite painful to watch this. It's frustrating, painful, hurtful, last night was definitely "Black Wednesday" to the honest, loyal King fans that have hung around through it all. Me, for 25-odd years now.

Third, and perhaps most importantly: This is an excellent thing for SoCal hockey. You can take the lumps and embrace the future or you can whine and complain that that Kings weren't "first." Yeah, maybe it sucks the Kings weren't first, but how is that really going to affect the way you feel when the Kings do win their first? Something tells me you won't be crying about not being first on that day.

Hockey is a business. When there are multiple business in the same place and one attains great success, the other must follow suit to remain in business. Ducks CFO Tim Ryan (I think that's his name) demonstrated tremendous class and respect last night when he was asked about the importance of this Cup win for SoCal hockey. He said: "This is great for the Ducks, it's great for the Los Angeles Kings, and great for hockey in Southern California."

He's right. Period.

The Kings (hopefully) have the right leadership in place, a stable of excellent young talent, and quite possibly the greatest motivation of all 35 miles down the street. The Kings are at the bottom, beginning an up-swing, and will be in this happy place in a few seasons. I still have hope. I have never been more proud to be a Kings fan than today...oddly enough.

I guess I'm proud because I never left them for the new team in town. I'm proud because I recieved a call last night from a buddy who was a Ducks season ticket holder, "quit" the Ducks when Kariya & Selanne left, hasn't been a Ducks fan since...but yet somehow was as excited a little school girl last night. He was hardly legible on the phone. He sounded like ...hell, I don't even know how to explain it. I'm proud because I'm not him and never will be. Why? Because I've never quit the Kings!!!

So, go jump off the cliff if you choose to. Go into a hole of self pity and whine about everything you can come up with from last nights Cup win for the Ducks. Or man up, take your lumps, and be thankful and optimistic for the very bright future the Kings have in front of them. Look at it this way, the Ducks are returning the favor. If not for Gretzky & the Kings in the first place, the Ducks wouldn't exist. We made them, now they are forcing our hand. Win or become forgotten. Win or become the Clippers.

I am not a Ducks fan. Never have been, never will be. This hurts me as much as the next Kings die hard fan. Believe me. But I recognize what it means. I recognize the enormous motivation for success this means for the Kings. This will be a good thing.

It hurts now. It won't later. And if you're so wrapped up in the fact that the Kings weren't "first", then that's your shortcoming. That is an insignificant piece of worthless barroom trivia. The kind you win a bottle of scotch on.

Congratulations Ducks. Nice win. That's the last time I say it.

GO KINGS!!!!!

I've been waiting nearly 25 years myself. So, all I can add is that patience is a virtue.

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