Friday, April 19, 2013

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Heavyweight Champ, Riddick Bowe

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.

Sorry about the delay on this posting.

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Former heavyweight champ Riddick Bowe will be in Whittier on Saturday.  Get more information here.
Harry's Dugout 
10715 W Beverly Blvd 
Whittier, Ca 90601 
(310) 639-1061

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2012 Panini Prizm Baseball - All the Dodgers' Cards

Panini just released their newest Baseball card set earlier this week and it's 2012 Prizm Baseball.  Why they continue to use the 2012 date I do not know - it's confusing... and stupid.  Anyway, this set is fulled with shiny chrome cards.  They also lack MLB team logo's, so they look a little strange.  Panini was shut out of a MLB license, but they did get a license from the Players Association.  Still, it's a little uncomfortable looking at a card and not seeing the Dodgers logo where it should be.

Below are all of the Dodgers' players you can find in the set, starting with the base set.  Panini even includes one old-timer, Fernando Valenzuela.

#3 Matt Kemp                                    #15 Hanley Ramirez

#29 Clayton Kershaw                          #39 Adrian Gonzalez


#82 Zack Greinke                               #110 Andre Ethier

#113 Carl Crawford                            #128 Fernando Valenzuela

#183 Elian Herrera RC
Elite Extra Edition Autograph Cards
 #EEECS Corey Seager
Team MVP Cards
#MVP14 Matt Kemp
Top Prospects Cards 
#TP6 Zach Lee
USA Baseball Cards
There is also an autographed version of this card.  Unfortunately, a photo of it is not available at this time.
#USA6 Clayton Kershaw

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Blog Kiosk: 4/19/2013


From Last Nights Dodgers Pride Night at the Staples Center, here is Jim Hill, Luc Robitaille, Tommy Lasorda and Eric Stonestreet.  Pic via Twitter @Dodgers.
  • Mike Petriello at Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness writes a timely piece called, "Is It Time For Yasiel Puig Now? How About Now? (No.)"  Mike is right, Puig just isn't ready yet.  But he will be once he figures out pitch recognition and can lay off the breaking stuff.
  • Mark Saxon at ESPN wonders, "Is Carl Crawford becoming a different kind of hitter?"
But what has been a surprise, a pleasant one, for Mattingly is Crawford's approach. Always a free swinger, Crawford has been more selective for these first few weeks. His batting average probably isn't particularly telling, but few would have expected a .426 on-base percentage from him at this point of the season, or really any point of a season. 
Playing for the Dodgers was truly a privilege.

Being able to carry the History and Tradition forward was everything one could ask for.
  • Jose Canseco recently appeared on reddit for one of their famous "Ask Me Anything" sessions.  Check it out here.
  • This might be the greatest name for a Dodgers podcast, ever!  Sit down a listen a little bit to "The Kurt Bevacqua Experience."
  • This is cute.  Watch Dodgers fans Adele and Anadel (who are twins) providing their most recent Dodger Fan Weekly Video Blog. 

Video Link:

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Dodger Pride was on Display Last Night

The NHL hockey regular season is quickly coming to close.  The Kings are safely near the top of the pack in the conference, and baring a spectacular meltdown look headed to make the playoffs for the 4th season in a row.  They've rebuilt the franchise from the bottom up and are obviously reaping the rewards.  That being said, the Dodgers headed to the Staples Center last night in celebration of local sports pride, but I think the Blue Crew hoped a little bit of that Kings magic rubs off on them.

It was Dodgers Pride Night last night, and I was there to bask in its glory.  Furthermore, I wanted to make sure I got a glimpse of those cool looking Dodgers hockey jersey's the Kings would be wearing for the pregame warmup, so I had plans to get there early.  Unfortunately, that didn't go as planned.  By the time I did finally arrive the Kings were finishing up their warmups and I only had a chance to see them in Dodger Blue for just a few minutes.  Check out the only pics I was able to capture below.  Click any pic to embiggen.

Definitely not my best effort. 
(tweet link: @LAKings)

Fortunately, both the Dodgers and Kings provided a great back up plan.  Check out some of the pics provided by Juan Ocampo/LA Dodgers 2013 below and some videos by KingsVision.  Also, the pic above was tweeted by the Kings.

BTW, the Kings beat the suddenly good Columbus Blue Jackets, 2 to 1.  I swear, I turned to my seat-mates and said, "I don't remember Columbus being this good."  Anyway, on to the pictures.

In the above pic (from left to right) is Dustin "pancakes" Penner, Brad "put me in coach" Richardson, Slava "I'm better than Jack Johnson" Voynov, Mike "glad to leave Philly" Richards, and Alec "Estrada" Martinez.    Below left, Brad Richardson gets in front of the Kings flag and Dustin Brown shows his singular move to the camera on the right.  See more photos from the Dodgers at Jon SooHoo's blog here.  BTW, all of the photos were taken by Jon's cohort, Juan Ocampo/LA Dodgers 2013.

Here is a KingsVision video of the Kings in Dodger Blue.  The background music really sucks.  What's the deal, Kings?

 Video Link:

Tommy Lasorda was also on hand, and dropped the ceremonial puck.  I love how he crouches deep down to drop the puck, shakes Kings team captain Dustin Brown's hand, and turns around to leave without acknowledging the Blue Jackets captain, former Kings Jack Johnson.  This had my row busting up in laughter.

Video Link:

Then, Tommy Lasorda spoke with Patrick O'Neal. 

He went on to explain that you don't talk to the opposition as the reason he didn't acknowledge the Blue Jacket.  Tommy, I love you!

Video Link:

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