From: teg@cci632.cci.com (Thomas Gauger)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: TEGGER's trip to Bill's training camp
Keywords: A personal story
Date: 30 Jul 92 17:04:55 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Computer Consoles Incorporated


As promised last week, I did go to the Bills training camp.
This was my first trip ever to see the Bills at Fredonia.
I have seen the Bills in Rochester a few years back when they were trying
to drum up support after back to back 2-14 seasons.

Anyways, I took my 3 year old son, Kyle. One of my main objectives
was in obtaining a Jim Kelly autograph for my son. Hence the first
part of this posting. The second part deals with the actual training
camp itself -- this will be in a seperate posting.

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PERSONAL INTEREST STORY!

Before the start of every Bills home game, Jim Kelly gives a football to
some luck little boy or girl -- though I have yet to see him give one to
a girl. If you want a football for your son or daughter, come on over to
section C5 -- where Doug Evans and I sit -- go down to the field and
be hopeful. Anyway, that is where this start begins.

Last year, for the Pittsburgh Steelers romp, I brought my son. As usual
I go down to the field to harass the opposing players, and try and pump
up the Bills. Well I brought my son down with me in hopes of getting
a football. We were standing in my usual spot -- complete with my "back up
singers" (put that is another story, just ask Doug). Anyway, most of the
people there know me, and were pulling for my son to get a football. I
little girl -- very cute, and completely decked out in Bills ware -- came
down and her father placed her on the wall. I thought for sure that she
would get the football -- given that I have yet to see Jim give a girl a
football. This girl was about 3 - 4 years old, and was very cute.

Anyway, the time came for Jim to jog over and give a football away. Sure
enough, he started by jogging straight towards that little girl. I remember
turning to my son at that point and telling him not to be disappointed.
Suddenly, Jim turned to the right and handed my son the ball. My son was
estatic, hell I was estatic, even my "back up singers" were estatic.

My wife, who was in the bath room, missed the whole thing. Well the story
wasn't over. Back in January, the day before the superbowl, I got a
phone call. A friend that sits behind me at the games called and said,
"Did you see your son?" I said "What are you talking about, who are you?!"
I hadn't recoginzed their voice, and after I did, they explained that
my son was on the Jim Kelly show. After talking to this person, I hung
up and called my father in-law, who lives in Buffalo, and told him about
my son being on the Jim Kelly show.

Well my father in-law called the TV station. The TV station said mail them
a tape and they will make a copy of the show. He did and they did. About
2 weeks later I heard a knock on the door and found my in-laws standing
there with tape in hand.

The tape ended with about 3 minutes of clips from the 1991 football season,
the last clip showed Jim Kelly jogging over to the side of the field and
handing a football to my son. The camera man then zoomed in on my sons
face -- which was quite light up -- and then the show fads at this point.
My wife and I were both thrilled.

Well, we quickly agreed that we had to get Jim Kelly to sign the football,
to make it complete and offical.

That is were training camp comes in.

My son and I went to Fredonia on Saturday, with football and permanent
marker in hand. We watched for about 2 hours, when the players started to
huddle for some closing comments by Marv Levy. My son and I positioned
ourselves so as to be able to obtain and autograph from Jim. Well wouldn't
you know it, but Jim Kelly and about 4 other players jump on the same
golf cart and speed of the field. I turned to Kyle and told him that we
probably would not be able to get his autograph. I was in no hurry to
get back to Rochester -- about a 2 1/2 hour drive -- so we decided to
hang around for awhile.

I noticed that some players were giving autographs, over by a fence leading
to the lockrooms. Kyle and I headed over.

Previously, my son had his 3 year old pictures taken, back last November,
and wanted them taken with the football that Jim Kelly had given him --
just to give you an idea about how important this football is to my son.
Anyway, we had the pictures taken, and I had brought one with me to
Fredonia. I had Kyle sign the back, and we were planning on giving it
to Jim as a Thank You.

The player that I spoted was Kent Hull. What more could I ask for --
expect for Jim himself. There was about 30 - 40 waiting to get autographs
and I am not the pushy type, so we waited -- though I did learn you
have to be a little push to get an autograph sometimes (I am not
particularly interested in autographs). We approached Kent, and I
introduced myself and my son, and I went on to explain the above story --
much abbreviated. I told him that it did not appear that we would be able
to get Jim's autograph, so I asked him if he would mind giving Jim
the picture that Kyle had signed. He said "Ya, sure thing!" I was
extremely impressed. He started to walk away, and turned around and yelled
that we might want to hang around by the lockerroom door.

We did, and so did 200 other people. About 30 minutes went by when
someone spotted Andre Reed sneaking out a backdoor. Well I have never seen
75+ people run so fast in my entire life. The crowd started talking about
other players having slipped out unnoticed -- out back doors -- and I
was convinced that Jim Kelly had done the same. Another 15 minutes went
by, when Jim came out the front door, saw the people, and went back inside.
About 1 minute later he came running out, jumpped on another one of the
golf carts and started for the crowd. 100+ people surrounded him, including
us. I don't particular like crowds, so we hung back.

Soon the crowd had thined and only about 10 people remained. Kyle
and I approached Jim and I handed him the football, when Jim said, "
"You're Kyle right?" I was floored. Jim went on to say that he had
gotten the picture. I told him the abbreviated story, and he said
"So, you are that little boy!" He had remembered and knew that Kyle
was the kid that was on the video. My son was grinning from ear to ear,
so was dad. He signed the football.

I must say that I was extremely pleased with Jim's reaction and treatment
of my son. I have heard a lot of people say what a jerk he is, but
you will never catch me saying that about him ever. He has made a hero
for life out of himself in my sons eyes. What more could I ask for
from the situation.


==================================
The TEGGER
Rochester's self proclaimed #1 Bill's Fan

Section C5
Row 32
Seats 109 & 110

GOD I HATE MIAMI!