He's an amazing guy, no question about it. I know him enough that we always stop and chat when we see each other, but I wouldn't say we're too close. Bowman has coached a team to the Stanley Cup Finals 12 times. A few seasons ago, when Bowman didn't feel as though the Red Wings were taking road trips seriously enough, he set a midnight curfew. Rather than stay awake and stand guard himself, Bowman would go to the lobby just before midnight, give the hotel bellman a jersey or a stick and head off to bed.
Bellmen love autographs, and hockey players are almost always willing to oblige.
He wouldn't say whether his name was on a bellman's jersey, but he did speak fondly of the man, the myth and the legend. You may not understand it at first or you may never understand it, but everything he does means something to him. He gets something out of everything, whether it's in the dressing room, during practices or games. He and Kinger are definitely different. Kinger is more of a teacher.