Best weekend ever... Part Deux

Ah yes, the Carnival.

I've watched it on TV every year, heard countless stories about it but on Sunday I finally got to go to the thing live and in person and I gotta say... I was very, VERY cool. Sure it has a decent price tag, but all the money goes to charity and the parking was free (!!) completely making up for my previous night's struggle.

I was able to procure autographs from Scott Hartnell, Simon Gagne, Danny Carcillo, Ian Laperriere and... wait for it... Danny Briere, who is--- in fact--- cuter in person than he is on TV. I didn't think it possible but it was true. So much so that a fight nearly broke out between me and the gaggle of equally awestruck teenage girls who were in line in front of us and who were simply taking entirely too long getting the man's signature for my liking. I've waited for years to get that close to Danny and I'll be darned if I'm going to let some little Hannah Montana wannabes steal away even a second of my time with him. Love sick sigh...

Janice, once again from here on out referred to as Ron, got me a neat Flyers grill set courtesy of the Mystery Bags. I almost considered getting a second one to see if I could get a Flyers grill to go with my grill set but I didn't want to push my luck. I may have ended up with a Flyers shower kit instead.

The highlight for me though, even beating out seeing Briere (<3) and Gagne up close, was Alumni Alley. For a nominal fee of $20 you were given the privilege of rubbing elbows with some of the greatest Flyers players of all time. Bobby Clarke, Bernie Parent, Bill Clement, Dave Schultz, Joe Watson, Bob Kelly, Brian Propp and more. It honestly doesn't get any cooler than that. Each was happy to sign whatever you gave them and even pose for a picture, even though they weren't supposed to pose. I was able to get all of their signatures on the back of my old Simon Gagne road jersey, forever retiring my old friend from active wearing duty and elevating it to cherished heirloom status.

The best part of Alumni Alley took place as we stood in limbo between Don Saleski and Bob Kelly. Ron noticed Flyers ice side reporter and all around funny guy Steve Coates walking around, talking to some of the other alumni. He attempted to take a picture, but Mr. Coates is an elusive gentleman to say the least. Saleski and Kelly saw this taking place and without missing a beat, Kelly called over Coatsey and demanded that he pose for Ron's picture. Coatsey happily obliged, putting his arm around the two legends for what could be the greatest photograph in the history of photography.

After the previous night's encounter, when I approached Bernie Parent, I considered asking him if he remembered discussing the weather with Ron and I, but I'm sure he does that with everyone. Also, he was a busy man on Sunday. It seems that you couldn't throw a stone inside the Wachovia Center without hitting Bernie Parent that day. Dude was every where. A certain local football team could use a safety... I'm not saying but I'm just saying Bernie covers some ground is all.

Overall it was a fantastic day getting to meet the players, walk around on the ice surface... I mean it was covered up, but the ice was under there darn it! Well worth the money and it was all for a good cause.

And you can park in the Wachovia Center lot for free. I might just go every year for that fact alone.