So me and the wife headed down from Nashua today to Pinz in Milford, MA to attend Vince Wilfork's Annual Draft Day Fundraiser to benefit the Diabetes Research Institute. As usual, I offer my full report, for you, my fellow Pats fans and friends:
I must say, I usually go to the Draft Day Party at Gillette (the "official" one) - but Big V's party was AWESOME! He sures knows how to throw a party!!
Your $40 ticket - again to benefit charity - gets you into the event at Pinz which is an awesome resteraunt/bar/bowling alley/arcade facility! A GREAT choice in venues. Plus you get access to the all-you-can eat buffet, which included these awesome slider-type mini-cheeseburgers, buffallo wings, pizza rolls, chicken tenders, salad and rolls. Good stuff - especially the sliders. Of course the full bar was also available (don't I know it!)
Plus, you got to hang out with Vince and some other Pats players and take part in the silent and live auctions if you wanted to.
Pinz was showing the draft coverage on about 3 billion screens! It was sweet! They had huge mega-screens over the bowling lanes and ****load of other screens, most hi-def.
The staff was super-friendly and super-cool. Shout-outs to Dave, Elaine, Walt, Amber and the whole staff at Pinz!
So me and the wife first made camp in the bar about an hour before the draft started. A couple of rounds of Corona ensued!
We met some supercool fans! Everybody was really friendly and cool. In fact I exchanged several e-mail adresses and hope to tailgate this season with some great people we met!
On to the main event (at least for me, your resident OCD-driven autograph junkie) - meeting the players.
Met Ty Warren. Supercool guy - had never met him before. Very laid-back, mellow, and gratious. He signed my football and a mini-helmet for me. Here's a pic of me, Jenn, and Ty:
Kevin Faulk was there, too. A gentlemen as always. He signed my football and a Superbowl 39 cap for me. Here's me, Jenn, and Kevin:
And of course there was Big V. He was great. So generous, so friendly, truly a CLASS ACT. He'd do interviews for the media, sign autographs for a few score of people, and then help run the event itself. Over and over - all day. What a guy - I can't say enough about 75. We talked briefly and I'm hoping that my little memorabilia business will be working with Vince on a signing in southern NH - he seemed quite enthustic about the idea, so I will keep you guys in the loop.
Here's us and Big V:
Lonnie Paxton and Ellis Hobbs were also there, briefly, but I missed hooking up with them before he left. Next time, maybe.
I also ran into Gary Tanguay from the Mohegan Sun Sports Report - who was reallly affable and pleasant- and Brain Lowe from Patriots today. Where were you, Hazel Mae and Kristina Akra???
But seriously, it was such a great time. I knew we'd end up with Mayo (thanks for the inside scoop Micheal Holley!! Kudos!) and the whole place went nuts when it was revealed we actually drafted a linebacker in the first round!! Awesome!
Vince had a few guys from the U. of Miami there, too and I talked with them. They we're great. I had Vince and two of his Hurricanes teammates sign my admission ticket - a unique piece of memorabilia to be sure.
I can't wait for next year. I definately plan on returning to Pinz next Draft Day
