The "Jeff from Pleasanton" Files: A Sharks Fan's Journal Meeting Kyle McLaren

By Jeff Hisaoka

(11/18/06)

A blue-colored line along the path can mean either exiting one zone or entering another zone. If entering another zone, crossing such a blue-colored line can have painful consequences. All it takes is one second and/or one stride after crossing the blue-colored line I have in mind to feel the same way you probably would if inside a car that was involved in a two-car-collision. This type of experience can be prevented if you're fortunate to be on the same side with the person I recently saw up-close and personal.

During pre-game warm-ups, he's the guy who gathers shot pucks that have settled in the net and passes them to his teammates. He's also the guy responsible for those collisions I mentioned earlier; when they happen, us San Jose Sharks fans officially get our money's worth on our tickets if a Sharks goal by big name players such as Patrick Marleau, Jonathan Cheechoo or Joe Thornton is not in the cards on a given night. And he wears a number that is the same as the Southern California channel that features either Fred Roggin or Mario Solis giving the sports report, or the Bay Area channel that features the cool sportscaster whose nickname is "Mr. Involvement" (Vern Glenn). From Humboldt, Saskatchewan and weighing in at 225 pounds: #4 Kyle McLaren.

What Kyle McLaren did on Friday, November 17, 2006 reaffirmed my belief that hockey players are, no pun intended, the "coolest" of professional sports athletes. The Sharks' most intimidating defenseman took an hour and a half out of his perhaps-busy schedule to participate in a meet-and-greet session at the Sharks Store, located at the HP Pavilion at San Jose. It wasn't one of those Sharks-Foundation-sponsored autograph sessions that you'd now have to pay $100 per person (I know that $100 each goes to a good cause, but that's a little too pricey considering I got two VIP Session SharksFest tickets for the same $100 total); this autograph session was open to the public and free of charge. And, unless you didn't bring anything to be signed, you didn't have to purchase any of the new McLaren merchandise, including jerseys, t-shirts (jersey-like-tees or one with an image of McLaren in action), 8" X 10" photos, or yellow safety goggles (inspired by McLaren wearing a yellow visor) with "#4" on one side only, to acquire the defenseman's autograph. However, if you didn't bring anything, you had to buy something since they didn't even supply small (3 11/16 X 6 9/16) McLaren cards like the ones I got from a Sharks Caravan event back in August 1999 and the Game On! events back in October 2003 (read "Game On!"). For the icing on the cake, fans could also have their picture taken with the 6'4" d-man.

I was the nineteenth person in line, so I waited around twenty minutes, more or less, before McLaren signed my program insert that he was pictured on. When I first approached the table where McLaren was seated, I first thanked him for coming out, and then I complimented him for his work and effort so far this season. Like all the hockey players I've had the privilege of meeting up-close, McLaren replied sincerely to everything I said; that's the character of a hockey player that you have to admire whether or not it brings you back for more. But perhaps the highlight of this outing was getting my picture taken with the tall defenseman. After my picture was taken, I wished Kyle a "good luck" for the rest of the way (season) and moved on. OK, so I browsed the Sharks Store a little bit more before leaving the arena grounds and getting stuck in the Friday traffic.

Having seen Kyle McLaren up-close and personal, I can say that he is my second-favorite current Sharks defenseman (Scott Hannan is my top favorite current Sharks defenseman). With the photo of me standing next to Kyle, this meet-and-greet session also places Kyle McLaren on one of my personal all-time teams, specifically the "Have A Photo With Him" Sharks; McLaren is the fifth defenseman on that team, joining only (current Sharks GM) Doug Wilson, (current Sharks assistant coach) Rob Zettler, Scott Hannan and Rob Davison (see below for the rest of the "Have A Photo With Him" Sharks team).

No matter how cool Kyle McLaren is for his backwards hip-check into the boards, what makes him even cooler is his recent act of kindness. And when you're able to get both an autograph from and a picture with a hockey player, that's what makes being a hockey fan so cool and worthwhile.

 

My "Have A Photo With Him" Sharks team

 

LW:

Nils Ekman+

Stephane Matteau#

Marco Sturm%

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<Space Available>

 

C:

Jamie Baker[]

Patrick Marleau#

Alyn McCauley^

Mark Smith+

Ron Sutter*

 

RW:

Tim Hunter&

Teemu Selanne%

Ron Stern[]

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<Space Available>

 

Defensemen:

Rob Davison^

Scott Hannan+

Kyle McLaren!

Doug Wilson&

Rob Zettler[]

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Goaltenders:

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* - At meet-and-greet session at a Nob Hill Foods grocery store in San Ramon (3/5/99)

# - At Sharks Caravan at the Dublin Iceland (8/24/99)

% - At SharksFest at the HP Pavilion (1/6/02)

^ - At Game On! at the Dublin Iceland (10/6/03; read "Game On!")

+ - During an all-access tour of HP Pavilion before a game (3/28/04; read "All Access")

& - At a Season Ticket Holder's Free Skate at the HP Pavilion (11/13/04; read "Take to the Ice")

[] - At a Season Ticket Holder's Free Skate at the HP Pavilion (12/10/04; read "Take to the Ice: Part Deux")

! - Didn't you read this journal entry?

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