Our first batch of autograph guests for Sportsfest was announced today. Here is the first list of signers:

Joe Montana (3X Super Bowl MVP)
Tim Brown  (1,000-Catch Club)
Bob Gibson  (Hall of Fame)
Sal Bando   (3X World Series Champion)  ** Never a done Chicago area show.
Ted Simmons (8X All-Star)  ** Never done a Chicago area show.
Gale Sayers  (Bears Hall of Famer)

Also announced today was the NFL’s 2007 schedule. The Thursday night opener will feature the Saints taking on the Colts, in Indy. I wonder if this game was planned due to the NFL really wanting this match up in Super Bowl XLI as opposed to defensive-minded Bears vs. the Colts.

In auction news, Vintage Authentics’ sale ends tomorrow. Featured lots include a 1975 Henry Aaron Brewers gamer, 1984 Jack Lambert jersey, 1992 Barry Sanders jersey and a nice array of hockey shirts.

Memory Lane also ends tomorrow night and I strongly suggest high-end card collectors should check it out. Just make sure you turn down the volume on your computer, because if you don’t you will be listening to Smash Mouth’s rendition of Get your Game on (I am not sure if that’s the song’s title, but it's a good enough guess for Gavel Chat). Not a big Smash Mouth fan, what can I say?:)

Memory Lane is selling too many great cards to mention, but I would like to point out some of the memorabilia it is auctioning off, such as its signed Tour of Japan baseball. The provenance on this baby couldn’t get any better. Memory Lane’s 1937 Lou Gehrig single-signed ball also carries rock-solid provenance.

By the way, did I mention I am in a bad mood? It is April 11 and it is snowing. I know that I live in Wisconsin, but it was 80 degrees two weeks ago and now this slushy weather is all we’re getting.
Oh well, I am headed for Las Vegas Thursday of next week for vacation, so I guess it could be worse.
Time to go shovel!