(1/8/08)

(Note: This is the newest chapter in my still untitled Sharks Fan's Journal.)

San Jose Sharks center Joe Pavelski currently wears number 8, but the Stevens Point, Wisconsin native's most notable, memorable moments happened when he wore number 53. Sharks fans are 99% likely to always remember December 2, 2006, the night when Pavelski's last-minute, third period goal helped the Sharks beat the Detroit Red Wings 3-2; it was the third time ever that a Sharks team left Joe Louis Arena and had won a regular season game there. December 2006 also included an unbelievable breakaway goal when the Sharks visited the Staples Center and beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-1; Pavelski exits the penalty box and immediately receives the puck, and the lone person who could stop him was then-Kings-goaltender Dan Cloutier. Also noteworthy is the fact that Pavelski is the eleventh Sharks player whose NHL debut included his first career National Hockey League goal.

It is safe to say that Joe Pavelski has made a big impact. The only reason that Pavelski is called "Little Joe" is because his teammate (center) Joe Thornton is "Big Joe." One thing that this Joe is not is a "schmo," and he proved that when he did something that no professional athlete, NHL players included, has ever done or will ever do when being an autograph session's feature player. "Little Joe" began signing autographs ten minutes early, which means that (cue the Deal or No Deal $100,000+ offer drumroll) Joe Pavelski gave an hour and forty minutes of his personal time to sign autographs and have a Sharks Store representative snap a player-and-fan photo that will be e-mailed.

My sister and I held the waiting line's 20 th spot, and we only waited ten minutes starting when "Little Joe," who wore his teal RBK Edge jersey, signed his first autograph (approximately 4:20 PM) and ending when we reached the probably-granite-top bar-level table where #8 was seated. 4:30 PM was this free-of-charge-with-no-purchase-necessary Meet-and-Greet's scheduled start time; when I finished confirming my e-mail address, I checked my cell phone so I could see how long our wait was. I could not believe that the time read 4:30 PM, the scheduled start time. What "Little Joe" did, and because he did not get the customary elevator-exiting applause that the first twenty-five numbered people give when the time is 4:30 PM, earned him a four fins score. Using Total-Rewards-speak, "Little Joe" entered Harrah's Las Vegas and received a Diamond card (and not the automatic Gold card).

This Meet-and-Greet is when I found the perfect choice-phrases when attending these and approaching the players. First, I said my usual "Thanks for coming out and doing this. This is awesome." Then came my usual "You're doing a good job this season;" that quote is not patronizing the feature player because if a San Jose Sharks player is not doing good/well, he would have been a Worcester Sharks player starting the previous week. And that third phrase that follows my player-and-fan photo being taken was a simple "Thanks again;" and that "thank you" is a "thank you for the autograph and the photo." I now realize that saying "Good luck the rest of the season" minimally implies "Good luck . cause you're gonna need it." My new formula works.

"Little Joe" becomes the fourth player to sign my "When I Don't Have Anything For (player's name) To Sign" t-shirt and the twenty-third player to join my "Have A Photo With Him" Sharks team, which still needs to become two different teams. I did not buy a black jersey-like "Pavelski 8" t-shirt or an 11" X 14" photo, which the Sharks Store now sells, because I believe I show my support when I simply attend these Meet-and-Greet sessions. I will always appreciate these players, especially when they do these Meet-and-Greets; it's the players who make being a San Jose Sharks fan unbelievably cool.

Joe Pavelski is another good apple that the Sharks' prospects farm has produced. And this "Little Joe" has come "a long way" as a San Jose Shark.