Unexpected Game Used Surprise

[Dewey2007]

Last year sometime I tried contacting former NFL player Chidi Iwuoma asking him if he had an old jersey he would consider donating to my Cal Bears collection. I knew that he had returned to Berkeley to get his Masters degree so I thought it was worth a shot. I never heard anything back from him until today. Out of the blue he called me and said he was going through old e-mails and came across mine and that he had a jersey for me. He stopped by my office about an hour ago and gave me a Detroit Lions jersey from his rookie year. He said he was cleaning out his garage recently and came across it.

We had a nice chat and he's now working with the football team in player development since completing his grad degree. Very nice guy and this definitely brightened my Friday afternoon up. I'll post pics later on.

Dewey

[Masimen]

Re: Unexpected Game Used Surprise

That is an awesome story! Stuff like that is even sweeter when you have long since forgotten about it and then out of nowhere it pans out. Congrats!

[ivo610]

Re: Unexpected Game Used Surprise

Great story man, this is what collecting is all about, those great memories!

[neverfinished94]

Re: Unexpected Game Used Surprise

that is awesome!

[jdr3]

Re: Unexpected Game Used Surprise

Congrats! It's always a treat when they call back, especially if they have something.

[legaleagle92481]

Re: Unexpected Game Used Surprise

That is awesome. Is this the first time a player gave you a free jersey?

[Dewey2007]

Re: Unexpected Game Used Surprise

That is awesome. Is this the first time a player gave you a free jersey?

Pretty much although a friend and former player recently let me keep a baseball jersey of his from his time in Japan. Also, a former Cal Bears baseball player once sent me a game used bat from his MLB playing days.

[Neely8]

Re: Unexpected Game Used Surprise

Great stuff Dewey! It's even more awesome that he followed through after all that time. He sounds like a great guy.

[pietraynor]

Re: Unexpected Game Used Surprise

Great hearing these types of stories..thanks for sharing. Jay.

[sox83cubs84]

Re: Unexpected Game Used Surprise

Dewey...sometimes the good guys (in the hobby) DO win!

Dave M.
Chicago area

[Dewey2007]

Re: Unexpected Game Used Surprise

Dewey...sometimes the good guys (in the hobby) DO win!

Dave M.
Chicago area

Thanks Dave and to everyone else. Here are some pics of the jersey. It's funny, while I was very happy to get any jersey in truth when I was waiting for him to stop by the collector in me was thinking man I hope it's one of his Steelers jerseys considering how rare they are and that's the team he won a Super Bowl with. Regardless I am just honored that he took the time to donate a jersey to my collection period.

Out of my Cal Bears collection this jersey and my Chris Clapinski bat are easily the most meaningful considering I received them both directly from the former players.