I won the "Biggest Sammy Hagar Fan" Contest. I actually got to interview him for Channel 31 here in Sacramento, I got to pick 2 questions to ask him for the news show the next morning. It was sooo cool. Redheads were waiting in line all day. Mark S Allen took me past everyone straight to the back room of the book store and I had a one on one with Sammy.
Here is the youtube link..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pst7Z5ioPx4

Here was my entry letter...
Why I am Sammy Hagar's biggest fan.

Sammy's Lyrics have been burned in my head all my life. He music made me the positive person I am today.
All his music writing has been positive in every way. It brought me through the good and bad times in my life.
Sammy was my very first concert. Y&T and Stevie Ray Vaughn opened for him. I'll never forget when he strapped a guitar on his back and with a headset climbed to the top of the lighting rig at the Cal Expo racetrack. If I remember correctly he sang "One way to rock".

After that I was buying anything Sammy preached. If he was within driving distance I was there. I once saw him play something crazy like 5 shows in 10 days. If I remember that correctly it was Reno, SF and then down to LA, or was the Vegas? It was nut's.

I even bought Sammy Hagar Shampoo once. lol

When I built my house I built a room that has a Sammy theme. I even prewired the electrical for a custom 3 x 4 foot Neon sign that I had custom made, it resembles the Red Rocker Neon you see on the ceiling of of the Cabo Wabo in San Lucas. Mine is on the ceiling too.

All though I'm still not married to her, because we were both fans I got married on Sammy's B day in 2002 at the Cabo Wabo and had about 75 in attendance. Sammy was making his first DVD at that time and the film crew came out and video taped it just in case. It didn't make the DVD but the crew did send me a DVD of it later on.

This is the kicker. So in 1994 I was doing a side job installing a security system for a friends company. I was getting paid piece work and it was all about getting in and out of the job, I mean it was a Saturday. The sales man introduced me to the couple. I was very cordial and continued on my work. They job was expected to take about 2 hours at most. Well about 30 to 40 minutes into the job, Jim (the alarm company sales man/ owner) says to me "Tony, I think this family is related to someone famous. Do you recognize anybody in these pictures" I looked up at the wall and there were Sammy & Kari pictures every where. I started shaking in my shoes. I was in Sammy's wife's parent's house.

This was when they lived in Folsom. I turned that 2 hour job into 3 months. I gave them every extra available and more. I even bought the account so that later on when I started my own company they would be my customers. It turned out that we became good friends, I even bought them a subscription to a magazine that featured Van Halen. Then the breakup happened, I had first hand news on all that was happening when the VH broke up and Sammy left to go back to his solo career.

Here is one bit of information only maybe family members know. Kari's parents told me that she was dating Jim Kelly before Sammy, if I remember correctly she brought him over for Thanks Giving and they were sooo happy, I mean I think he was a NFL MVP back then. What parent wouldn't be proud, fine catch for your daughter. Well then the next time around she tells them she is dating Sammy. They were like "WHO?" Well they told me that once they met Sammy they liked him immediately and was very proud that she met him. They even busted out one of his guitars from the closet, oh then Kari's mom goes look, Sammy was so exited he opened the door so fast and put the handle through the wall. (Front Door)

It was really cool to know them, I considered Bud a friend (Kari's step dad) and her mom, I can't remember her name right now, she'd talk and talk. She gave me a VH hat that I still have today.

The company I worked for sold their contract right out from under me and so when I started my company they weren't my customers anymore. I went by to see them many years ago but they moved.

Oh back to my wedding, the Cabo Wabo sign behind the drums at the Cabo Wabo. My buddy Chip had that neon made and shipped it to me as a wedding present. It's on the wall in my Family room.

Among other things I have Sammy "Harrahs Casino" Chips. OH I forgot my prized possession. Bud and Kari's mom was going to Sammy and Kari's house for Halloween. I knew Sammy had followed his dad's footsteps and tried boxing back in his early years, so I went to Sports Authority and got a glove. It says "To Tony, KO #1, Sammy Hagar" Very Kewl.

Oh I forgot when Sammy went back solo he played at the Memorial. Bud called Sam and asked him if he would meet a good friend of his, but Sam said they were not doing any back stage and that they had to rush out and get going to the next gig. Well I could go on but that's enough.

Needless to say, Oh 1 more thing, this will be it I promise. Another Sammy moment... In 2003, back when I did San Lucas all the time, I would get there just on or before Oct 1st, everyone came for the B Day bash so it was awesome to see the early gigs, plus some kewl artists would come that first week and jam with the band before the second week of Chaos. And 4 of us were eating at the Cabo Wabo and Sammy came in sat in the corner with a group of people and recognized us as regular fans (RedHeads) and bought us a round of Cabo Wabo. Then came to are table for a quick hello. That was kewl.

So this is my final.... To this day with all the close bumps I have yet to actually talk to the man, just shoot the shit and say "What's up Sammy? I just want to thank you for all the great music that has made me smile and rock in my lfetime"

Sincerely,

Tony Morabito

I am going to paste a portion of an email I just got from what should have been my little brother, who is serving in the Navy and helping right now in the clean up efforts in Japan. Here it is, his name is TJ...

You know I remember you taking me under your wing when I was just a pup and showing me the ropes so I kind of still feel a debt of gratitude towards you. I can't tell you how many times we listened to that Van Halen album OU812 in your 280z. I really do appreciate the time you took out of your life to spend with me. Those are some of the fondest memories I have.