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Local Boy Makes Good

The Stamp Collecting Report, I'm Lloyd de Vries.

Collector Gary Dunaier of Queens, New York, is currently enjoying his 15 minutes of
fame — and it has nothing to do with stamp collecting. He was attending a special New York
Yankees-Tampa Bay Rays game that had been relocated to New York City's OTHER ballpark
because of Hurricane Irma.

"Now, me being a loyal Mets fan, I didn't really like the fact that a Yankee had hit a
home run in my building. So I knew that being surrounded by said sea of Yankee fans, if I
booed, I wouldn't be heard, so, spur of the moment, I just decided to make a silent
protest, the thumbs-down." RUNS :17

He was caught by the television camera: A stern, bearded man wearing suspenders, frowning
and showing disapproval.

"The picture of me making the thumbs-down has become an internet sensation. It's gone
viral, almost from the moment that I've done it, it seems, and even the Yankees themselves
have put my picture up on the scoreboard" RUNS :13

He was interviewed by national sports networks and local newspapers, and
he's now known as Thumbs-Down Guy. People come up to him on the street.

"I can't believe there are people who are interested in getting a picture with me."
RUNS :03

Dunaier knows the fame is fleeting.

"I'm trying not to take it too seriously, because I know that if I take it too seriously,
the 15 minutes of fame are going to go into 15 seconds." RUNS :08

And how has being Thumbs-Down Guy affected Dunaier's stamp collecting? Not at all.

I’m Lloyd de Vries of The Virtual Stamp Club. For more on stamps and stamp collecting,
visit virtual-stamp-club-dot-com.


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