Rajon Rondo's Fans Thrilled to Meet Celtics Star

Boston Celtics fans traveled from far and wide to meet Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo at The Page on Thursday night and have the NBA star sign jerseys, basketballs and photographs.

But unlike the other Boston sports celebs who have met with fans at the Portsmouh restaurant, Rondo did not allow his fans or any members of the media to photograph him during the event. The Portsmouth restaurant hosted Boston Bruins star Milan Lucic in February, Red Sox Pitcher Tim Wakefield in June and Patriots Tight End Rob Gronkowski in July and all of them allowed their fans to take photographs of them when they met them.

That didn't matter at all to 11-year-old Bobby Duquette of Shrewsbury, Mass. He traveled to Portsmouth to meet his favorite player and he was thrilled that Rondo signed a basketball and a jersey for him. Bobby's mother, Nanette Duquette, his dad, Michael Duquette, and his two sisters, DeAnne and Faith, were equally excited for Bobby.

Nanette Duquette explained that her son is an 11-year cancer survivor who was diagnosed with liver cancer and had a tumor removed on his first birthday. Bobby is going to turn 12 on Sunday and meeting Rondo was his birthday present.

Bobby is also giving back to the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Shrewsbury that saved his life. He is currently running a fundraising campaign, "Bobby's Bullpen - $10,000 for 10 years," to support cancer research at the medical center.

Bobby Duquette was one of dozens of Rondo fans who came to see their favorite player. Rick Conway of Dover and his son, Colby, 7, brought a Rondo jersey and a basketball for the Celtics star to sign. Colby said he was very excited to meet his favorite player.

Rocco, Madison, and Arianna DiPietro, and Arianna's friend, Amanda Carey, all of Windham, were also thrilled to meet Rondo as they waited in line holding their jerseys for him to autograph. When asked how much the family was going to spend to have Rondo sign so much sports memorabilia, the children's mother, Shannon DiPietro, replied, "It's priceless. My children are fans."

Scott Robator of Bedford said he felt the same way. He spent nearly $200 to have Rondo sign a basketball, Celtics jersey and a photograph and he believes it is worth every penny.

"I feel like it's something I can pass down to my kids someday and it's a piece of history that will never change," Robator said.