1997 Upper Deck Michael Jordan Commemorative Collection ROY
I don't think you'll find too many 90's Jordan inserts that don't look really great and this '97 Upper Deck ROY Commemorative Collection Die Cut is no different. I've had this card in my collection for a few years now and thought it would be a great addition to The Jordan Collection post series.
Being a die-cut Jordan card is certainly cool enough, but the colors on this card really make it standout. I know it's tough these days for some companies to create solid designs without adding a sticker auto or jersey patch, so maybe they should look back at some of the designs of the past. Plus, those are the Nike Air Jordan XI's on His Airness' feet. Yes, the ones with the patten leather. The background colors, die cut feature and Jordan kicks are cool, but the cursive font ties this classy looking card all together.
Hope you enjoyed the second post in The Jordan Collection series. This is easily one of the best looking Jordan cards in my collection. Happy New Years and… "Enjoy Every Bounce of the Ball".
I know it's been several weeks since I've written a "Bo Knows…" post, but I just haven't been able to land any Bo Jackson memorabilia or cards lately. Luckily, Josh over at DodgerBobble sent me this great video from the 1985 college football bowl season featuring one Bo Jackson. Enjoy the footage and remember… Bo Knows Bowl Season. Happy New!
- Stay tuned for a 2010 trading card year in review I will hopefully have posted be Sunday at the latest. Thanks for reading and… "Enjoy Every Bounce of the Ball" in this new year.
I've been working diligently on putting the 1997 Ultra Court Masters insert set together for several months now. I recently added this Gary Payton to my ongoing '97 Ultra Court Masters collection. That makes nine out of the fifteen card insert set accounted for (You can view the other eight by clicking here). I have some of the tougher or more expensive cards in the set out of the way with the Shaquille O'neal, Anfernee Hardaway, David Robinson, Stockton and Malone cards, but there's still a few pricey ones to go like the Jordan. Of course, if anyone out there has any cards from this set and is looking to trade, checkout my trade album and let me know.
The appeal of these cards for me is a colorful acetate background and 90's stars. This Payton is no different. However, I wish the old Seattle Supersonics uniform was featured, but it's still cool non-the-less.
The Payton isn't exactly the most sought after card in the set, but it's always nice for a collector to add a card from a set they're putting together. Also, this one didn't really set me back too much. Actually, this is the cheapest card out of the nine I have from the set at $7.00 shipped. Not too bad. So nine down and six to go.
For many sports fans, the "Golden Age" of the NBA started with Bird versus Magic and culminated with Jordan hitting a game winning shot over Byron Russell in the '98 NBA Finals. Without question, it's hard to argue that claim. Sure, the NBA's "Golden Age" was built by the likes of the above mentioned Bird, Magic and Jordan, but the Association was littered with exciting stars throughout the league. From Clyde "The Glyde" Drexler in the Great Northwest to Sir Patrick at MSG or "The Human Highlight Film" in A-Town and Shaq and "Penny" in the wonderful world of Disney, the NBA was working on all cylinders throughout the mid 80's and 90's. Even perennial cellar dwellers like the Dallas Mavericks had "The Triple J's" or the Golden State Worriers with "RUN T.M.C.". There's no denying the state of basketball and the Association during that time, but today's NBA is certainly on the cusp of rivalling that time. Just think about it. Even the L.A. Clippers are actually palatable now.
One issue that has plagued the NBA over the past decade has been the lack of true superstars throughout the NBA. This could be for a number of reasons, but I attribute much of this problem to the influx of high school players into the league. Simply put, the vast majority of prep stars are not ready both physically and mentally for the NBA. Sure, I'm not going to argue one bit that players like Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett haven't achieved their full potential, but there have been far more that haven't. Say what you want about the one year removed from high school rule, but it's apparent that the vast majority of NBA prospects need a few semesters of higher learning to develop leadership, basketball IQ, fundamentals and physically. Not all, but many players need to go through a progression to develop both basketball and mental skills. It seems the influx of potential talent during the end of the 90's and the beginning of the last decade has hurt the development of that potential and thus, the NBA.
Fortunately for us fans, the state of the NBA game has been improved somewhat by young players who are forced to develop at a slightly slower rate than just being thrown into the fire that is professional basketball. I would argue that prep players should have to wait two full years before they can enter the NBA. I believe that would improve the NBA product even further. It's a matter of requirements/experience for a job posting, but this is really an issue for another post, the NBA CBA or at the very least, maybe Facebook.
The one to two years that prep stars are serving in the collegiate ranks seems to be paying off, but it's not the only change that is ushering in a new "Golden Age" in the NBA. Quite simply, LeBron has a huge affect on the state of the Association. Just like Jordan, Magic and Bird did in their day (Ok, not quiet like those greats, but close). Look, I'm not saying LeBron is better or even as good as either one of those three all-time greats. Although he should be, he simply doesn't have the same fire and competitiveness as many of the greats, but he does have mass appeal. We all tuned in to "The Decision" several months ago to not only see what the fate of the Cavaliers franchise was, but also the NBA. Lebron has brought emotion back to the NBA fan and casual sports fan. For example, I despise Team South Bitch and Prince James. However, the fact of the matter is whether you like him or not, LeBron matters.
Although many of the stars and superstars may not have the same mass appeal as Lebron, the placement of those stars is important. It's always a good thing when a league's biggest markets have stars and successful teams, and that's no different for the NBA. My Knickerbockers have a little swagger back at MSG with Amare Stoudemire and Raymond Felton in the "Big Apple". Although I'm not much of a fan of his intensity or a lack of winning attitude, D-Rose is putting up MVP like numbers in Chi-Town. Kobe is Kobe in the city of glitz and glamour. Dirk is holding court in "Big D", and "Durantuala" is bringing big time hoops to the Mid-west. The big cities are hoppin' with hoops.
My final point on the second coming of the NBA's "Golden Age" has to do with attendance. Since 2005, the NBA's average league wide attendance has steadily climbed to or hovered right around 17,500. Attendance during the '08-'09 season did fall by 2.0%, but remember, we are in a recession (You can see this years attendance numbers thus far by clicking here). I'm guessing the numbers are going to level off for a bit until we fully recover from the recession. Important to note, the fact that attendance numbers have not tanked since the recession hit back in late '08 is a testament to the resurgence of the product on NBA courts today.
Yes, the NBA is poised for a "Golden Age" out on those hardwood courts. New rivalries are being forged, there are plenty of current and future stars around the league and sports fans are getting excited (at least this fan is) about the product. So enjoy the NBA's new "Golden Age" and of course… "Every Bounce of the Ball".
I've been wanting to pickup a Rubies card from a late 90's SkyBox product for sometime now. They're some of the best looking cards as they incorporate a foiled background that is like a mix between a refractor and hologram. Unfortunately, these cards typically demand hefty price tags. So with a little patience, I was able to snag this #'d 20/30 Thurman Thomas from the '99 SkyBox Rubies set.
I paid just under $10 including shipping for this gem. I'm sure I'm a bit biased as a Bills fan, but this is a rare card of a HOF'er. I thought the price was pretty nice.
The card is numbered only to 30 and features one of my all-time favorites. There've been some very nice auto'd cards of Thomas in the hobby lately (click here), but the higher end cards from his playing days are few and far between. That's why I'm so excited to add this card to my collection.
Stay tuned for another SkyBox Ruby I was able to land from the "Big Country" and… "Enjoy Every Bounce of the Ball".
I'm back from a brief holiday hiatus and have tons of cards, posters, sports books and auto's to blog about over the next couple of weeks. I'll start with an awesome package I got in the mail last week just before the holiday. I guess it was Christmas come early. I lost a friendly bet between myself and Mark over at The Chronicles of Fuji several weeks ago when my second favorite football, the Minnesota Vikings, lost to Mark's Green Bay Packers. Since my team lost, I sent Mark a few cards he wanted (click here). Even though I lost, and badly I might add, Mark sent over a few really cool cards:
Here are some '93 Topps Gold cards of some of my favorite Buffalo Bills players. There's also a very cool Randall Cunningham who was the "Ultimate Weapon" back in the day. I've always liked the Topps Gold cards or really any foiling of any kind.
Before there was Josh Cribbs, there was Joe Cribbs. This 3-time Pro Bowler with the Bills is the uncle of Cleveland Browns player Josh Cribbs. The Marcus Easley card is also pretty cool. It's always fun to get jersey cards. Easley is a bit of an enigma here in Buffalo right now. He was a 3-year walk-on at UCONN before earning a scholarship his senior season. The work ethic will certainly go far here in Buffalo, but he has yet to see any playing time due to a season ending knee injury in late august. However, I have high hopes and am happy to add this card to my collection.
I saved the best for last. This '99 Upper Deck SPx RC Auto of Troy Edwards is one of the best looking cards I've seen in quite awhile. The foil background is almost like a Topps refractor and the auto is nice and big. As many of you know by now, I collect a lot of 90's inserts. The '99 UD SPx RC Auto set is the only football insert set I'm currently trying to put together. This is a nice piece to the puzzle.
Once again, thanks Mark for the cards. It was very nice of you to send me some very cool cards even though I lost the bet. Thanks for reading and… "Enjoy Every Bounce of the Ball".
Christmas truly is a great time of year. After all the hustle and bustle of the shopping malls and excess traffic of course. As a collector and avid eBay shopper, I've had to cut back so I can spend any discretionary income on friends and family. That's actually fine by me. It's awesome sniping out a cool card on eBay or busting open a pack, but it's even better to see the smile on someone else's face as they open a gift. A gift that you have your fingers crossed they like no less. So because of a redirection of hobby funds, I'm going to need Santa to come through for me to get me my card fix.
That brings me to the always popular, "What Do You Want For Christmas?" blog question. It sure would be nice to get a pack or two to open on Christmas from Santa, but all I really want is to spend some time with family. Getting cool stuff is always fun, but without getting too religious, Christmas is about family and faith for me.
So what do you want for Christmas?
P.S. Santa, I'm serious about the cards. I want a pack or two in the stocking. Not even playing around!!!
The UCONN Huskies broke one of the most impressive records in all of sports tonight by defeating Florida State 93-62. The UCLA 88 game win streak is a record that I think most sports fans and historians thought would never be broken. To imagine that a group of people could maintain focus and motivation for that duration of time is incredible.
I watch a lot of sports, but UCONN basketball is different. I've seen a number of the games during the streak and one thing stands out, discipline to perfection. In this imperfect world, perfection is indeed impossible, but the desire for perfection is certainly impressive. Congrats to the UCONN basketball team. "… Enjoy Every Bounce of the Ball".
'93 Topps Stadium Club
Shaquille O'neal Beam Team RC
My Top 25 PC Countdown is getting down to the end with the #2 card on the list: 1993 Tops Stadium Club Shaquille O'neal Beam Team RC. I'm sure the appearance of this card so high on the countdown isn't really much of a surprise to readers. I'm a big fan of the early 90's TSC sets with their great photography and early Shaq cards (Orlando Magic and L.A. Lakers). This is also the 7th appearance of an O'neal card on the countdown. What can I say? I was too young to afford any of these cards back in the day. These are like white whales for me.
This was easily one of the most sought after cards in the hobby during 1993 and for good reason. The "Shaq Attack" was well underway and TSC was hot. In fact, the entire TSC Beam Team set was on fire (click here). I remember seeing this card, along with the Jordan Beam Team, in cases at card shops for around $150-$175. That's a much different story today (click here). I somehow pulled an eBay miracle out with a $35 winning bid (plus $5 for shipping) for the entire 21 card Beam Team set!
As great as all the other cards in my countdown are, no card symbolises the fingerprint smudges and fogged up showcases than this. That's why it takes the #2 spot on my Top 25 PC Countdown.
The Orlando Magic pulled off a series of trades that essentially brought Jason Richardson, Gilbert Arenas, Earl Clark and Hedo Turkoglu to the Magic Kingdom and expelled Vince Carter, Mickael Pietrus, Marcin Gortat and a 1st RD pick. I like what the Magic did yesterday. They attempted to correct the personnel mistakes of the past two years in one frenetic Friday night. I know the loss of key role players Gortat and Pietrus is questionable, but I think what the Magic did will work. The question is, how well will it work?
Is tonight's Knicks Heat game the start of a renewed rivalry? I think the Knicks and Heat are going to play prominent roles in the Eastern Conference over the next few seasons. The Heat for obvious reasons. The Knicks are also interesting. They're on a hot streak this month, but it's the moves they made this past off-season and potential future moves that make them a possible contender in the East for years to come. Especially when you take a quick look at the contracts coming off the books at the end of this season, manly, Eddie Curry. So tonight's game should be interesting and hopefully the start of a heated rivalry. For Jeff Van Gundy's sake, let's hope he manages to stay out of the potential rivalry.
Why am I such a big fan of Brian "The Boz" Bosworth"? He certainly was a dominant football player at the University of Oklahoma during the mid 80's, but that's not why I'm such a fan. It certainly isn't because of his NFL career either. He only played two seasons. I'm a fan of Bosworth mostly because of the crazy mullet he rocked, and because he will forever be linked to Mr. Bo Jackson (click here). There are about 5 or 6 Bosworth cards I'm after and two of those cards feature dual auto's with Bosworth and Jackson. Actually the card in the "click here" link above is in my top 5 most wanted. Surprisingly, there are a few other collectors out there like me who are after some of Boz's cards. That means his cards sell for a lot more than you would think for a guy who barely played two seasons in the NFL.
The poster is pretty well done like many of the sports posters from back in the 80's. All the characters from the Wizard of Oz film are represented, but my favorite part of the entire poster is that the kid's #44 jersey has "Bozkin" on it. Also, the rock on the right side of the poster off the yellow brick road reads, "There's No Place Like Dome". Click here for an insanely priced BIN eBay auction. I've seen these sell for under $20.
- Fun Fact: Bosworth was an Academic All-American at the University of Oklahoma in 1986.
- Fun Fact: Bosworth was a 2x first team All-American for the University of Oklahoma in 1985 and '86.
- Fun Fact: Bosworth is the only collegiate player to win the Dick Butkus Award twice (1985 and '86).
Is this really what the inside of my computer looks like? Is there a little Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway running around on my computer motherboard? If so, he better just make sure he keeps everything tiptop in there. I need my Mac to last a very long time.
This Hardaway card is from the '99 Flair takeit2.net 15 card insert set. Although Beckett does not have the pack insertion rate listed, I do know these are fairly rare. They are serial numbered to 1,000.
The set itself is not overly coveted by collectors despite the impressive list of former stars like Pippen, Hill, O'neal and Jordan. It does have a book value of $150, but many of the cards can be had for well under their book values (click here). Of course, the $50 Jordan usually sells for above that value (click here), and can be the missing piece for many collectors putting this set together. As is the case with many of the 90's insert sets I'm putting together.
I've always liked this set and hope to put it together…whenever I finish a few of the other sets I'm currently collecting (click here).
If Nike could sell millions of pairs of kicks because of the on-court exploits of Michael Jordan, just imagine how many pairs of Nike Air Mag 2015's the sporting apparel company could have sold because of the totally rad hoverboard skills of Marty Mcfly in Back to the Future II.
Like many other movie goers, I'm a huge fan of the Back to the Future film franchise. The movies were fun, imaginative and incorporated some really great 80's design. I also love all things kicks, so the Air Mag 2015's are really a perfect fit for me (cheesy play on words).
The look of the Air Mags are certainly cool, and unique for the time. Actually, if you really look closely at them, it's certainly easy to see similarities of popular Nike kicks that came after these Back to the Future kicks. Did designers at Nike secretly incorporate design elements from the Air Mags as precursors to a potential future release of the iconic costume sneaker?
Nike Air Pump, Nike Air Jordan XI's, Nike Air Hyperdunk
That little theory might just be a little far fetched, but it does seem that Nike has some interest in the Air Mags. If you believe the rumors, and I always do when they suit me, Nike filed a patent for power laces. If you remember, Mcfly didn't even have to lace up his Nikes. They automatically lace themselves when the user slips their foot into the sneaker. Although the idea of automatic laces being placed on an Air Mag designed sneakers from the film is wishful thinking, it's not a far fetched assumption. This assumption is fairly valid since Nike used the Air Mag silhouette and basic design in the patent filings it sent to the World Intellectual Property Organization on November 5th, 2009 (click here!).
When could these futuristic kicks from the past show up on shelves? Since Marty Mcfly wore the Air Mags in 2015, I'm guessing Nike is working on getting these ready for that future date. One things for sure, I better not mess up the space time continuum. I don't want to have to go back to the future to get a pair of these kicks. That would be heavy!
With Christmas a couple weeks away, it's difficult to spend any money on trading cards. Actually, it's time to tighten the proverbial belt. That might spell problems for my blog as I typically post about recent acquisitions, but this will provide me with the opportunity to write posts about cards and items I've had in my collection for sometime now.
With the lack of new cards coming in, I thought I'd start a series dedicated to the many cards in my Michael Jordan collection. I'll also do a Best of… post and continue with the Pennies For Your Thoughts series. So without further ado, here's Part 1 of The Jordan Collection.
First of all, I'm very glad to hear that no one got hurt in the collapse. However, 17 inches. That's it?!?!? Here in parts of Buffalo, we got 42 inches in a storm last week. I actually lived in Minnesota for nearly three years and it's a great place with wonderful people, but 17 inches of snow is nothing. I'm no engineer, but since this is at least the third time the dome roof has collapsed, maybe it's the wrong design for that climate.
On a side note of certainly greater importance, I've got Adrian Peterson going in my fantasy football playoffs this week. That means Ford Field better be good to ALL Day and team Hoopography tomorrow night against the NY Giants.
Do you remember the Actioned Packed football cards? These came out during the early 90's and featured a raised surface with large player images. I know it's tough to make out the almost 3D like surface in the scan, but it's unmistakable in hand.
There are tons of these cards out there, and you can pick one of these up for less than a dollar. I've had this The All-Madden Team Thurman Thomas card in my collection really since I've been collecting. Between the Bills' red, white and blue team colors and the unique surface, this is one cool looking card.
Aside from that raised surface, the card is unique in another way. It's not a bunch of sheets of cardboard laminated together to form one card stock. Instead, it's three panels of one single piece of paper folded together. This makes for a very rigid and relatively thick card for the time. It's also a very durable card. Between the rigidness and the rounded corners, these cards tend to stay in great shape even after nearly 20 years.
I blew the card up so hopefully you can see how the sides are folded. Enjoy the football today and… "Every Bounce of the Ball.
