OPINION - The Choice Is Yours

In the ever-advancing world of sportscards there have been concepts that have flourished and those that have failed.  There are also others that have yet to be placed in either pile.

Sticker autographs, video cards and even 'The World's Longest Card' have been developed in hopes of creating not just the initial "wow factor", but to create longevity and a unique niche in the market that will catapult a company to new heights.

I came across this concept tonight included in the upcoming Upper Deck Exquisite Football product and am still on the fence about it.  Take a boo and then we'll talk.


My first reaction was "This is pretty cool".  Different and unlike anything I've ever seen before.  But then I thought more about it.

What if my guy was a part of one of these cards?  How would it work for my Trevor Linden collection?  I realized at that moment that as a player collector, I enjoy having the decision of what cards are created made by someone other than me (especially when there are dozens and dozens of potential options available).

If Trev was ever included in one of these products, I think I would just go for 2 or 4 of his autographs and fill the card that way.  I would cringe at thinking "Do I include him with Lemieux or Gretzky?"

I don't want that choice.

So what are your thoughts on this "Create your own card" concept?

Uh-oh! 'The Cup' Runneth Me Over!

It's official!  The start of the 2012/13 collecting season will be unlike any other I have ever encountered.  Once again, I will be heading into uncharted territories.

All of this due to one of the final releases of the 2011/12 season - Upper Deck's 'The Cup'.

This super-high-end product hosts a tremendous amount of punch.  Rookies, patched, low-numbered parallels, printing plates and jersey tag cards.  In previous years, Linden has appeared in a grand total of one card (a dual tag card featuring him and Roberto Luongo....it went for some solid coin).

Upper Deck has decided to put him in this year's offering full force.  Here's the lowdown...

A base card numbered /249
A gold parallel /25
A black parallel 1/1

A jersey card /25
A patch card /10
A tag card (with an auto) 1/1

A dual shield/auto card with Ryan Kesler 1/1

An auto card /50

Another jersey card /25
A jersey/auto parallel /15
A patch parallel /10
A patch/auto parallel /5

An 'Honorable Numbers' dual patch/auto card with Brett Hull /16

A 'Limited Logos' card /50

And to top it off, 4 different autographed printing plates (each a 1/1)

By my count, that's 18 cards in total to add to the wantlist.  I don't even want to think about how much all of this will cost when it hits the open market.

Realistically, I think I could eventually nail down half to two-thirds of the list, but it's going to take some time or some deep pockets - or both.  And deep pockets is something I don't really have.  I can dip the toe in the deep end once in a while, but I've never dove in.  And I don't know if I'm ready to either.

Hoo-boy.  Wish me luck.

RAISE THE CUP - Yzerman Elite Series

Yesterday was the final day of our season where I work. Now it's the 3 1/2 month sprint to the Christmas break. It will go fast I have no doubt. But changing gears and focusing on other things at work is something I enjoy about my work (it happens about every 4 months or so).

Hopefully, this shift in work means that I can spend a little more time organizing, collecting and blogging about hockey cards. The show season starts this weekend and I'm really looking forward to it.

I've heard rumblings that my guy is in Upper Deck's high-end product 'The Cup' this year.....which could mean some nastiness for my wallet.  So far I've only seen a base card, but where there's smoke....there's usually fire.

On to today's post.  This was a card I traded for during last month's traders night.  It represents one of the nicer cards from this project I've seen.

2011/12 Panini Elite

Elite Series

#5 Steve Yzerman

Now that's how you properly crop a Cup raising photo.  The whole Cup is in full view and nothing is cropped out.  Except the background.....which I kind of wish would have been there.  Part of the moment that is captured in these shots is the excitement in the player and part of it is the atmosphere around him.  That's lost in this card.

But with this being the fourth or fifth Yzerman to be included in this project, I can get that vibe from his other helpings.

This is a sharp looking card with lots of foil and gold and silver and reflectiveness.  The scan does not do it justice.

The back of the card indicates that this moment was from Steve's first Cup win in during the 96/97 season.  One for the ages.

Current Collection - 90 cards

LINDEN CARD OF THE WEEK - 10/11 Contenders Draft Tandems Dual Auto

There have been a few "firsts" lately when it comes to my Trevor Linden collection.

Not too long ago, the "first" Montreal Canadiens jersey piece was used on a Linden card (and I know it won't be the last).  This past spring showcased the "first" Captain C patch pieces (front-runner for card(s) of the year).  And this new addition also has a "first"...

2010/11 Panini Playoff Contenders

Draft Tandems

#8 (with Mike Modano) dual auto

While Trev has been paired up on a card with Mike Modano before, this card is the first to include a Modano autograph.

I love the fact that Modano and Linden went 1-2 in the 1988 draft.  It sounds so much more impressive than if it were Daniel Dore (who went 5th overall to Quebec......and proceeded to play in only 17 games, racking up a whopping 5 career points).

Now this isn't the first time that Linden has been paired up with a non-Canuck.  For those of you who are loyal readers, you'll remember this "first".

The only time his signature has been on the same card as those legends. Nice.

"Firsts" are fun.

ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS - Johann Olav Koss

I'm going to drift a little from the hockey cards for this post but I hope you stay with me on this one.  I'd love to get your opinions and thoughts when I'm through.

Tonight I read, for lack of a better term, a rant.  A rant ranging in subjects.  But as I read this rant all I could see was negative, negative, negative.  It left me thinking about it for a while.  I'll admit - it bothered me.

This part I'll be brief with.

Yes we live in a world where some crappy things happen.  Shady this and illegal that.  People who don't claim responsibility or flaunt and abuse the power they've been given.  But I whole-heartedly believe that for every negative "front page story" out there, there are many more positive ones out there.  They just aren't what sell.  It's a shame.

There are some people who have done some pretty amazing things - inspired not just one or two people, but hundreds or thousands.  There are some people who have not just offered some of their time for a cause, but have dedicated their lives to something they believe in.  There are some people who use their position in life (be it as a pro athlete, businessman, trade worker or even healthy human being) to breath positiveness into this world.

They deserve more face time.

And so I am starting a new topic on this blog.  And I'm calling it "One Of The Good Guys".

The goal of these posts is to simply give a person, organization or event that positively influences our world their "15 minutes" on my blog.

Now because my blog is sport related, I will stick to that subject (but there are a bunch of non-sport examples out there.....I promise you).



For my first post, I'm going to focus on a person named Johann Olav Koss.

If you're old enough, you might know the name Johann Olav Koss.  For those who aren't, he dominated the speed skating events in the 1994 Winter Olympics in his native Norway.  It was the final year of his speed skating career and some felt he was on the downslide.  But he put on one of the all-time great performances in Olympic history.  Three gold medals, three world records (two of which remained unbeaten until the advent of the "clap skate").

But his story isn't just about speed skating.  In fact, when all is said and done, he might become better known for something other than skating.

In 1992, Johann was the lead Athlete Ambassador of an organization called Olympic Aid.  An awareness and fundraising program to help war-torn countries.  Koss became so inspired by this program that in addition to donating his time, he donated his olympic gold winnings to the cause and challenged fellow athletes to do the same.  An unprecedented $18 million was raised.

In 2000, Olympic Aid became Right To Play.  Their mission statement:

To improve the lives of children in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world by using the power of sport and play for development, health and peace.

Each year, Right To Play reach close to 835,000 children in more than 20 countries in regular weekly activities.  By the end of 2012 they have a goal of reaching 1,000,000 children on a weekly basis.

Their activities are facilitated by nearly 12.00 volunteer coaches, leaders and teachers.  They encourage leadership at all levels.  Junior leaders (some as young as 8-years-old) have become empowered through participating in Right To Play programs.

I chose Right To Play and Johann Olav Koss because I recently saw a fantastic ESPN documentary on the story of Right To Play.


I highly - HIGHLY recommend it.

Johann Olav Koss - One Of The Good Guys!



Now, if you've lasted this long I thank you.  I want to hear from you.

Your thoughts on the topic in general.  Your thoughts on some of the positive role models or organizations out there that are truly making a difference.  I'm not looking to change people.  I'm looking to give good stories, good people and good organizations their "15 minutes".
Thanks for your time.

TO THE BIKE SPOKES!! - Bruce Driver

There are very few occasions where a hockey card can be both a desirable find and ready for the dumps.  I think I may have found one of those cards.

Photography is all about capturing a split second moment in time.  Photos do something that video can't touch - it makes you stop and smell the roses.

Or in this instance - stop and curse your stick manufacturer.

1994/95 Topps Stadium Club

#35 Bruce Driver

At a time where Easton Aluminum sticks were all the rage, this card featuring Bruce Driver and his broken blade is giving me nightmares about how many dud blades I've crossed paths with.

While I like the look of shock and disappointment in the eyes of Driver and the "nearly pulled tooth" effect of that blade dangling on the stick, I can't help but notice that massive Easton Aluminum logo along the shaft and ultimately terrible photo selection for a hockey card (yes....hockey cards should highlight the positives and benefits the player brings to his team - not broken sticks).

Once again I am left to ponder if this was the premium option for the guys in the edit room.  Surely there's a shot of Bruce where he's chasing down an opponent or ripping a snap shot top corner.....or even just coasting around the ice.

A cool photo.....but a bad hockey card.  For that reason Bruce Driver,

PPPPPFFFFFTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!

TO THE BIKE SPOKES!!

PACK RIPPING - 2012/13 OPC

Well, I'm finally getting around to posting my big purchase from last month's traders night.  And by "big purchase" I mean....

EIGHT WHOPPING PACKS OF O-PEE-CHEE!!!

That's right.  I was a big spender last month.

In all seriousness, this product has been on my radar for a little while now.  For the past few years, OPC has pumped out a nice solid product.  Decent bang for your buck (and an inexpensive buck too), big sets, nice parallels and the occasional big hit.

This year, there's a lot of the same - but some difference.  I think they made some good steps forward while they fumbled the ball (or puck) in a couple spots.

Let's take a look.

2012/13 O-Pee-Chee
(8 packs)

How sad that I can't even remember how much I paid for these packs.  They were under $2 per pack though.  And I bought eight so that makes it.......less than $100 for sure.

Upon checking my Visa bill, it says $28.  I'm sure I bought something else but I don't know what.

Anyways......moving on.

The base cards are a nice design.  They finally got that OPC logo to be not so in-your-face.  See how easy that was.

I really like the retro fonts they used and the overall design is simple, clean and effective.  Say for one glaring addition.

The yellow pastel border they decided to push out around the border.  It looks terrible.  A nice solid white would have saved on ink - and my headache.  Sometimes less is more.

In this instance, less is not more.  Less is less - a lot less.

Talk about another swing-and-a-miss.  Too much blank space.  Toss in a tidbit or a cartoon - anything, but don't leave it blank.

And to further kick dirt in my face, they used a darker brown cardboard making the card backs tougher to read.

Nice design, not so nice execution.

Now when it comes to the base cards, there are often a range of photos used from one card to another.  In some instances it's a headshot (like in Captain-C), other times it's a medium shot.  With this year's OPC, it's the good ol' head-to-toe.

And bland it gets quick.

Here are six goalie cards.  Change the jerseys and masks and they are the exact same.  Nobody's even making a save.

We need better than this.

(a quick note....in the advertisement for this product, they used a great pic of Ovechkin.  It really made me excited for the base cards.  Seeing the selection I pulled it's clear to see that they used their absolute best to plug the product)

In fact, out of all 50 of my base cards, I pulled only one that didn't use a wide shot.

Kipper saves the day.  Now why not give me a few more of those eh?

As has been the trend over the past few releases, OPC included a retro parallel for each base card.

At first, I wasn't really impressed with these, but the are growing on me.  I can appreciate attempt from OPC to give their buyers a unique product.

Now on to the subsets and inserts.

Here's what the Legends look like (both base and retro parallel).  I like the photo selection on the Francis, but am screaming for the green.  Where's my green?

The Gartner is nice too.  Amazing what some simple colors, shapes and letters can do.

The Rookies are nice (but not as nice as the Legends).  A little too busy on the regular card design and a little too simple on the retro.  It took me a few seconds to figure out what I had.

Now, here's a card that I can't quite figure out.

It's a Marquee Rookie......of a Legend.

Don't get me wrong, it's a great looking card.  I've never seen that photo of Pelle before (action shot to boot), but I don't know why he's included in the rookies.

I've heard that there just weren't enough rookies to properly fill that chunk of the checklist so they just filled in the last few slots with these Rookie Legends (I've seen a Lemieux as well).

Odd.  Confusing.  Moving on.

On to the inserts.  Again, a neat little addition to this year's offerings.

Stickers!

I haven't actually tried to stick them to anything.  I wonder if they are like the ones from the 80's that instantly fall off your helmet when it's minus 30 outside?

As it is, I don't know if I'd look very cool with this Subban sticker on my lid to begin with.  It's not really helmet-sticker material.

Nice card though.

I left the shiny stuff to the end.  There's regular shiny, numbered shiny and probably shiny shiny ones.  I got two and neither rock my world.

That means all the good hits are still in the box at the LCS.  Hits like manufactured patches and black & white autos.  You know....stuff I never pull.

Anyways, although I may have sounded like a big complainer during this post, I actually really enjoyed ripping into these packs.  OPC is one of the most fun products of the year for me.

No Linden this time around so not quite as fun, but fun nonetheless.