So I decided today that yes, I am still addicted to breaking boxes/packs. So I googled for any local card stores. I found one in my area and swung by the place. The comic book/card store doubled also as a plant store. I walk in and it is CRAMPED, dirty, and old....much like the one customer in there. The owner seemed nice enough, but yeah, he had three boxes of basketball cards: 97-98 Fleer, 1991 Fleer, and a Skybox (I forget what year). All of them were in not close to mint condition and he was selling em for about $50 a pop. There were no new boxes/packs, and even when I asked if he sold the card protectors (i.e. 9 card binder sheets or plastic cases for my set) he said he didn't have any.
It was then when I almost thought that the dirty old man in the store was going to put a bag over my head and drag me down into the basement where I'd be hogtied with a red ball in my mouth. Yes, it definitely had that feel to it.
Man, I just remember the good ol' days at the local card shop in my neighborhood. Rush to the store after school, gaze at all the packs, pick one out (very carefully) and open it up to see what surprise I'd be in store for. There were also the single cards on display for sale, but man, who the heck ever bought those?
I still remember one day opening up a pack of Fleer Ultra (I forget what year) and finding a Michael Jordan Scoring King inside. Even at that point in time, the card was worth like $125 (on the high end in the Beckett price guide). Man, that was such an incredible hit and subsequent rush of emotions. Too bad years down the road, I stupidly gave the card away to this fat fuck Korean "friend" of mine in Florida who I felt bad for. It's not like he had cancer or anything....he was just an obese mofo who PINED for the card and I just caved in like a house of cards. Man, I STILL think about that card, but wow, writing all that out about the card just now felt really good. Maybe this is why people "blog about it." Frickin blogs, what a crazy world we live in.
Anyway, today was a bittersweet day. No new boxes to break, local card shop full of old pedophiles, but I did bring out my inner demon in talking about that MJ Scoring King card and hey, at least I went into that card shop and got out of there without having to hop out with my hands tied to my back!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Jumbo HTA Box Break
Wow, well that was very anticlimactic. That second box break was not nearly as awesome/fun as the first one. But I guess you always remember your first box....yes, that was a double entendre also known in the DC area as a sex funny. Ok, so I'm just gonna bang out (ok, I'll stop with the sex funnies) what I got in the second box (with comments) and then compare it to the Hobby box that I busted open earlier.
Rookie Photo Shoot Autograph (1:52 Jumbo) - Nick Fazekas
(Much like Fazekas' game, I am completely neutral with pulling this card.)
Copper Parallel (1:9 Jumbo) - 2; Vince Carter and Randy Foye
(Wow, a Vince Carter! Too bad this isn't 2000. And another Randy Foye? I feel like Peter Griffin in the episode where he becomes The Fonz. RANDYYYY!!! How does your own medicine taste, Seth McFarlane?)
Gold Parallel (1:3 Jumbo #ed to 2007) - 4; Ben Gordon, Jeff Green, Anderson Varejao, Tony Parker
(Ok, another BG? Sigh. The Jeff Green is the best of the four I suppose, but when your competition is Carlito and a Spur frenchman, it's like saying you're better than two deaf kids at hearing stuff.)
Own The Game (1:2 Jumbo)
Ok, when you're a Topps employee and you decide to have a subset called "Own The Game" and you selected Jason Kapono, Mikki Moore, and Kyle Korver because they lead the league in 3PT%, FG%, and FT% respectively, you should stand in front of a tank and light yourself on fire.
Generation Now (10:1 Jumbo)
Again, if this is the same guy who decided on "Own The Game," he should be shot underwater for this subset. Generation Now? How about Generation NO or Generation Never? Marcus Williams, Sean May, Hakim Warrick, Andrea Bargnani, Bill Walton's kid....I mean, I really have nothing more to say.
Bill Russell-The Missing Years (1:2 Jumbo) - 6 of em.
I must say, this was a nice touch. These cards look cool, but the Topps employee still needs to be repeatedly stabbed with a dull spoon for "Own The Crap" and "Generation Never" subsets.
Ok, so breaking down the two boxes:
Hobby Box ($30)
36 packs * 9 cards a pack = 324 cards
1 Generation Now Relic
1 1st Edition
3 Gold Parallels
4 Bill Russells
12 Generation Nows
4 Own The Games
3 Checklists
52 Rookie Cards
Complete Set (including Rookies) achieved
Jumbo Box ($40)
10 packs * 46 cards a pack = 460 cards
1 Rookie Photo Shoot Autograph
2 Copper Parallels
4 Gold Parallels
6 Bill Russells
10 Generation Nows
4 Own The Games
4 Checklists
70 Rookie Cards
Complete Set? No clue.
So it looks like Topps definitely bifurcated the type of special inserts that you could get with the Hobby and Jumo boxes. With the "high-end" (meaning, $3) cards, there was no overlap (finding copper and rookie autos in one box, relic card in the other). I can't even determine which box was the better value or taking value aside, which box had the better cards. I don't know what the standard of measure is here, so I'll just say the Hobby box wins out over the Jumbo box because it had less Generation Nos and checklists.
None of my special insert cards were good players (yes, I'm talking to you VC) so I am disappointed in that front. Hey, at least I didn't get a Gold Parallel Checklist card I guess. I mean, I don't know if they make those, but if I did get one.....actually, now that I think about it, that would have been a pretty sweet pull. Better than a Mikki Moore Own The Game, that's for sure.
I'll put the box buying on hiatus for now. I mean, after all, I did spend $80 (with S/H) and all I got was this blog to show for it.
Rookie Photo Shoot Autograph (1:52 Jumbo) - Nick Fazekas
(Much like Fazekas' game, I am completely neutral with pulling this card.)
Copper Parallel (1:9 Jumbo) - 2; Vince Carter and Randy Foye
(Wow, a Vince Carter! Too bad this isn't 2000. And another Randy Foye? I feel like Peter Griffin in the episode where he becomes The Fonz. RANDYYYY!!! How does your own medicine taste, Seth McFarlane?)
Gold Parallel (1:3 Jumbo #ed to 2007) - 4; Ben Gordon, Jeff Green, Anderson Varejao, Tony Parker
(Ok, another BG? Sigh. The Jeff Green is the best of the four I suppose, but when your competition is Carlito and a Spur frenchman, it's like saying you're better than two deaf kids at hearing stuff.)
Own The Game (1:2 Jumbo)
Ok, when you're a Topps employee and you decide to have a subset called "Own The Game" and you selected Jason Kapono, Mikki Moore, and Kyle Korver because they lead the league in 3PT%, FG%, and FT% respectively, you should stand in front of a tank and light yourself on fire.
Generation Now (10:1 Jumbo)
Again, if this is the same guy who decided on "Own The Game," he should be shot underwater for this subset. Generation Now? How about Generation NO or Generation Never? Marcus Williams, Sean May, Hakim Warrick, Andrea Bargnani, Bill Walton's kid....I mean, I really have nothing more to say.
Bill Russell-The Missing Years (1:2 Jumbo) - 6 of em.
I must say, this was a nice touch. These cards look cool, but the Topps employee still needs to be repeatedly stabbed with a dull spoon for "Own The Crap" and "Generation Never" subsets.
Ok, so breaking down the two boxes:
Hobby Box ($30)
36 packs * 9 cards a pack = 324 cards
1 Generation Now Relic
1 1st Edition
3 Gold Parallels
4 Bill Russells
12 Generation Nows
4 Own The Games
3 Checklists
52 Rookie Cards
Complete Set (including Rookies) achieved
Jumbo Box ($40)
10 packs * 46 cards a pack = 460 cards
1 Rookie Photo Shoot Autograph
2 Copper Parallels
4 Gold Parallels
6 Bill Russells
10 Generation Nows
4 Own The Games
4 Checklists
70 Rookie Cards
Complete Set? No clue.
So it looks like Topps definitely bifurcated the type of special inserts that you could get with the Hobby and Jumo boxes. With the "high-end" (meaning, $3) cards, there was no overlap (finding copper and rookie autos in one box, relic card in the other). I can't even determine which box was the better value or taking value aside, which box had the better cards. I don't know what the standard of measure is here, so I'll just say the Hobby box wins out over the Jumbo box because it had less Generation Nos and checklists.
None of my special insert cards were good players (yes, I'm talking to you VC) so I am disappointed in that front. Hey, at least I didn't get a Gold Parallel Checklist card I guess. I mean, I don't know if they make those, but if I did get one.....actually, now that I think about it, that would have been a pretty sweet pull. Better than a Mikki Moore Own The Game, that's for sure.
I'll put the box buying on hiatus for now. I mean, after all, I did spend $80 (with S/H) and all I got was this blog to show for it.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Results
Wow....I haven't felt that much satisfaction since well....ok, let's not go there. That definitely was a trip down memory lane though. Halfway through opening all the packs in the box, I did feel a sense of guilt or remorse, because I was like, whoa I opened up a whole box of cards once in my life when I was like 14 and I remember the feeling of guilt I had then too. Kinda like I should store the unopened packs away for a rainy day or what not, but man, I just couldn't help myself. I had to open the whole box up, just to see if I got a good box overall. I will say that if I was a big Bulls fan (like I was when Jordan was manning that ship), then I would have been really happy with this box. Ok, so since this was my first box, I'm just going to list down the special cards and the odds of getting them for my own edification.
Generation Now Relic (1:71 Hobby) - Ben Gordon (what is a relic card? Is this a jersey patch?)
1st Edition (1:33 Hobby) - Ben Wallace (the photo looks like two autistic kids playing hoops)
Gold Bordered Parallel (1:12 Hobby) - 3 of them (Randy Foye, AK-47, Kyle Korver)
Bill Russell Missing Years (1:9 Hobby) - 4 (about the number to expect, btw, BR is a badass)
Own The Game (1:11 Hobby) - I forget. Despite having good players, these cards look crummy.
Generation Now (1:3 Hobby) - who cares? These cards look like trash and have terrible players representing the set. Luke Walton should not be part of any basketball "special subset" EVER unless the subset is called "Daddy's Kids."
Rookie Cards: Oh, and of course, a bunch of rookie cards. 2 Odens, 2 Durants, and many of the other ones. Caveat, I am a HUGE Gator fan, so it was great to see my Gators in the rookie class set: Crazy Eyes Joakim Noah, Big Gay Al Horford, and Corey Master Brewer.
Unfortunately, no Platinum Parallels (1;16,974 Hobby), Rip cards (1:313), Rookie Photo Shoot Autographs (1:381), or any other autograph card by that matter. Oh well, no worries. I do have my JUMBO HTA box to look forward too (resisting temptation not to open that one).
All in all, a very satisfying experience mixed with a little tinge of guilt, but an oh so satisfying guilty indulgence. I felt like Peggy Bundy eating bon bons. I feel like I'm gonna sleep well tonight.
Generation Now Relic (1:71 Hobby) - Ben Gordon (what is a relic card? Is this a jersey patch?)
1st Edition (1:33 Hobby) - Ben Wallace (the photo looks like two autistic kids playing hoops)
Gold Bordered Parallel (1:12 Hobby) - 3 of them (Randy Foye, AK-47, Kyle Korver)
Bill Russell Missing Years (1:9 Hobby) - 4 (about the number to expect, btw, BR is a badass)
Own The Game (1:11 Hobby) - I forget. Despite having good players, these cards look crummy.
Generation Now (1:3 Hobby) - who cares? These cards look like trash and have terrible players representing the set. Luke Walton should not be part of any basketball "special subset" EVER unless the subset is called "Daddy's Kids."
Rookie Cards: Oh, and of course, a bunch of rookie cards. 2 Odens, 2 Durants, and many of the other ones. Caveat, I am a HUGE Gator fan, so it was great to see my Gators in the rookie class set: Crazy Eyes Joakim Noah, Big Gay Al Horford, and Corey Master Brewer.
Unfortunately, no Platinum Parallels (1;16,974 Hobby), Rip cards (1:313), Rookie Photo Shoot Autographs (1:381), or any other autograph card by that matter. Oh well, no worries. I do have my JUMBO HTA box to look forward too (resisting temptation not to open that one).
All in all, a very satisfying experience mixed with a little tinge of guilt, but an oh so satisfying guilty indulgence. I felt like Peggy Bundy eating bon bons. I feel like I'm gonna sleep well tonight.
First Pack
Okay, I'm not going to do this for every single pack. But I wanted to just say for my first pack, I got a Gold parallel of Randy Foye (#ed to 2007, I wonder why) and a Thaddeus Young rookie card. Plus a nice throwback card of Gilbert Arenas and a new school card of Bill Russell (go figure). The Randy Foye probably goes for a quarter.
I don't want to sound like such a card neophyte, old fart, whatever, but honestly, I never thought that there would be a day when I'd pull a Bill Russell card from a basketball pack. I mean, I just never did. So for that to be the first card that I see in the front of the first pack I open in 12 years, is well, just....special, in a way, though it is probably worth ten cents.
I don't want to sound like such a card neophyte, old fart, whatever, but honestly, I never thought that there would be a day when I'd pull a Bill Russell card from a basketball pack. I mean, I just never did. So for that to be the first card that I see in the front of the first pack I open in 12 years, is well, just....special, in a way, though it is probably worth ten cents.
Finally!!!
So the boxes have arrived, and it's sooner than I had expected by about a couple of days. Definitely not a complaint. So yeah, I'm about to rip open my first pack in mmm, I would say about 10-12 years. It's been THAT long. I feel both giddy and of course, nostalgic. Just looking at the box kinda also makes me feel like yes, I'm an adult now. Because honestly, who bought BOXES when they were kids? I mean, you went to the store, bought a pack (carefully selecting it of course....mine would always be the second to the bottom in the lower right hand side of the box) and slowly opened it. Maybe if you were lucky and had the money, you bought a second, but that's it....until the next time you went to the store.
Ok, I'm done "blogging to myself." I'm busting open my first pack/box.
Ok, I'm done "blogging to myself." I'm busting open my first pack/box.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Sobered Up
So I wake up and check my email and there's an order confirmation in my e-mail saying that I've purchased ten boxes of Upper Deck SPx......just kidding. In my drunken state, I managed to (successfully) purchase two boxes of Topps 07-08, the regular kind. I remember looking at the prices of boxes and cases days prior to getting my "card on."
So why become the prodigal son to the basketball trading card world? Why return to the (up to) $25 to $100 a pack world full of parallel inserts, holograms (I'm so dated), and autographixes (one in every box!)? Well, I'm a big fan of Henry Abbott's TrueHoops, which I truly believe EVERY die-hard basketball junkie should be reading on a daily basis. That man's got some great insights as well as some good links.
One day, I stumbled upon this link from TrueHoop's:
http://www.emptythebench.com/2008/08/07/nba-card-collecting-madness-reengulfs-etb/
and well, if you care to read it, you'd know where I'm coming from now.
Actually, wait a minute.....no one's gonna be reading this shit, why am I using the second person? Look, I'm writing this shit for myself. I read a blog that linked to another blog, then I clicked on the link, read that blog, got nostalgic, went to a couple of online merchant's websites that sold basketball cards, thought about purchasing some cards, decided it was silly to think that, got drunk, decided it was a GREAT idea to buy shit online while drunk, and now I await two boxes of Topps 07-08.
I guess that's how life goes sometimes.
My upcoming posts (this is just to remind myself) will discuss
1. the breaking of the two boxes
2. my past history with cards
3. my ramblings on the NBA
4. how awesome I am to finally have my own blog
5. how pathetic I am to be basically typing to myself as if I were a thirteen year old girl writing in her diary
Time to go grab a beer.
So why become the prodigal son to the basketball trading card world? Why return to the (up to) $25 to $100 a pack world full of parallel inserts, holograms (I'm so dated), and autographixes (one in every box!)? Well, I'm a big fan of Henry Abbott's TrueHoops, which I truly believe EVERY die-hard basketball junkie should be reading on a daily basis. That man's got some great insights as well as some good links.
One day, I stumbled upon this link from TrueHoop's:
http://www.emptythebench.com/2008/08/07/nba-card-collecting-madness-reengulfs-etb/
and well, if you care to read it, you'd know where I'm coming from now.
Actually, wait a minute.....no one's gonna be reading this shit, why am I using the second person? Look, I'm writing this shit for myself. I read a blog that linked to another blog, then I clicked on the link, read that blog, got nostalgic, went to a couple of online merchant's websites that sold basketball cards, thought about purchasing some cards, decided it was silly to think that, got drunk, decided it was a GREAT idea to buy shit online while drunk, and now I await two boxes of Topps 07-08.
I guess that's how life goes sometimes.
My upcoming posts (this is just to remind myself) will discuss
1. the breaking of the two boxes
2. my past history with cards
3. my ramblings on the NBA
4. how awesome I am to finally have my own blog
5. how pathetic I am to be basically typing to myself as if I were a thirteen year old girl writing in her diary
Time to go grab a beer.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Drunk Purchases
Like every important decision in my life, I've decided to get really drunk and take a spin on the ride of nostalgia. Used to be a huge bball card collector (more on that in another post....too drunk now). Now, trying to get back to my roots: bball cards. Wait, I already said that, but it's too late to delete now.
So yeah, I'll just be blogging to myself about what kind of cards I pull from boxes that I buy online when I'm blasted. Here's hoping that I don't open the packs while drunk and end up damaging really sweet cards.
Tonight, I'm gonna buy me a Topps 07-08 box. I love me some Gator rookies. GOOOOOOOO GATORS. I think I just hiccuped. Ugh. Okay, more later.
So yeah, I'll just be blogging to myself about what kind of cards I pull from boxes that I buy online when I'm blasted. Here's hoping that I don't open the packs while drunk and end up damaging really sweet cards.
Tonight, I'm gonna buy me a Topps 07-08 box. I love me some Gator rookies. GOOOOOOOO GATORS. I think I just hiccuped. Ugh. Okay, more later.
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