Voice of the Collector

The NFL has launched a line of licensed collectible busts and is also allowing fans to vote on the next figures produced. At a SRP of $99, they are a bit pricey but the detail looks remarkable. Check out the slide show below and learn more here: NFL Collectible Bust- MVP Collection

Football collectors, particularly of the high-end variety have been anxiously waiting for the overdue release of one of the sports premier brands. Upper Deck Black Football was originally slated for a October release. As we approach the end of November, we still are waiting. However, if the product lives up to the following image previews, it looks like it will have been worth the wait. The product is finally scheduled for release next week the 24th.

Jimmie Johnson is amazing. I'm not the biggest NASCAR fan as my auto racing loyalties reside with the open wheeled variety, i.e. Indy and F1. However, having all but locked up his 4th consecutive NASCAR Cup, he MUST be included in any discussion about great athletes and achievements in our sports lifetime. The pending crowning of #4 is unprecedented in motor-sports. Bengals are legit, period. Season sweeps of Baltimore and Pittsburgh. No one predicted that. No one. Patriots vs Colts. Gutsy, stupid call. So Mr. Hoody basically sent the biggest message of no confidence to his defense last night. As a hater of all things Boston and New York, 2 words- Ha Ha Michell Wie- It took her 65 tries but she finally broke through with her first career LPGA tournament victory. She is only 20. Anybody remember how old Tiger was when he one his first? Yes, 20. However he accomplished the feat in 2/3 less tries. Taco Bell's Black Taco is over-rated. But the advertising campaign worked. Talk about way too many products. Have you been in a comic books store lately? Brett Favre is still amazing. Talk about still having it. Original six rivalries in the NHL have been killed thanks to commissioner Gary Bettman. His quest for league expansion has taken the history right out of the game. Let the new teams develop their own rivalries. Division opponent or not, the Original 6 should each play each other 4x per year. If baseball is the sound track of summer does winter even have one? The Chicago Bears had their best game in weeks yesterday. Modern Warfare 2 lives up to the hype. Winter Olympics- Do you care? Please fire Charlie Wiese. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are brutal and have turned into a bad joke. How does Lebron James planned jersey number change impact his card values? Should Upper Deck get back into golf?

McFarlane recently released complete details and photos of the upcoming release of Cooperstown Series 7 coming in March. Five new figures including Joe "My Ego is as Big As my Mouth" Morgan, Yaz, Tony Gwynn, Thurman Muson and the Great Bambino makes his third round, this one featuring his alleged called shot in the World Series. For more images and the press release, click here.

I don't care what anyone says, 24 is still one of the greatest shows on TV. It is also one of the fews shows on TV that has spawned a whole array of collectibles including comic books, McFarlanes and trading cards of which I proudly own all of them. A trailer for Season 8 was "leaked" today, and I can't wait for the season to start January 17th, 2010. Thanks to Geek Tyrant for the heads up. Check it out and then look at some of the collectibles choices available. McFarlane Action Toys Series 1 and 2 both released in 2007. More info at Spawn. 24 Trading Cards. Season 1 and 2 by Comic ImagesSeason 3 by Comic ImagesSeason 4, 4 Update, Season 5 by Artbox IDW Comic Books 6 Different Books

IGN is reporting that after much speculation and rumor that Hulk Hogan will be joining TNA.

Release Date: Dec 16, 2009 Pack SRP: $4.00 Configuration: 5 cards, 24 packs, 12 boxes PER BOX ITEMS 4 Autograph or Memorabilia Cards PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTSRookie Class featuring autographed letters of the rookies' last names including James Harden, J...ames Johnson, Jordan Hill, Brandon Jennings and Stephen Curry. Triple Threat Prime Materials featuring game-worn prime swatches from such NBA stars as Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady. Century Stars Materials featuring game-worn swatches from the top players of this century. Team Threads featuring card-size replica jerseys highlighted by Paul Pierce and LeBron James. Sell sheet and checklist

Ship Date: Oct 26, 2009Pack SRP: $1.99Configuration: 12 cards per pack, 36 packs per box400 Card Base Set, including 100 rookie cardsPROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: Find randomly inserted “Next Day” authentic autographs of the top NBA rookies. The shots were taken at the NBA Rookie Photo Shoot, printed and signed on-card the next day by each player. Artist Proof which includes 300 players from the 2008-09 campaign and 50 rookies. Headliners highlighted by: Kobe Bryant being named MVP of the 2009 NBA Finals, Derrick Rose winning 2008-09 NBA Rookie of the Year, Nate Robinson winning the 2009 NBA Slam Dunk Contest and LeBron James claiming his first NBA MVP award.

Release Date: January 6th 2010 Configuration: 5 cards per pack, 1 pack per box, 15 boxes per case MSRP: $100 per pack/box Master Set: 435 Total Cards Per Pack/Box: 2 memorabilia or autograph cards, 1 insert, 1 parallel, 1 common Inserts: Team Trademarks, Phenoms, Freshman Jumbo Jersey, Jumbo Jersey, Monikers Autographs, Material Monikers, Decade of Dominance, Limited Trios, Glass Cleaners, Banner Season

As an insert in 2010. Psych!

Ultimate Memorabilia Looks Killer!! Here is the sell sheet with TONS of other images.

There are actually several unique things about this product, well maybe not totally unique, but seldom seen or rarely utilized, like laundry and jersey tags. I like the jumbo relic cards and am thrilled to see non-manufactured but actual game worn jersey letter cards in a product again. What do you think?

I can't remember a year in which so many art themed trading cards were produced across all sports. Today via their Twitter feed, Topps released preview images of National Chicle Football. The artwork looks similar in some respects to Sportkings. What are your thoughts?

Release Date: Oct 07, 2009 Pack SRP: $4.00 Configuration: 8 cards, 24 packs, 12 boxes PER BOX ITEMS: Two autograph cards per box (including one on-card auto) and 2 Memorabilia Cards

If you are around my age, you grew up with Atari, Balley, Colecovision, Intellivision and the early stages of PC gaming and Sega. It is AMAZING how far gaming has come. If you have never seen this video, it's ok to drool. Can you imagine what sports games and first person shooters would be like. You might actually work up a sweat. Controller-less game play? Facial and voice recognition? Two-way streaming HD video and audio? Are you kidding me? I LOVE technology.

Memorabilia collectors need to look no further than 2009-10 SP Game Used Hockey. Offering a wealth of top-notch jersey, patch & gear cards, SPGU has something for everyone. The signed manufactured patch cards are now an annual hit, as are last year's debut, Fight Strap cards! Just Added – Jersey/Patch/Tag Patch/Fight Strap cards – deliver high-end punch & then some. Get 1 memorabilia or signature card in each pack! (on avg.) Marks of a Nation join Letter Marks & Number Marks in the manufactured patch lineup! HUGE HITS – Four memorabilia items in 1 shot: Jersey/Patch/Tag Patch/Fight Strap combos all on 1 card!Find Captain’s & Alternate’s Patch cards/ The “Letters of Distinction” give props to these team leaders. Look for Famous Faceoffs. These two-player fight strap cards lend some punch. Find 1 autograph card & 1 memorabilia card #’d to 100 or less in each box. Grab an average of 2 Rookie Cards per box! (incl. SP’s to 99!) Break Summary Box Break: 6 Memorabilia or Signature cards. At least 1 per pack 1 Autograph card #’d to 100 or less 1 Memorabilia card #’d to 100 or less 2 Rookie Cards 1 Parallel card Case Break: 2 Signed Manufactured Patches Between Letter Marks, Number Marks & Marks of a Nation Key Inserts Marks of a Nation: Marc-Andre Fleury, Martin Brodeur, Vinny Lecavalier, Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby, Ryan Getzlaf, Jarome Iginla, Jeff Carter & more. Famous Faceoffs (Fight Strap Combos): Lecavalier/Iginla, Ovechkin/Malkin, Thornton/Getzlaf, Lucic/Komisarek, Messier/Arnott, Parros/Shelley, Mahovlich/Mikita, Pronger/Chelios, Laraque/Brashear & other tandems!Game Gear (4 Swatch Cards):Phaneuf, Ovechkin, Spezza, Richards, Crosby, Toews, Malkin, Zetterberg, Kovalchuk, Brodeur & more. Configuration: 3 Cards/Pack6 Packs/Box12 Boxes/Case