A Comment On First World Versus Second World

I will say that over the last few days and weeks, there has really been some nasty sentiment towards my fellow 2nd worlders and anyone who doesnt subscribe to a quantity over quality way of thinking. It seems that people have the idea that if you are not set collecting, or collecting the way they do, you arent as real of a collector as they are. I consider the people writing these posts to be my friends, and I know they were not trying to take stabs at any particular person. The problem is, it’s the sentiment that I really dislike, and I really want to take some time and address it for the 8th time on here. Again, I am not calling anyone out specifically, and mostly I am just referencing the posts for the discussion.

Before I go into this, I want people to understand that not every apple is a good apple. Anywhere there is money to be made, there will be people who take advantage of the situation. Those people suck, and I am not in any way condoning what they do. However, that A) doesn’t mean they arent out there, and B) doesn’t mean that some of them don’t really understand that what they are doing sucks.

Now, back when I first mentioned that most collectors were set up into first world and second world (first being the set collecting, retail and low end buying, mostly baseball collectors, and second being the high end buying, high end busting, jersey and auto lovers, mostly from Football and Baksetball), I said that each had their own merits. That is exactly the truth. I dont try to insuate that people arent at my level of collecting because they are first worlders. Yet, post after post from first world bloggers over the last year took that buffer I try to exude and disregarded it. That is crap. There is no hierarchy of collectors, you are not more of a collector because you go after sets rather than autos and jerseys.

Guys, believe it or not, the second world is the place where the hobby is headed or already is. Modern set collectors, though prevalent on the blogs, are not the majority of the people I see at shows, they are not the people I see on the boards, and they are definitely not the people I see at the five or so shops I visit in my area each month. As I have said before, there is nothing wrong with being a first world set collector until you start thinking that you are the right way to do things and all who do it differently are wrong or lesser of a collector.

To have the idea that its wrong to embrace the new world of collecting is really too bad. Yes, it isnt 1994 anymore, and yes things have changed, but that doesnt mean things arent just as good as they once were. Also, to say that collecting revenue is directly related to the invent of high end and super high end is a farce. As I said before, there are a lot of things that contribute to the way of the world, and the rising cost of boxes is not necessarily the only reason things are taking a turn for the worse.

I will be the first one to say that my viewpoints are not widely accepted, and I will not hesitate to agree with people who think that I talk way more game than I have. So dont think I am speaking for anyone but me. I just dont like the way people are looking at things, and I think that this blog is a perfect soapbox for that. Thats all I was hoping to accomplish.

National Treasures: Living the Dream

I get notified each time someone lists something with the words Peterson and 1/1 in the title. Usually that gets me a bunch of triple suck, a ton of lettermen poop, and every once in a while, something worth looking at. This is one of those things. I expect this will go around 800-1000 dollars, maybe more, as the other 1/1s are always put up at insaneulous BINs just to use ebay as the sellers personal photobucket.

This is different, as it is in auction format, and its a fucking great card.

I Totally Forgot - My Apologies

After reading some recent fantasy sports posts, I totally forgot to recognize the winner of SCU's Fantasy Football league that ended a few weeks ago.

It was a close run at it between Team Snyper and Team Stale Gum, and I want to congratulate Abnsnyper for winning after a really well played season. So well played that he traded me Adrian Peterson and still won.

Congrats to him and to Chris too.

Ill definitely be hosting this again next year, hopefully with a keeper aspect to it, but im not sure yet. In the mean time, I havent decided whether I want to do SCU fantasy baseball as Dave and a few others are already doing it.

Either way, thanks to all who participated.

Now That Its Over...

So, I have been obsessing over a number of different things now that the Super Bowl is done. First is keeping up with completed auctions of the SPA RC patch autos, as I am continually surprised by some of the prices. The other thing I have been monitoring is the Hail Redskins Mock Draft Database. On the site they have a compilation of just about every mock draft out there, and it is updated daily until draft day. I love it. Im obsessed.

It seems that the people who actually know about this stuff are mostly predicting that the Lions are going to go with a QB as the first pick, and that the two best QBs may be taken in the first three picks, or at least by San Fran at number 11. I would say that right now, I agree that this will be the case, but not that it should be the case.

If you look back, there are a number of QBs that were taken number 1 just because they had ridiculous skills, and only a HANDFUL worked out. Jury is still out on Russell, but fading fast. The thing is, that despite having ridiculous skills, they dont always transfer to being a good QB in the NFL. Its a completely different situation than every snap they have taken in the NCAA, and its pretty dumb to take a chance at number one with anything less than a guy with those ridicuskills (<---- that was a typo, but so awesome, I had to keep it). You see, there are certain positions that translate very well from the NCAA to the NFL, mainly WRs, RBs and OTs. Those are who I would expect to be a good investment at that pick. Interestingly enough, there are always quite a few OTs in the draft, and the Lions have drafted a WR in the first round every year since their formation as a team. So, lets go over their choices:

1. Matt Stafford - I like Stafford, but he is only at the top of the list because there is no one else. I dont think he is a good investment at number 1.

2. Matt Sanchez - I like Sanchez too, but he is only coming out because Bradford stayed in school. Why waste your pick?

3. Andre Smith - I think this pick is pretty good here. The lions definitely need an OT, and they can pick up one of the other QBs with their later first round pick.

4. Michael Oher - Another OT, and another good shot at a good Tackle. You can never have too many good tackles, and you know Oher will anchor your line for a long time. Plus, I would think its easier to convince a lineman to play in Detroit than a QB with number 1.

5. Michael Crabtree - Just a beast of a WR, should be amazing. With Roy Williams gone, and only CJ left, it may not be a long shot to see the Lions maybe invest in another WR. It wouldnt be stupid. Maybe hope that Percy Harvin is still around when they come back around.

As for Hobby love, Im sure that Crabtree, Stafford and even Knowshon Moreno and Chris Wells will be the stars of the class. I know that the QBs usually make up most of the worth of the year's RCs, and I dont think this year will be any different.

As for my team, I would love to see the Vikings have a shot at Stafford, Sanchez or even Josh Freeman at their pick at 22, but they really need a vet to come in rather than start fresh with an RC, especially when the top 2 QBs will surely be gone. I think they will either go with an OT from the massive list, or a CB like Alphonso Smith or Vontae Davis, maybe even go WR with Percy Harvin or Hakeem Nicks if they are still around. Personally, I am still fucking pissed they didnt pick Brian Brohm last year, because I think he was a great project for them to have in the wings while T Jack blew it again, but I guess Tyrell Johnson is okay now that Sharper is almost surely gone.

I guess ill have to wait and see.

Super Bowl Fallout Reaches That Annoying Level In The Hobby

Thanks to a simple designation of MVP, that I think should have gone to Harrison, Santonio Holmes' cards have taken a VERY significant jump. Personally, I think he had one good drive that ended up with a great catch, but Harrison's rumblin railroad of an interception return at the end of the half turned a tie game into a 10 point lead. That was the game right there, and one of the craziest plays in super bowl history, not to mention the sheer athleticism displayed by a 300 pound defensive player.

Regardless of what I think, Holmes SPAs have jumped close to, if not more than 100 dollars, and the rest of his cards have taken a similar jump. Its funny, because its almost like people dont understand that he really isnt THAT good of a receiver (yet), and that Hines Ward is still the poster boy in Pittsburgh. Next year it will be more of the same, crippling the receiving core of my fantasy teams with game after game of 3 catches for 40 yards, then when I bench him, getting 5 catches for 140 and 2 TDs.

The bandwagon in this industry is a fickle cart of living in the moment idiot buyers and smart collectors who comb their common auto pile for a good piece to capatilize on. Its almost so stupid that its funny.

February Box Busters Club: Team Assignments

The Break will occur on Wednesday night along with the January Break that was delayed due to the SP Authentic Break. Trades can be made, just leave comments on this post to negotiate and finalize the deal.

Trade Deadline = Wednesday at 5 p.m. central time.



Holy Hitter-Cowboys, Vikings
Wheeler- Bills, 49ers
Hupaskin- Falcons, Giants
Gellman- Eagles
Hawaain Lion- Redskins, Seahawks
I Am Joe Collector- Broncos, Patriots
Scubasteve- Buccaneers, Rams, Chargers
psad 21- Browns, Titans
penguin101- Ravens, Chargers, Rams
Groat- Cardinals, Panthers, Saints
HoustonCardCollector- Bears, Cowboys
arfmax- Texans, Lions, Packers
fatcat4262- Vikings, Dolphins, Bears
darkship- Jaguars, Jets
whitesoxcat- Steelers, Chiefs
sonic- Bengals, Raiders
voluntarheel- Packers, Saints, Lions, Panthers
mattlange- Colts

SCU Monthly Football Box Busters Club: January Team Randomization

I bumped this up for everyone involved in the SP Authentic break if they still wanted to try some trades. Trade deadline is Wednesday by 5 p.m. central time.



Holy Hitter-Jaguars, Cowboys
vmonfredo- Seahawks, Broncos
Gellman- Browns
Wheeler- Bears
Hawaiian Lion- Steelers, Redskins
I Am Joe Collector- Rams, Falcons
Cardboard Addiction- Patriots, Chiefs
Psad21- Eagles, Cardinals
penguin101- Jets, Colts, Giants, Texans
groat- Bengals, Texans, Jets
HoustonCardCollector- Vikings
arfmax- Saints, Bills
fatcat4262- Cowboys, 49ers, Jaguars
darkship- Giants, Ravens, Colts
whitesoxcat- Panthers, Chargers, Packers
sonic- Buccaneers, Lions
voluntarheel- Raiders, Packers, Panthers
mattlange- Dolphins
hupaskin- Titans

Today Is The Saddest Day Of The Year

The end of the NFL season is today. So begins 8 months of an absolute football-less barren wasteland. Although today's Super Bowl should be a good time to watch, I am now left with only the draft until September. That sucks.

As for the cards, we still have Ultimate and Exquisite left on the block, but even that is pretty sparse until July when the 2009 products hit their stride. Man, at least my wallet will love me for a while.

I do have Baseball season to look foward to, for sure, but as you all well know, the NFL is my sport.

Today, I have the Steelers pretty much destroying the Cardinals for my prediction, but I have also said that for every one of the Cardinals' playoff games. I really hope that Fitz gets a title, as he is a Minnesotan who I have watched play as far back as his High School days with Holy Angels.

Im going to predict 27-14 Steelers, as their ridiculous Defense only needs to worry about the passing game, and the Cardinals D will have their hands full with Willie Parker, Hines Ward, and a driven Ben Roethlisberger wanting to improve on his awful performance during his first Bowl win.

Monthly Box Buster's Update.....

January Box Buster's- The 4 boxes of SP Authentic are due to arrive on Wednesday. I will be busting them late Wednesday night and so they should be posted very late Wednesday (past midnight central time I am guessing)

February Box Buster's- It is all full. The spots that were opened up because of not being reserved were filled quickly and so I will be doing the random team assignments tonight after the Super Bowl, and post them up on the blog. Should be up by midnight (central time). Trades will be opened up on that post. The trade deadline will be 5 p.m. central time on Wednesday. I will be busting the National Treasures on Wednesday night also and posting the videos right after the SP Authentic.

March Box Buster's- Here is the tentative box break for March (some of this depends on the flux of prices in the next month).

1 Box 2008 SP Authentic, 2 Boxes 2008 Leaf Limited, 2 Boxes 2008 Donruss Gridiron Gear

or

1 Box 2008 SP Authentic, 1 Box 2007 SP Authentic, 1 Box 2006 SP Authentic, and an old school 1 box 1999 SP Authentic

Let me know which interests you the most. I myself and leaning towards the multiple year SP Authentics because it allows for a variation of rookie cards and nice hits. All cards including commons would be mailed in both instances.