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Upper Deck Awards: Reviewing the Winners
Posted by: | CommentsEver since the advent of Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, social media has become a focus of the hobby in many different forms. Upper Deck has been at the forefront of this revolutionary way of encouraging collector-to-collector interactions, being the first manufacturer to employ a company Facebook page, Twitter account, and video box breaking channel. Through these mediums, they have succeeded in providing a behind-the-scenes look at what makes the gears turn in the company (even providing unprecedented access to the way the cards make it from the presses to the shelves).
In that same vein, they have continued to be the leader of the social media pack by offering awards for excellence in three categories based on the votes of collectors. First, Upper Deck is recognizing the sports card blogs that have emerged as a primary source of hobby commentary and information. Through these sites, collectors have found their own voice, and used that soapbox to tell the world about the hobby they love. Secondly, the award for Best Community celebrates the message boards and hobby based community forums that bring collectors together in a way that was not possible before the internet. Lastly, with the growing popularity of YouTube, Upper Deck has chosen to congratulate the collectors who have used their video cameras to show their fans exactly what they can pull out of a box bought by an average joe.
Each category has a winner and four honorable mentions based on the votes counted in the Upper Deck poll that ran during March 29th to April 5th. Each of the recognized sites will receive a special trophy, Upper Deck product, and other prizes specific to the categories. The winner of the Best Blog, in addition to the prizes listed above, will win a Football autographed by the attendees of the 2009 NFL Rookie Premiere, including Mark Sanchez, Matt Stafford, Percy Harvin, and others. The winner of the Best Community award will win the same autographed football, as well as an autographed LeBron James UDA Authenticated basketball to give away on their site. The Best Box Breaker will have all of their videos featured on Upper Deck Diamond Vision, as well as product throughout the year for them to break and review.
In reality, this contest was more about celebrating the impact social media has brought to the hobby than declaring which site was the best. Each of the sites that were entered deserved all the recognition they have and will receive, and every single one of them is responsible for doing a wonderful job promoting the hobby to collectors on the internet around the world. For each category, I will break down the nominees and talk a little bit about what they bring to the media landscape with their contributions.
Best Blog
Blogging about cards has exploded over the last few years, with the community growing to over 200 active sites that write about what the hobby means to them. Whether its chronicling exploits with vintage cards, an album about collecting a specific team or player, or just providing daily commentary, blogging has surfaced as one of the better ways to share information to others looking to learn and read about cards.
Opening Day Cards (http://www.openingdaycards.com)
Opening Day Cards was the top vote getter among blogs, and it is probably due to their unique way of blogging about the hobby. Chris and Joe, the guys who write the site, use video, free giveaways, and wax breaking to grow their fan base, promote the hobby, and comment on their favorite stuff. They are rabid Brewers and Red Sox fans (as evidenced by their videos and pictures), so be sure to stop by and see what they are all about.
Field Level View (www.fieldlevelview.com)
Jason Ballew has been blogging for a long time about Houston and its sports teams, but recently changed the focus of his blog to help collectors get information about the hobby that they love. His site features daily updates of upcoming products, commentary on hobby news and reviews of new releases. He has gained a pretty big following based on that structure, as many collectors strive to know as much as they can about what is going on around the hobby.
Canada Card World (http://canadacardworld.blogspot.com/)
As the name suggests, Canada Card World is run by a small group of collectors from north of the border, and covers a wide range of sports and card news. Hockey blogs are a select group, and CCW is a great example of a site to visit when looking for Hockey card news. They also are one of the only blogs to offer a place to purchase cards, thus explaining their goal of becoming the biggest sports and non-sports retailer in Canada!
A Cardboard Problem (www.cardboardproblem.com)
Sooz and Marie are a rarity around the card blogs, as they are women who do an amazing job running one of the most popular card blogs on the net. They often detail their trips to Target and other retail stores in search of Derek Jeter and Albert Pujols cards, as well as contributing to the Upper Deck Blog and other sites. They also offer sage wisdom on hobby happenings and baseball releases, and are some of the friendliest people I have had the pleasure of interacting with.
Wax Heaven (www.waxheaven.com)
Mario Alejandro has recently cut back on his activity pertaining to the site, but Wax Heaven is still going strong with a number of loyal collectors taking up the banner. In its hey day, Wax Heaven was undoubtedly the most popular card blog on the net, being the first hobby site of its kind to reach 1,000,000 visitors. Mario is also one of the original people to write about cards in a blog form, and is still a respected member of the community.
Best Card Community
When it comes to message boards and forums, communicating with other collectors has never been so easy. If you are looking to trade, talk, or learn, card communities offer all of that and more. With thousands of members and a wide range of collectors who are well versed in every aspect of the hobby, they have become a great place to grow your collection and find out news from all over the world.
Freedom Card Board (www.freedomcardboard.com)
FCB (as it’s known to its members) generated the most votes to take home the top spot, and its members are ecstatic. Created for collectors, by collectors, its creators were looking to create a place where collectors could gather and talk about anything and everything related to the hobby. It has a large active and dedicated member base, and has become known for its up to the minute news and friendly atmosphere. FCB is widely regarded as a forum of knowledgeable people who act with respect, and it shows with the great discussions and commentary posted by its base of people.
Sports Card Forum (www.sportscardforum.com)
Sports Card Forum has become one of the bigger forums on the net, and has something for everyone young or old. It has dedicated areas for all four sports, as well as non-sports and others. SCF is known for its wide base of people ready to trade and sell, so if there is a specific card you need, odds are that someone on the site will be ready to deal. There is also a great contingent of people on the community who are ready to help with any question about the hobby, and their large staff does a great job keeping the site free of problems. When it comes to a great place to discuss what you love, SCF is a wonderful place to check out.
Cardboard Connection (www.cardboardconnection.com)
Cardboard Connection is unlike any other site on the internet. It was started as the hobby’s answer to MySpace and Facebook, and has blossomed into a one stop shop for hobby info and communication. You can visit member pages just like Facebook, as well as perusing the full hobby forum and commentary blog section. It’s a great place to meet other collectors, and is a must join to show off your favorite cards and memorabilia. The members are nice, and the community is top notch, so be sure to check it out for a unique experience.
Clouts n’ Chara (http://www.cloutsnchara.com)
Named for the creators’ two favorite hockey players, Clouts n’ Chara has become one of the largest Hockey centered forums on the net. They also offer forums on the other four sports, but hockey is by far the most popular. It’s a great place to get info on cards collected around the world, including frequently updated news info and a partnered eBay store. The members have become a close knit group and are very welcoming of new members and collectors.
Hobby Insider (www.hobbyinsider.com)
Hobby Insider prides itself on being more than just a trading site, and that it is. Based off of the popular collecting magazine, the forums offer a place where collectors can go to read about behind the scenes info and hobby commentary. Although the forums are not as populous as some of the other sites available, it has become known for offering great information for every collector looking to learn about more than just the cards.
Best Video Box Breaker
When box breaking was done on video for the first time a few years ago, it was like being right there when someone opened a box at the shop. Since then, thousands of people have taken to video taping their breaks, and YouTube has become the hub where collectors can go for no-nonsense views on the content of a particular product. Upper Deck created Diamond Vision as an official site where people can go to view these breaks, and the people discussed below will definitely be some of the top contributors in the future.
Box Rippers (http://www.youtube.com/user/blackmagik44)
Box Rippers have made a name for themselves by ripping all sorts of products from all sorts of genres. Group breaks, high end, everything has a spot on their channel, and they have shown no signs of slowing down. Be sure to check out their YouTube site to see just how much they love breaking boxes.
The Hobby Box (http://www.youtube.com/user/chri5784)
Chris from The Hobby Box is the most widely subscribed to box breaker on YouTube, with over 8,000 subscriptions (and is known for busting a little of everything from his shop in North Carolina). In fact, he has become so popular that his regular customers have almost become characters themselves on YouTube. If you are looking for information on any product released in the last five years, check out one of his 1,000+ video breaks to get a peak.
ThetTruth17 (http://www.youtube.com/user/thetTruth17)
Truth has gained popularity for displaying his massive collection of great cards, as well as showing his mail days for collectors to see that collection grow. He does box breaks too, and his fans come to see what he will show them next. He isn’t afraid to tell it like it is, and it hasn’t stopped him from doing what he loves best.
Clouts n’ Chara (http://www.youtube.com/user/cloutsnchara)
Nominated for their forums and their video box breaks, this channel is dedicated to showing off box breaks and contests related to the site. Again, focused on hockey cards as well as the other sports, these breakers are some of the best to check out for all the hockey releases of the year.
SBLEZ AKA SCOTT (http://www.youtube.com/user/sblez)
Scott, like ThetTruth17, is a guy who likes to show people exactly how he grows his collection through mail days and box breaks. He is a self described junkie for watching box breaks on YouTube, and has tons of videos himself for his fans to watch.
Congratulations to all the nominees, and make sure to check out their sites and forums to get a better idea of what they can offer for the hobby. These sites are all amazing in their own way, and should be places that any collector, new or old, would check for great information and news.
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit http://www.sportscardsuncensored.com(warning: strong language!).
Popularity: 7% [?]
2010 NFL Draft Preview: Jimmy Clausen
Posted by: | CommentsPlayer: Jimmy Clausen
Position: Quarterback
College: Notre Dame
Projected Draft Position: Top 15
Quarterbacks are always the focus of the draft, regardless of whether or not top talent is present. This year, there is an influx of QB talent; like many years previous, there are a lot of teams near the top of the first round that want them. Sam Bradford has largely been considered the top QB prospect ever since a dramatic improvement to his body structure, but previously it was all Jimmy Clausen, all the time.
Clausen was widely regarded as the best NFL ready QB at mid-season during 2009, with Jake Locker, Colt McCoy and Bradford all in the mix as well. Because he played in a pro-style offense, had vast improvement from his sophomore season to his junior, and had the body to do it, scouts were all over him. Once Locker decided to go back for his senior year and both Bradford and McCoy went down with injuries, Clausen stood alone at the top. After reviewing his stats for 2009, it’s quite easy to see why he is favored to go at the top of the first round, passing with a near 70% completion rate, 28 touchdowns and a miniscule 4 interceptions.
Of the teams drafting in the top ten, there are many likely landing spots for Clausen (though defensive and offensive line talent may prevent teams from taking a chance on a QB with other hugely talented prospects available). Seattle has a shot at taking him to play behind an aging Matt Hasselbeck who has struggled as of late. Despite their need, Seattle needs RB help more than anything, which could put the Bills on the clock with Clausen on the board at ninth. Buffalo may have Trent Edwards, but Edwards isn’t the kind of player you build your team around. Therefore, adding a player like Clausen could solve a lot of problems. Lastly, there is no way Clausen falls past Minnesota at 30, as Brett Favre is only one year away from retirement in a best case scenario. In all likelihood, I count ten picks out of 32 where Clausen can fit, and one team (Seattle) has two shots at him if necessary. Even Arizona at 26 has a need with Warner on the way out.
Because Clausen is a top prospect and a QB, collectors will have no problem chasing him throughout the card year. QB’s naturally command higher value, and he will not be an exception to this rule. Factoring in that he attended Notre Dame adds another level to his collectability thanks to the number of fans the school has. He will also have the possibility of dropping further into the first round and allowing for a better team to select him, thus adding more potential to a typically rough development in the league. If he is drafted by a team like Arizona or Minnesota, expect a situation similar to Joe Flacco, who has shown amazing superstar potential due to being on a great team.
Upper Deck will make players like Jimmy Clausen a focus in the beginning of 2010, along with many of the other elite prospects for upcoming releases. 2010 Sweet Spot Football will be back with a new style and a new face, but will still feature elements collectors have loved for years. It will feature players like Clausen, Sam Bradford, Ndamukong Suh, Colt McCoy and others, all on hard signed custom helmet cards. Sweet Spot will also debut players like Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees in his Purdue garb, and Hall of Famer Dan Marino in his Pittsburgh uniform for all the collectors out there who follow their favorite schools.
Check back here at UpperDeckBlog.com for more draft profiles leading up to the 2010 NFL Draft on April 22!
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit www.sportscardsuncensored.com (warning: strong language!).
Popularity: 4% [?]
Overtime Rules Change For NFL Playoffs
Posted by: | CommentsI remember watching the NFL championship game at the end of last season, and being less than thrilled that the high powered offense of the Vikings never made it onto the field during overtime. After Favre threw the pick to end regulation, the Saints took the overtime kickoff and marched deep into Vikings territory to kick a field goal and end the game. One of the best offenses in the league didn’t even get a shot to secure themselves a trip to Miami, and a lot of fans were angry. Since the game highlighted a trend in overtime wins for teams that only manage a field goal, the NFL competition committee set out to change the rules for the upcoming year’s playoffs.
On Tuesday, the NFL announced that the new rules had been adopted, and I took it as a potential game-changer come playoff time. Basically, if a playoff game ends in a tie, the coin toss will happen as usual. If the receiving team scores a touchdown in any way, the game is over – sudden death style. If the receiving team only kicks a field goal, the other team will have a shot to get on the field and score. The rules are only in effect for the playoffs, and regular season games are still subject to similar rules.
Despite the fact that the Vikings could have benefitted from this rule, they were actually one of four teams to vote against the measure. As a reason for voting against the change, the teams cited equality of wins from teams who took the kickoff to start the extra frame. What many failed to see was that for all games, the 50/50 split of winners is correct, but not since the kickoffs were moved back. Since teams began kicking from the 30, more than 55% of winning teams took the overtime kickoff. This also may be a result of more accurate kickers and better players on offense, but the fact still remains that the overtime rules favored the team who gets the ball. Thanks to the new rule change, there is a failsafe.
Is it a sure thing that the Vikings would have gotten to Miami had the rules been different? Not at all, but they would have at least had a chance. I think the new rules should support more balanced ends to the games that count, although I believe they should have taken it much further. With such a short season, I think it should have been adopted league wide to prevent cheaper wins than the new rules allow. I also think they should eventually move closer to the way college football does it, to promote equal chances that are not based on a random flip of a coin.
Overall, rule changes are always polarizing, especially in some sports. This particular rule should not affect many games, but when it does, I have a feeling the fans will get exactly what they want.
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit www.sportscardsuncensored.com (warning: strong language!).
Popularity: 3% [?]
2010 NFL Draft Preview: CJ Spiller
Posted by: | CommentsPlayer: CJ Spiller
Position: Running Back
College: Clemson
Projected Draft Position: Top 15
Although good running backs are typically plentiful at every level of the draft, one or two take the spotlight every year. This year, there isn’t a great crop of prospects, but there are a few players that do look to be elite players coming out of college. At the top of the list is Clemson’s CJ Spiller, who has rumbled his way to the top of the running back class thanks to a great 2009 season with the Tigers. Spiller has the size and speed to be a great pickup in the middle of the first round, maybe even going as high as the top ten.
After his 2009 campaign was over, Spiller won a slew of awards and honors to solidify his place in the upcoming draft. Despite only finishing sixth in the Heisman voting, Spiller won ACC Player of the Year, and was voted as an All-American. He continued his good performances at the combine this past February, posting an above average 40-yard dash time (and his 18 reps on the press were very good as well).
As of right now, there are a few teams experts see Spiller going to, with Seattle being the most likely landing zone for him. Seattle has little to nothing in their backfield as we speak, and adding a player like Spiller would definitely improve an offense that struggled throughout 2009. Cleveland is also a team that needs help in their backfield, even though Harrison had a few great games last year. After trading Quinn for Peyton Hillis, Spiller will have better blocking and a possibility to shine behind newly acquired Jake Delhomme. If he falls out of the top fifteen, expect Houston to take a chance on him, as Steve Slaton has been shown to have a few problems over the last season. I would say that there are too many teams to pass up a talent like Spiller before Houston at 20, but the draft is ripe with great defensive talent that could steal most of the first round picks.
Basically, when you are at the top of the running back class, it may actually be better to drop as low in the first round as possible. Players drafted to better teams usually get the benefit of better offensive lines, and better quarterbacks to draw the attention away (much like Beanie Wells or Knowshon Moreno in 2009).
Regardless of where Spiller ends up, collectors will jump all over him. Ever since Adrian Peterson exploded in 2007, the rookie lovers of the NFL collecting contingency scoop up every card they can find of just about all the running backs in the draft class. The reason? Backs are usually the most focused upon rookies at the earliest moments, sometimes starting from day one. They also have a less complicated position to master, unlike quarterbacks and receivers. Spiller is a great and widely known player, so his values should be near the top of the initial prices.
Upper Deck will make players like Sam Bradford a focus in the beginning of 2010, along with many of the other elite prospects for upcoming releases. 2010 Sweet Spot Football will be back with a new style and a new face, but will still feature elements collectors have loved for years. It will feature players like Bradford, Ndamukong Suh, Colt McCoy and others, on hard signed custom helmet cards. Sweet Spot will also debut players like Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees in his Purdue garb, and Hall of Famer Dan Marino in his Pittsburgh uniform for all the collectors out there who follow their favorite schools.
Check back here at UpperDeckBlog.com for more draft profiles leading up to the 2010 NFL Draft on April 22!
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit www.sportscardsuncensored.com (warning: strong language!).
Popularity: 4% [?]
Oscars Remind Collectors About Michael Oher Cards
Posted by: | CommentsMichael Oher’s story The Blind Side has become a national sensation, raking in millions at the box office and making the Tuohy family into celebrities. This whirlwind of coverage culminated last night with a Best Picture nomination and a Best Actress win for Sandra Bullock, the actress who played Leigh Anne Tuohy in the film. Having such amazing success in the theatre didn’t just resonate with Oscar voters, as collectors have recognized Oher as a 2009 hobby all-star as well. Even after The Blind Side moves into Hollywood’s back log of great movies, Oher’s career will continue to be a testament to overcoming a difficult life.
I saw The Blind Side when it was first released around Thanksgiving of last year, and even wrote a post for this blog detailing my observations of the film. I could not help but feel great about its message, and even said to my wife that it was an Oscar contender at the time. My predictions came true, and Bullock won her first Academy Award playing a person that brought hope to many people over the last few months. The three subjects of the film were present at the Oscar ceremony Sunday night, and for many of us, it was the first time we got a look at the person that Bullock had so wonderfully represented.
For those of us who watched the draft before the 2009 season, Oher was a prominently featured prospect during the entire telecast. Though he was the last person present in the green room at the end of the first round, he didn’t look a bit disappointed. At the time, we only had what ESPN was commenting on, but now, thanks to the recent success of the movie, we know why he was just happy to be there.
Don’t get me wrong, Oher deserves all the credit he gets from what the movie displayed about his background. He is a great player, and anchored the offensive line of the Ravens during a season where injuries forced him into the starting lineup at left tackle. Though he had played right tackle for a good portion of the games before, he fit right into his role that was chronicled in the movie. He eventually moved back to the right when Jared Gaither returned from his injury, and played every game during the 2009 season and playoffs. After the 2009 campaign was done, he was named to the NFL All Rookie Team, and is primed for a sizable contribution to the Raven’s 2010 Super Bowl hopes.
Oher’s cards initially responded very well to the release of the movie, earning him some of the top values ever for a non-skill position player. As of the release of SP Authentic, his cards have not dropped at all. His SP Authentic rookie auto redemption consistently sells higher than some of the players more prominently featured on their team’s offense, including some that were in the running for Rookie of the Year.
In addition, his Ultimate collection rookie card (one that doesn’t feature an auto) is still among the top selling non-autographed cards of the set, which shouldn’t be surprising. It is one of the first ones to feature a game photo of him in his Ravens garb, and it is one of my favorites out of all of his rookie cards.
Oher was also featured on some dual autos in SP Signature Edition, which many collectors jumped on as soon as they had the chance. The cards pair him with Ole Miss alum and other offensive line prospects, and are some of the more valuable cards in the set.
Now, I have been in the hobby for a long time, and I have never seen anything like what Oher brings to the hobby. It’s very rare that a movie subject brings on as much value as The Blind Side did for him, and I don’t expect that will ever go away. I think it’s just as much a result of his exceptional play, as it is the wonderful job done by author Michael Lewis in writing the book, and John Lee Hancock in directing the movie.
It’s tough to say whether or not Oher will continue to live up to expectations set during a great first year, but I will comment that he has shown great determination. Because of his uncanny skills, he shouldn’t have a problem continuing his success, but the NFL is more than just skill. Regardless of how he does in the seasons to come, there will always be a great movie built around a truly amazing story. Because of that fact, collectors will continue to seek out “Big Mike” as an addition to their collection. I know I did not hesitate to add him to my list of players to cheer for, and I suspect that I am not alone.
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit www.sportscardsuncensored.com (warning: strong language!).
Popularity: 4% [?]
