Archive for lebron james
Brandon Roy Has Got Next
Posted by: | CommentsThe legend of Brandon Roy continues to grow. He is truly an NBA superstar even though he is still not a household name in many NBA cities. He’s out to prove to everyone that he belongs on the list of the NBA’s elite with the likes of Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, and LeBron James. Judging by what he has already accomplished in his young career, Roy is almost there. For those who don’t agree, Brandon has a few words: “My time is almost here.”
Players like Wade and Bryant boast awe-inspiring workout routines that they follow during the NBA’s off-season. “B Roy,” as he is often called, employs the same desire and dedication to succeed as they do, albeit in his own workout regiment. He knows that he and his young Trailblazer teammates are on the verge of something really, really great in Portland. In addition to being the squad’s leading scorer, he has matured and evolved into their ever present leader. He has amped up his off-season conditioning and added a new haircut in hopes that his team will follow suit and take the next step toward an NBA Championship.
Take a look at Brandon Roy’s training camp workout and his thoughts on competing with Kobe:
Training Camp Week: Brandon Roy Workout
When judging Roy’s dedication to win, you need look no further than his boyhood idol while growing up in Seattle, “His Airness” himself, Michael Jordan. Brandon witnessed Jordan, who was perhaps the league’s best competitor ever, continually improve and upgrade his skills every off-season, even when winning scoring titles and NBA rings.
Roy used his mentor’s inspiration to become the state of Washington’s best high school basketball player in 2002. He even flirted with going directly to the NBA before pulling out of the draft and attending the University of Washington. Even though he was a top 50 recruit, Roy had doubts about academically succeeding at the NCAA level amid problems passing the SAT test, so he took a minimum wage job at the Seattle Ports cleaning out shipping containers until he could work out his difficulties with the entrance exams. His parents discovered that he had a common learning disability, which was common to many students, and eventually he passed the exam after being granted some extra time to complete the test.
Brandon honed his all-around skills in his four seasons under Coach Lorenzo Romar at Washington. After his junior season he thought again about going pro but stayed for his senior season since teammate Nate Robinson had already declared for the draft. Roy excelled in his senior campaign, averaging 20.2 ppg and led the Huskies to a 26-7 record and a second straight Sweet 16 appearance. He received many accolades including PAC-10 Player of the Year, All-America honors, and was a finalist for many national Player of the Year awards.
With his draft stock at an all-time high, he was selected No. 6 overall in the 2006 NBA Draft, before being traded to Portland for Randy Foye. His rookie season in the NBA was sensational from the start where he scored 20 points in his first game and never looked back, averaging 16.8 ppg, 4.4 rebs, four assists, and 1.2 steals for the season. His excellent numbers as well as his team’s improved play helped earn him an All-Star nod and Rookie of the Year honors even though he played in only 57 games due to a heel injury.
During his second season he improved his numbers to 19.1 ppg and a career high 5.8 assists, earning another All-Star berth where he led all Western Conference scorers with 18 points along with Chris Paul and Amare Stoudemire. Last season, “The Natural,” as local Portland play-by-play announcer calls him, had his best season by setting career highs in scoring (22.6), rebounds (4.7), FG% (.480), and 3 PT% (.377) earning yet another All-Star appearance along with an All NBA 2nd Team Selection (first Blazer to do so since the ‘92 season).
Roy could be called the next “Mr. Clutch” since he has 24 last-second shots where he has either tied or won a game with less than 35 seconds remaining. Portland definitely knows Roy’s worth as their franchise player since they resigned him in August to a four-year contract, with a fifth-year option, keeping him in “Rip City” through 2014.
Another facet of Roy’s game besides numbers is his leadership and ability to make those around him better. The season before he arrived in Portland, the Blazers finished fifth in their division with a dismal 21-61 record. Roy, along with young stars LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden, helped increase the Blazers’ win totals to 32, 41, and 54 wins respectively. Roy also led them to the playoffs and has revitalized a once-proud franchise which hasn’t won an NBA title since Maurice Lucas and Bill Walton led the in 1977 under Hall of Fame Coach “Doctor” Jack Ramsey.
One thing is for sure: the NBA’s Western Conference elite teams like the Lakers and Spurs should beware of the upstart Blazers. The Blazers’ and Brandon Roy’s time is coming, if it isn’t already here. I’m sure for Blazer fans, it is “Rip City or Bust!”
Check out Brandon Roy’s website for his full workout routine (http://www.broy7.com/roy/index/)
Allen Moll is an avid NBA and college basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen is a regular columnist for thehoopdoctors.com, Bleacherreport.com, UpperDeckblog.com, and his own blog, Hoops Haven (hoopsworld4.wordpress.com).
Popularity: unranked [?]
Brag Photo of the Week: LeBron and Jordan Dual Logo
Posted by: | CommentsI’ve got a confession to make.
We’ve spent a lot of time this week on the blog talking about Exquisite Collection Basketball, and with good reason. It’s one of the most exciting high-end products in the history of the industry, and we’re really pulling out all the stops this time around. As you read this post, our brand team is currently hard at work constructing each pack by hand, and even uploading some of the best cards to Facebook for all to see.
My confession? I got a head start on them.
A few weeks back, the Exquisite cards were stored under tight lock and key here at the Upper Deck building, but I managed to bust in and snap a shot or two. Like this card, for example:
This would be the best basketball player on the face of the earth today, and the best basketball player in the history of the game. On the same card, hard signed autographs, with logo patches.
I won’t brag too much because this will end up in the hands of one lucky collector. Really, I’m just happy I got the jump on the brand guys with this one!
Popularity: unranked [?]
An Exquisite History
Posted by: | CommentsWhen the first Exquisite Collection Basketball set was announced six years ago, collectors had never seen anything like it. The product’s concept was so unique that there weren’t many people around who knew what to expect. Message boards were at a fledgling state, blogs were pretty much non-existent, and a lot of the hobby functioned on word of mouth and previews in the hobby media. Because of this, there were many dealers who didn’t want to take the risk on such an expensive product; some even flat out refused to carry it on principle. But once the packs hit the market and people started to open them, it became clear how much of an impact it would make on the landscape of the hobby.
The basketball rookie class of 2003-2004 was slated to be one of the best ever, mainly due to LeBron James coming out of high school to a throne seemingly built for him in the hobby. People were salivating, readying their collections as hype continued to build around the class that would change the face of basketball forever. When the first products of the year were released, LeBron, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwayne Wade’s cards were soaring higher than most had ever expected (even more so when fan favorites like SPX and Ultimate Collection hit shelves).
Then came a product that cost as much per box as an entire case of regular Upper Deck usually cost. The specially designed box was beautiful in itself, highlighting the standards this product was out to set. Even the common cards were rare, complementing the patch cards which fulfilled collector’s wildest dreams. It was not an immediate hit, but when word of mouth proclaimed that this was THE product to get, Upper Deck sold through the entire production run. Ironically, the dealers who originally refused the boxes would probably do anything to get their hands on one now. In fact, an unopened box usually will sell for over ten times the cost of what it was going for originally upon release. This example alone is a true representation of what Exquisite has brought to the table over the years.
Fast forward to today, and that 2003-2004 set has become one of the most valuable modern day products around. LeBron, now arguably the best player in the league, has more than a handful of 03-04 cards that eclipse $5,000 regularly on eBay (and the concept of the product has now spread to all of the big four sports). Whether you are buying anywhere from a box to multiple cases of Exquisite each year, you know that the content of the set will be on the cutting edge of what is available in the hobby.
Coming next week, 2009-2010 Exquisite Collection will be released to much anticipation for one last hurrah. It sold out in a matter of hours, which speaks to the level it will be missed in the coming years. Despite the fact that it may not be around for a while after this year, it isn’t going to go quietly into the night. This year’s design is a tribute to the original 2003-2004 release . . . though this time, there are going to a few additions that have actually made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. This week, we got our first taste of what these additions look like, and they are shaping up to be some of the most absurdly amazing cards ever produced.
For the first time, UD exclusive spokesman Tiger Woods, will share a card with other UD spokesmen, including dual autos and patches with Michael Jordan and LeBron James. As if that wasn’t enough to add to the normal fare, fan favorite Sidney Crosby will have his first Exquisite branded card ever, as well as some favorite football players like former Broncos HOF quarterback John Elway. It will also have extremely sought after rookie cards of the new NBA draftees, and all of this is not even the full picture yet. As with most years, there are bound to be surprises, so who knows what Exquisite has up its sleeve for its farewell tour.
Though the Exquisite concept is often imitated, it has yet to be duplicated. Basketball collectors have especially made Exquisite their banner, bringing its success to levels that were never expected back in 2003. There are even entire websites devoted to following the rare chase pulls, as there are tons of collectors who plan their spending for the entire year around the release date. Also, LeBron isn’t the only one with Exquisite cards that approach the price of a small car, as players like Sidney Crosby, Tiger Woods, Adrian Peterson and Michael Jordan have all brought new definition to high end prices. However, as Jordan, James, Woods and company are exclusive to UD products, it will be very tough for any other product to come close to the content Exquisite delivers every year. Basically, once Exquisite Basketball is gone, the impact of its departure will be just as remarkable as the initial buzz that came when it arrived.
Personally, I look forward to each Exquisite set every year, at least just to live vicariously through the astounding pulls of lucky collectors on the internet. Regardless of the fact that Exquisite Basketball won’t be around next year, I can tell you that nothing has ever garnered my excitement quite like what is coming next week. Keep yourself glued to the Upper Deck Facebook page, as more images should be posted up until release. You can also connect via Twitter and at many of the card blogs, as Exquisite news always travels quickly.
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: unranked [?]
Catching Up With Collecting: Tim Doull
Posted by: | CommentsNext up in our series, I talk to Tim Doull, who works on autographs for our products. These signatures make up some of the most popular content we have, not just on cards, but some of the remarkably cool and creative products released by Upper Deck Authenticated.
But how do we collect these autographs anyway? Our interview was actually delayed a week, because Tim had flown out to do a signing session with Albert Pujols. Once he got back, I was eager to hear about how that went, and what it’s like to work with so many top athletes in person.
UpperDeckBlog: So what’s your official title?
Tim Doull: Athlete Relations Manager.
UpperDeckBlog: And that means autographs.
Tim Doull: Yes. For memorabilia and trading cards. Anything autographed for all Upper Deck product lines comes through us.
UpperDeckBlog: One thing I’ve seen from readers of the blog as we’ve picked up general sports fans is that people who haven’t followed the hobby for the last ten or fifteen years maybe weren’t even aware of autographs, or at least where they are now. What would you tell someone like that to catch them up?
Tim Doull: The variations we do are really impressive, and you’d be surprised at some of the uniqueness. I mean you said ten or fifteen years ago, there was maybe one standard autograph every few boxes, pretty basic stuff. But these days, we specialize in the pen, we have them inscribe special cards sometimes, like with the LeBron 08-09 MVP card you posted to the blog a few months ago. We’re definitely trying to stay unique and give the collector something new.
UpperDeckBlog: And you just got back from a Pujols signing last week! What was that like?
Tim Doull: With all of the top tier athletes we partner with, it’s really special to work with their foundations and product lines. A lot of the guys are really vested in and care about what’s going into the market. In Albert’s case, he may arguably be the best right handed hitter to ever play the game when all is said and done. This year he’s probably MVP.
We did the signing, and he hit two home runs the next day. It’s just really cool to be in the moment with these guys, and it’s something you can look back on, maybe tell your grandkids about it.
UpperDeckBlog: And how does that go? You show up where the athlete is, and what happens next?
Tim Doull: There’s a lot of preparation and rehearsal that goes into it. It’s a private setting, and we set everything up hours before he gets there, whether it’s memorabilia or trading cards. So when the athlete gets there, everything is ready. There’s nothing they need to do, other than to sit down and start signing.
So our Athlete Relations team, we make sure to take care of everything. Due to busy schedules, the athlete may be late from time to time, but we’re always prepared in the event they come early.
UpperDeckBlog: I’m sure a lot of collectors wonder what that’s like, I mean you’re sitting there watching Albert Pujols sign cards.
Tim Doull: It’s a professional setting, so I’m not asking for pictures or going “Wow, what a hit last night!” They get enough of that from the media and fans. I try to relate more on music and entertainment, golf, or something not related to their sport that they might be interested in.
UpperDeckBlog: Has there ever been one athlete where you couldn’t help yourself?
Tim Doull: Well, there’s some cool access you get. Like the Lakers, you might get the whole team together in one private room after they’ve won the championship, and get to hear some of the banter that goes on between them in that moment. So that’s very cool.
UpperDeckBlog: So once they sign the items, what happens next?
Tim Doull: Well, we all wear white gloves and handle the cards very carefully, we check them for quality, organize and store them until it’s time for the product release.
UpperDeckBlog: Do you have any cool personal stories about one of these signings?
Tim Doull: Well, you take a guy like Tiger Woods, after winning the 2008 US Open in June of 2008. He was kind enough to give us something called a quick turn signing, three days after winning his 14 Major Championship. And just to see him limping around right after winning, before surgery, and to see the smile and glow on his face even though he was in pain, that’s definitely a great memory.
Another unique story from the signings was gathering signatures for our 2008 Boston Celtics team championship product lines. We had Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and others all in a room together signing. This was the first time some of the players were able to see images from the 2008 Finals games and you could see in their faces how proud they were of their accomplishments as a team.
UpperDeckBlog: Is there anything you think an average collector might not consider when they open an autograph in a pack, in terms of how it gets there?
Tim Doull: If you look at it from the athlete’s perspective, penmanship is something to mention. A lot of autographs you’ll see elsewhere look like a squiggle, or just a line. But most of our autographs, especially our exclusive partners, they take the time to give you a legible autograph. It’s great that they can be consistent, and give you a solid autograph every time.
Something else the average collector may not consider is the time commitment it takes for the athletes to sign. Outside of game days you can expect players in all sports to be regularly signing cards to hit our product release deadlines. They do their best to meet our dates even if it means signing during a playoff run, between playoff series’, or maybe they just had a child, etc.
We focus a lot on quality, like changing out pens constantly during a session to keep it fresh. We want to try and make sure every collector gets the same autograph, so we pay attention to details.
UpperDeckBlog: Anything else you’d want to add?
Tim Doull: I think one really unique thing we’re doing now is the inscriptions, like the LeBron card. We’re starting to think a bit outside the box with more items like that.
UpperDeckBlog: It sounds like a bit of evolution there, giving the customer something extra and unique, because they’re demanding more than just standard autographs.
Tim Doull: Yes, and I think the cards themselves have really evolved too. If you’re just coming back to the hobby, you should pick up a few packs and see what we have to offer. Autographs, game-used memorabilia, all kinds of added value and we’re always coming up with new ideas.
Favorite athlete: Tiger Woods
Favorite sport: Golf
Favorite team: San Diego Chargers
Popularity: unranked [?]
Collector of the Month: Jeff Silverman
Posted by: | CommentsEach month Upper Deck will spotlight one of our valued collectors to showcase their collection. The great thing about sports collectors is that they are all very different in what they collect, how they collect items and what they do once they have them. However, one thing they all share is a passion that is seldom found in any other group. This month, we spend some time with Jeff Silverman.
Jeff Silverman bidding on an Upper Deck Authenticated item.
Jeff Silverman has been a passionate collector of Upper Deck trading cards and memorabilia for the last twenty years. In the early 90’s he decided to give his collection some focus and targeted Eric Lindros. This was before tracking down cards of a specific player was made easier with eBay, so Silverman traveled to shows frequently in order to find the latest cards he needed for his collection.
Jeff Silverman with Bo Jackson at last year’s National show.
After Lindros repeatedly broke down, Silverman decided to balance his portfolio by collecting stars of all four core sports and golf. His passion has been trading cards and over the years he has amassed thousands of cards that he keeps locked up or stored away.
Boxes of thousands of Upper Deck cards Jeff Silverman keeps stored.
“I’ve assembled some pretty impressive cardboard in my time,” said Jeff Silverman. “While looking through my numerous boxes of cards, it dawned on me that showcasing my cards would only provide a glimpse of my passion. Some of the pieces I enjoy the most that are really amazing are the memorabilia items I have acquired over the years.”
Silverman began collecting Upper Deck Authenticated memorabilia shortly after the FBI concluded the Operation Bullpen program with the cooperation of Upper Deck. After hearing about how much fraudulent memorabilia there was in the market, he wanted to go with a name he could trust when investing in collectibles of his favorite sports legends.
“When Upper Deck provided the safe mechanism to acquire autographed memorabilia, I expanded my collecting habits beyond trading cards,” said Silverman. “The piece of mind you get from investing in Upper Deck Authenticated memorabilia is worth its weight in gold as you know you are getting the real deal.”
UDA Tiger Woods items in Silverman’s collection.
UDA Michael Jordan items in Silverman’s collection.
“To date I estimate that I own more than 500 Upper Deck Authenticated items,” said Silverman. “In the collection I have more than twenty Michael Jordan signed memorabilia items, more than ten Tiger Woods signed memorabilia items and great autograph pieces from other superstars like Wilt Chamberlain, Nolan Ryan, Sandy Koufax, Peyton Manning, Wayne Gretzky, LeBron James, Julius Erving, Jack Nicklaus, Derek Jeter and Kobe Bryant.”
Silverman collects Wayne Gretzky items . . .
. . . and LeBron James . . .
. . . not to mention some premium NFL items.
Having a collection this size creates some interesting challenges as Silverman cannot display all the items. In fact, he estimates that at any given time he can only display about 1% of his collection. He refreshes what he displays however and loves to show off new items he recently acquires.
Silverman has two prized pieces in his collection on the memorabilia side. His current favorite is the Upper Deck Authenticated “Legends of Sport” piece which is a lithograph signed by Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. The other piece is a play on the famous Michael Jordan “Wings” poster by Nike. Upper Deck Authenticated created a version that Jordan signed, but also included an element where and actual basketball was incorporated into the piece that broke through the glass. The Michael Jordan “Wings Breaking Through” piece looms over Silverman’s workstation at home.
The Upper Deck Authenticated Michael Jordan "Wings Breaking Through" piece from Silverman’s collection.
Silverman has also dabbled in other collectibles offered by Upper Deck including busts and All-Star Vinyl figurines. He has dedicated full walls of his home dedicated to these unique collectibles. The crown jewel of his collection is the very rare Ben Roethlisberger All-Star Vinyl “Kris Kringle” version.
Various Hockey collectibles from Silverman’s collection.
Silverman’s Upper Deck All-Star Vinyl collection.
Silverman’s Kris Kringle Roethlisberger All-Star Vinyl.
Silverman find it easier to find items of his favorite players online nowadays, but still loves getting out to larger shows like the National and NHL Expo. One of his greatest thrills is sharing his collection with others. He especially loves sharing it with his son who will likely inherit the collection someday, but he has to grow into it first.
A collector in training, Jeff shares his passion with his son.
Popularity: unranked [?]
