I'll Raise You A Pair of Hall of Famers - McFarlane Style

One of the perks of being a special guest of a comic book convention, is that people often bring you stuff in appreciation. I've given a good amount of artwork to comic book and toy dealers. Many use it to promote their stores.

 

At this weekend's show, I had indicated to one dealer that I liked hockey and was looking for goalies. Well, he didn't have any goalies to give me - and not even any teams I follow.

 

But you can't look a gift horse in the mouth.

JOE SAKIC

 

He had his assistant bring over two McFarlane hockey figurines. Both were Colorado Avalanche players - One current Hall of Famer and one future Hall of Famer.

TEEMU SELANNE

 

While Joe Sakic became an Avs legend in Colorado winning 2 Stanley Cups. Selanne spent one, less than quality, season there before returning to the Aneheim Ducks.

Both players have scored over 600 NHL goals and played over 1000 games.

Each player has represented their respective nations, Sakic - Canada, and Selanne - Finland, at the Olympics and World Championships.

 

These figurines are super cool. The details from the jerseys to the hockey sticks are impressive. But I'm still looking for goalies ...

 

 

McFarlane Scores

During a recent outing I went to a flea market in Central Florida. After my $2 basketball haul, I have kept any eye open for more figures. I spotted a table with several packaged action figures and toys.

I spied a box under the table that had a lot of loose items. It included some NFL Starting Lineup and McFarlane figures. Priced at $5, I countered with an offer of $4 - and SOLD.

Included was the University of Central Florida's most famous NFL alumni - DANTE CULPEPPER (Vikings)

HOWIE LONG (Raiders)

BRETT FARVE (Packers)

MICHAEL VICK (Falcons)

JAKE PLUMMER (Broncos)

Two BRIAN ULACHERS (Bears)

EMMITT SMITH (Cardinals) and ZACH THOMAS (Dolphins)

Lastly, JEREMY SHOCKLEY (Giants), DAN McCAFFREY (Broncos), and DREW BLESDOE (Bills) along with a 3 inch GEROME BETTIS (Steelers - not pictured).

The Starting Lineup included the Broncos Terrell Davis and John Elway and a New York Knicks Patrick Ewing. 

I love the detail on these McFarlane figures and actually prefer them loose rather than in the package where their 3 dimensional beauty can be admired.

End of the Ice Age ? McFarlane Troubles

EXTINCTION  ?

Are the NHL players and owners looking more and more like this ...

due to the greed and the impending lockout ?

Its truly a shame as I really like the retro cards being produced lately. Cards with helmet-less players ...

and defunct clubs ...

but instead, all I can see is dollar signs down the drain for a league with too many clubs and too much money going to too many agents.  The glut of card makers in the 1990's was the beginning of the end.

Part of the negotiations from the last NHL strike included the royalties earned by the card companies licenses. Personally, I think there are still too many sets per year for collectors to afford or even retain interest. (This is one of the reasons I began to collect soccer cards)

McFARCE

McFarlane Toys had built a reputation on their detail and diversity of their action figures. The company was started by Todd McFarlane, the former comic book artist, which include drawing SPIDERMAN and the creation of SPAWN. 

For the sports world, they were the next generation of collectables beyond cards. The licensing of not only rock stars, horror film and comic book characters but for all the NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA.

Recent news has uncovered manufacturing problems with their NFL figure releases. Poor quality control, sloppy workmanship and lost shipments have put a blemish on the one time leader in the action figure industry.

Never the less, this past weekend while at yard sales, I was able to pick up a handful of NBA figures for a steal. Although I do not collect basketball, per say, I could not pass up the chance to own finely detailed miniature figures. 

The haul: A large size Tracy McGrady in a blue Orlando Magic jersey.

The ballet of 3 inch figures included Jefferson (Nets), Martin (Nuggets), Duncan (Spurs) and Wallace (Pistons) ...

Francis (Magic), Jamison (Wizards), Yao Ming (Rockets) and O'Neal (Pacers), Iversen (Sixers) wthout bases.

I have been looking for some of the NHL figures. However, they are not abundant here in Florida (perhaps they all melt too easily ?).

I would love to see Major League Soccer or English Premier League figures made by McFarlane. Obviously, they have to put their house in order first.  As does the NHL.

Howie Long and the Marlins

 For those of you who have been following along, you know that I am always finding sports memorabilia along with my toy collecting. In my recent garage sale / flea market journey I found two nice items that should go to a better home.

Howie Long and the Marlins could be a great name for a reggae band, but its just two artifacts seeking attention. The attention to detail of the OAKLAND RAIDERS action figure of HOWIE LONG is amazing. From the mud and grass stains to the sneer on his face, McFarlane is still the finest when it comes to sports figures.

I thought of putting together some cage matches of the Howie figure against say - the ALIEN creature from the film.

Somehow I think the mild looking NFL announcer would reach out and crush the alien's extra head !

The 2nd item was a cold stone statue miniature of the FLORIDA MARLINS (MIAMI MARLINS) baseball stadium.  I have no idea what they call it now, but it used to Joe Robbie, then Pro Player Stadium.

Either way, if anyone is interested in buying or trading for these, I would be quite open to offers.