Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Panini World Cup Fever ... Collect'm, Stick'm, Love'm


If you love the game, its part of it as much as the signing, the wave, the hooligans, or the pre-game pub visit. It is PANINI soccer stickers ...

Long before there were pack wars ... grown men would bet on the star power pulled from a ripped packet of Panini stickers.

Then there is the affordable album - packed with info and ready to safely store your player stickers for years to come.

Stay tuned ... CHUCK'S USED CARDS - WORLD CUP CONTEST will be announced before the weekend.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

League Champions - Champions League ... season wrap up

The European football season came to a close on Saturday when Inter Milan (Italy) defeated Bayern Munich (Germany) for the UEFA Champions League title.

 Diego Milito score twice for the Italian side. With the European club season over, he furthers his chances as a starter for Argentina at this summer's World Cup.


Chelsea did well to win the double - the FA Cup and the Premier League in England. Frank Lampard (below) and Didier Drogba will star for England and the Ivory Coast respectively in South Africa 2010. 
The German power house Bayern Munich came up roses in the Bundasliga, but just short against Inter. Ribery was suspended for the Final but will surely be a factor for France in South Africa.


Inter Milan has to be the club of the season winning the "treble" - the Italian League, the Italian Cup and the Champions League.

Meanwhile, the heroics of Manchester United reject - Diego Floran propelled Atletico Madrid to the Europa League title over American Clint Dempsey's Fulham United. Floran will be a star to watch for Uruguay at the World Cup.

The flop of the season has to be Real Madrid which splashed out over $200 million dollars for just three players - Kaka', Cristiano Ronaldo and Karem Benzema - and won no trophies.

Season Winners:
Uefa Champions League: Inter Milan
Europa Cup : Atletico Madrid

England : Chelsea
FA Cup : Chelsea
France: Marseille
Fench Cup : Paris Saint-Germain
Germany : Bayern Munich
German Cup :  Bayern Munich
Scotland : Rangers
Scottish Cup : Dundee
Spain : Barcelona
Spanish Cup: Sevilla

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Homer(ing) in on the World Cup


If you don't know who Wayne Rooney or Cristiano Ronoldo is then your cave is safely secluded from the world. For the rest of us who live and breath the World's game - this NIKE commercial which features Homer Simpson, Kobe Bryant and more - tells us its World Cup time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idLG6jh23yE

Enjoy ! The World Cup starts in less than 20 days !

Friday, May 21, 2010

Return of the ROWDIES

The ROWDIES are here, the ROWDIES are there ... a kick in the grass. The 1970's theme song was a hit in the early days of Florida's permier sports teams. Before the Rowdies, the only professional franchise in the Sunshine State was an obsecure ABA basketball team and the NFL Miami Dolphins.
But all that changed in 1975 - when the NASL awarded a franchise to the city of Tampa. By 1976, the Rowdies were the most popular team in Florida. The New York Cosmos signed the legendary PELE' to a multimillion dollar contract. It is no secret this is what prompted baseball's N.Y. Yankees to do the same with Jim "Catfish" Hunter - the first million dollar player in MLB.

But the Rowdies went out and got a wild one ... the quick witted, clown prince of soccer - RODNEY MARSH. A superstar in England, best selling author by age 20, and the hero of the stadium terraces. HE - came to Tampa Bay.
When the Rowdies opened their 2010 season at Steinbrenner Field on May 8th - the fans were introduced to 10 of the original Rowdies. Rodney was one of those in attendance. I did not hesitate to have him autograph his 1977 Topps card and his 1967 Autobiography.
While I was at it, I added to my 1990 ProSet England soccer cards with former Everton and Manchester City star - Adrian Heath. Heath is now the head coach of the visiting Austin Aztex. This was my 3rd signed Manchester City player in this set.

This is not you father's NASL - but the teams are young and exciting. Hopefully, there will be more collectables on the horizon.

Monday, May 17, 2010

In Pursuit of the Primose and Gardians of the Cage

I have to admit collecting anything that is over 100 years old is very exciting. Thoughts of how many hands and lives such an object must have touched is equally compelling.

When this is combined with my interest in soccer cards - well, the dyno-meter needle goes whacko.

The rivalry of England v Scotland in soccer goes back to 1872. This is best understood by Americans and their heated battles with Mexico in the past few years.

One such match stands out for Scottish fans - the day that Scotland, who traditionally wear dark blue, instead were outfitted in the horse racing colors of of Lord Archibald Primrose.
The great victory in 1900 was preserved for all time when Ogden's Cigarettes depicted the Scottish players in the pink and yellow kits after their 4:1 triumph.
I have been trying to collect all the players from that famed match and have added two of the players - Smith and Walker. Although the 1900 and 1901 Ogdens tobacco series include 10 of the 11 players, I think only 6 appear in the Primrose. I have three so far.

My other persuit is pre-war goalkeepers - having picked up these three gems: Wenz, Jakobs and Schwatzfischer from the 1932 Monopol Cigarette series.
While the Schwatzfischer card above is a wonderful folly of illusion (above)
the Wenz and Jakobs are both international players who appeared for German National Team before the War.

These items, if you can find them are still bargains. But I risk competition from my readers now that I have revealed this. But maybe we can trade if you happen to beat me to the punch.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

The Great One on Cardboard: # 99

It is play-off time in the NHL. The expanded series from the coast of California to the shores of Atlantic, the puck is dropping. If you are a reader of this blog, you know I love to wax nostalgic.
When it comes to NHL records - one name, one great name, appears over and over. WAYNE GRETZKY. So when I saw that one of the toys from the 1980's was up for auction recently,  it flooded back memories from the glorious collecting of everything Gretzky.
I had as many cards as I could get my hands on in the 1980's - Canandian, American, food issue and special issues - I had them all. And then there was the Mattel doll figure. Yes - the same people who make Barbie and G.I. Joe.

I happened to be at a summer fireman's carnival around 1985-86. The "carnies" had their usual games of shooting and hoop tosses. There was a gambling tent in which you would throw a little red ball and try to get a "Bingo". It was called "I got it" - which you shout out if you had a winning pattern.

Well, I sad down with the chain smoking geezers and gray haired ladies to play the game. Not by choice, but rather because among the cigarette lighters, pocket knives and stuffed animal prizes - was a Mattel Gretzky doll.

To make a long boring story short - I got it ! So these days, during the play-offs, ol' Gretz is propped up in the corner with my sticks and Canadian touques to see who can come close to his records.

As far as I am concerned - No one can. 

Friday, April 23, 2010

Absorbed in The Golden Age of Comics

Ok. I admit part of my absence has been due to plain lazyness. However, the other half I feel is my legitamate efforts to add to the trading card universe.

You see, although I do not do much artwork any more, I was asked to contribute to an upcoming set - THE GOLDEN AGE OF COMICS - due to be released this week by BREYGENT MARKETING.

To further delay my return to blogging, my sadistic ego took on two additional projects for CARTOON sketch cards and the Sci-fi / Horror poster card set - due out in June and August respectively. I have enjoyed this imensely - perhaps too much.
I was lucky enough to have all 4 of my 5x7 sketch cards selected to be exclusives for the 2010 SAN DIEGO COMIC CON. Here are one from the Comics and one from the Cartoon series that will be featured at the biggest Comic Con in America.


While my work may show a little rust, there are some really fine artists involved with these projects. And for those who want investment in their cards, I would submit that sketch cards are the future just as original comic book art was about 10 years ago. If you have been tracking the auction prices for original comic art - it is $kyrocketing.

I will be finishing up my contracted work with these soon and have been alloted a few "artist proof" cards which will allow me to sketch commissioned cards which will go straight to a few select fans rather than to the packs. If you are interested, please send me an email.

Excelsior !