The more things change, the more they stay the same. Unless you’ve been spending your time under rocks, you’ve probably heard someone say this and you’ve probably heard it uttered recently. It’s an oft said phrase that is true more often that you might like to believe. I do believe it applies to the sports world this week too.
In spite of all of us desiring to believe that we were rid of steroids in baseball, the most recent NL MVP tests positive. When Bobby Huggins left the U of Cincinnati basketball so did all the thuggery? Right? Tonight in spite of his team getting totally slaughtered with a very afraid looking rookie QB at the helm, MJD once again peels off over 100 yards and for the third year in a row has over 1200. Whose good in the NFL this year? Brees, Brady, Rodgers and the Packers, Saints and the Patriots. Last week, in spite of a totally different set of circumstances Tebow engineers another comeback victory. Heck, I feel like I’m repeating myself just writing this, even though it is the first time I’ve written any of these words in this order.
So can you tell where I’m going? I’m feeling repetitive, so is the sports world and thus so are many of the subjects on the Hot List, people keep showing up, kind of like this list, week after week after week.
1. Rob Gronkowski 2010 UD Autos
Comments: I’m unaware of Rob’s cultural heritage but none the less, his last name brings fond memories. I grew up in Illinois and if you weren’t aware, outside of Warsaw, the largest number of people in any given city of Polish heritage is….that’s right, you guessed it, Chicago. Growing up in Illinois adding the phrase “ski” to almost anything was sure to get you a laugh or a smile, like “I’m going to grab a brewski.” Even a fonder memory was that we got Casmir Pulaski day off school. If you are wondering who Casmir (nearly everyone pronounced it Cashmere) was, no, he didn’t invent the sweater. He was a Polish general in the Revolutionary War which was an irrelevant fact to most children who only cared that they got his birthday off of school. So for the moment, lets assume that Gronkowski is indeed Polish or at least of some Eastern European decent and that now, a new state has a whole new appreciation for words ending in ski (Massachusetts that is). Gronkowski has somehow outpaced Wes Welker in become Tom Brady’s new favorite red zone target and this past week set the record for TDs in a season by a tight-end, 15. Gronkowski’s UD Autos both SP Authentic and Exquisite are on fire and in fact some SP Authentics sold for well over $100 this week in spite of selling for only $40 last week.
2. T.J. Yates 2011 Leaf Certified Autos /100
Comments: Speaking of repetitiveness, how many times have I stated on this list that guys who get the bump from backup to starter receive lots of love as NFL QBs. Yates received a battlefield promotion after both Matts went down in front of him and he’s performed amazingly well. His cards continue to get love as Leaf Certified Autos rose from in the tens to over $30 this week.
3. Todd Marinovich Rookie Cards
Comments: Do you remember when Chris Herren was on this list? You might, as it was fairly recently but you might have forgotten already. Props to the member who commented on the fact that the 30 for 30 series on ESPN was bringing former players into the limelight that hadn’t seen that kind of brightness in quite some time. Like Herren, Marinovich is a guy who everyone expected the world of from a young age, only to see that crumble at the hands of drug abuse among many other things. Marinovich early 90s Upper Deck rookie cards are now selling for $5 or more (ask yourself what other early 90s UD cards, or any cards that applies to for that matter, yeah, that’s Hot List material). The question to ponder might be “why do stories about near miss stars with drugs and other issues cause these kinds of reactions?” I know I don’t often pose deep questions on the Hot List but two answers that come to mind are A. no one turns away from a train wreck and B. some level of humanity and mess ups among people who were supposed to have it all humanizes sports somewhat for us. So whose next? Read up on Sean Burroughs….
4. Yu Darvish 2009 Bowman Chrome & Sterling Parallels
Comments: I Yused up my Pink Floyd jokes but the way teams are pursuing Yu, Yu would believe that they thought no other pitchers had anything on Yu (horrible B.o.B. reference there for….that’s right, Yu.) Seriously though, what Japanese league signing outside of Ichiro has gone really well in your opinion? Maybe I’m just missing all of them and maybe my opinion is based on the fact that I had to watch Fukudome play RF for the Cubs for several years but seriously, what’s the success rate on these guys? None of my bitterness or anger is stopping people from bidding wildly on the Whirling Darvish’s cards though as Gold Refractors that lack a signature now sell for over $300.
5. Mason Williams 2011 Bowman Chrome Autos
Comments: What’s that? There were other autos that came out in 2011 Bowman products outside of Bryce Harper? Wow, that’s kind of amazing! Sometimes for random reasons a player can get real hot even when they aren’t playing? However, I think Williams names were mentioned in trade rumors, therefore causing scouts and other bloggers to write about him, words like 5 tool were used and as you know, that’s pretty much all it takes. Mason’s chrome autos moved from $10 to $18 this week.
6. Aaron Rodgers 2005 Rookie Autos
Comments: Repetitive I know, deal with it. Rodgers is having an unbelievable season on a team that’s also having an unbelievable season and that’s an unbelievable combo that leads to unbelievable prices (see how I repeated..yeah). The card above sold for over $1400, that’s right $1400! That’s insanity and honestly it represents a place and a price where very few have gone before, namely only Brady and perhaps Peyton. I often watch the efficiency of Rodgers within the Packers offense in awe…and you can do the same for the card prices.
7. Brett Lawrie 2011 Bowman Chrome Autos
Comments: This card being on the Hot List is somewhat interesting. Upon hearing news that Lawrie was in the upcoming 2011 Bowman Chrome release there was general joy from collectors. However, upon finding out that he was a mega-sp, many case rippers were disturbed, they’d been baited in by whispers of Hosmer and Lawrie only to find out that it would take many cases to just find one. Now that, that has passed we are back to the fact that Lawrie is a mega-SP and that means mega bucks. The most recent Lawrie auto to end went for $150, a new high and up from a recent sale of $115.
8. Tim Tebow 2010 Auto Rookies
Comments: I really don’t have any reason to like Tebow. He’s a Bronco, I’m a Chargers fan, I have no affiliation with Florida or the SEC but as a football fan, it is hard not to marvel at what he seems to do consistently week in and week out. But that’s just it, watch the games, he doesn’t do lots of things – complete passes in the first half, rush for 150 yards a game, make Michael Vick like highlights and a whole bunch of other things. All he does is win and when it counts he does the right things. He’s a bit of a lightning rod at the moment from the cultural perspective what Tim has done on the football field is undeniable and it seems appropriate that Tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimmmmay is playing in the city where Southpark was invented. Autos continue to climb right along with the Broncos
The Not So Hot List
#1 – The Cadre of Posters Suggesting Ryan Braun
Calls for the not so hot list increased this week when news of Ryan Braun’s positive test came out. “Show us how much Braun has gone down” they yelled as they tried to clumsily light their torches – ok, so I’m being a bit harsh but you get the idea. Here’s the thing, key cards like 2005 Bowman Chrome Draft Autos…..wait for it………haven’t gone down.
#2 – David Stern
So I guess David Stern finally got the deal he wanted, listen David, sports fans do not like meddling, period. Nor do I like the fact that one of my favorite young players – Eric Gordon is now on the Hornets.
#3 – Matt Leinart
For a guy that has had a reputation as a bit of a softie and whiner during his time in the league, getting another opportunity like he had with the Texans had to be a dream come true. What happened with his opportunity, playing less than a half must have been a nightmare. A blue chrome refractor auto recently sold for $19.99, a touch less than what they sold for when he was named starter…./sarcasm.