News & Views

Irvin Kershner 1923-2010

American film director Irvin Kershner passed away this Saturday. Many of you already know this by now, but I just learned the sad news today.

Kershner is probably best known as the director of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. That film holds a special place in my heart, and is my favorite film of all time.

The Empire Strikes Back was the first “non-cartoon” movie that I saw as a child. I was 5 at the time, and I remember my mom taking me to the old Devon Theater in Chicago to see it. The line wrapped all the way around the block! I’m not sure how long we waited, but after that film I would always and forever be a fan of the Star Wars movies.

Coincidentally, the first trading cards I ever had as a kid were movie cards based on Empire. My mom used to buy them for me, and I recall having stacks of these in a shoebox. Now, I only have a few dozen.

Below are some of my cards from the various sets based on The Empire Strikes Back.

The scene with the Imperial AT-AT Walkers was my favorite part of The Empire Strikes Back. If you have 7 minutes to spare, watch this clip and remember how awesome a film Empire is…and how awesome a job Irvin Kershner did when directing it. 

Monster Drops the F-Bomb

In last night’s Toronto-Montreal game, Maple Leafs’ defenseman Mike Komisarek accidentally passed the puck to Canadiens’ forward Mike Cammalleri, resulting in a sweet one-timer goal. Hilarious, because everyone knows that you should never pass the puck in front of your own net.

Even more hilarious was Leafs’ goalie Jonas “The Monster” Gustavsson bellowing  the F-Bomb at the top of his lungs after he realized that it was his own d-man who set up Cammalleri.

Here is video of Cammaleri’s goal and Gustavsson’s reaction.



Going to a Card Show Today

I’m going to the Chicago Sun-Times Sports Collectibles Convention. Thus, no time for a long blog post.

If you live in or near Chicago and like sports cards, this is the show to go to. Here are the details:

Chicago Sun Times Sports Collectibles Convention
November 19-21, 2010
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
5555 N. River Road, Rosemont, IL 60018
$10 Daily Admission (Children 7 & under $5)

More details can be found on this website.

Hopefully on Sunday, I’ll post some scans of all the awesome stuff I get.

Vintage Haul

A few weeks ago, I picked up 11 vintage hockey cards, but have not had the chance to post them until now. Feast your eyes on these:

Two 1963-64 Topps cards

Unfortunately, the Hadfield has a bit of a tear on the back, and the Kennedy has a stain on the lower right corner. I find it odd that the cards use black and white pictures of other players on the fronts.

Seven 1968-69 O-Pee-Chee cards

These cards are in awesome condition. No stains, creases or flaws. Four sharp corners, too.

I actually built a 1968-69 Topps set, and have been meaning to start piecing together the OPC version.

Two 1969-70 O-Pee-Chee cards

The Angotti has a slight bend–not really a crease. I also have a 1969-70 Topps set, but not the OPC version. However, I don’t like this set as much as its predecessor.

OK, time to brag. I paid $25 for all 11 cards. None of them are of superstars–though Dennis Hull was a 2nd Team All-Star, and I think Dallas Smith was too.

RC, or Not RC…? That is the Question

Do you consider stickers “Rookie Cards?” 

Sure, stickers lack the rigidity of their cardboard cousins, though some stickers have stiff backings.

Maybe they are not “cards” per say, but why don’t stickers carry the coveted RC designation?

Both stickers and cards are printed on paper. Stickers usually don’t have stats, but many old hockey cards didn’t have stats either.

In order to be considered a “rookie card” by Beckett’s standards, a card has to adhere to the following 3 guidelines. Continue reading “RC, or Not RC…? That is the Question”