Fall Sports Card Expo 2008 - Toronto (Update)

My full recap will follow soon.  I've been laying low due to a cold which has struck me down since the end of the Expo.  I received a nice package in the mail today so I'll do a pack break in a few minutes.  Then my next task, after posting the break, will be my Expo Update.

Fall Sports Card Expo 2008 - Toronto

I'll soon be jumping on a plane headed for Toronto.  This weekend is the bi-annual Sports Card Expo at the International Centre.   This will be my third visit in a row, the previous ones being in November 2007 and May 2008.  I'll have a run-down on my purchases and the fun upon my return.  I see lots of box-busting in my future!

Transformers

Hockey isn't all glamour and cash.  When a newly-drafted, 18 year-old Mike Ricci came to the NHL, things looked bright.  A sniper in junior hockey and rugged, good looks.

15 years later and a gradual career change from a sniper to a grinder, Mike Ricci barely looks like the same man.  But who wouldn't want to go to war with a guy who looks like this... 

Fake Sports Card of the Day

The ever-cute Hayden Panettiere being frisky on her first date with the Stanley Cup.

'Staches, 'Fros, and Bad Do's

Have you ever noticed that professional athletes today often look much different from professional athletes from decades ago?  Case in point, these three cards from 1976-77 O-Pee-Chee:

Len Frig was a defenseman for the now defunct Cleveland Barons.  His hockey card states that "Len is an excellent skater".   However, Len is not excellent with his hairbrush. 

Jerry Korab was a defenseman for the Buffalo Sabres and his nickname was King Kong.  Love the 'stache, Jerry... and kudos on the necklace.

Ernie Hicke, a winger for the Minnesota North Stars "operates a hockey school in the off-season."  Ernie also operates with little regard to style.... another rockin' necklace and an afro for the ages.

Overwhelmed!

Ever get that feeling?  That need to make the collection smaller?

eBay seems to be the best way.  Trading.  Selling on hobby sites.  They're all good.  Even giving some of the lesser-wanted junk to young kids.  Turning them into future addicts.

The trouble is that it just takes so much time.  Scanning photos, writing descriptions, dealing, mailing.

It almost makes you stop before you even start...

Card of the Week

A beautiful card from 2008-09 Upper Deck Legends Masterpieces.  The Sutter family in all their glory.  Ron, Rich, Darryl, Duane, Brent, and Brian.  There are a lot of portrait-style cards in the set and the artistry is quite good.  They are much better than the base cards from In The Game Ultimate.