1k status: most viewed hobby talk threads.

These are links to threads from various message boards that have hit one thousand views. It might be an incredible mailday, a controversial hobby issue or something else. Whatever it is, these are the threads that usually generate lots of opinions and mostly stimulating conversation and a wealth of information that is positive for the hobby. I’ve made this post to hopefully keep these threads easily accessible for everyone. The date listed represents the day the thread started.

3/09/11, The guy that bought both HK Blake Next Days Opened Dispute’s
3/05/11, Some additions…
2/28/11, I Wish Panini Made These Cards…
2/27/11, VIDEO and contest: 10-11 Contenders Patches Box Break
2/07/11, Showoff your essential credentials!
1/11/11, Reviving 90s insert thread!
1/07/11, Old-School 90′s MJ autos/jersey goes for CRAZY amount!
12/28/10, Blake Griffin cards are going insane *beyond stupid…
11/23/10, NBA Stencils. (“The Dunk” added 03/05)
10/20/10, Fun Thread: What are your pet peeves in the hobby?
10/18/10, 08-09 PMG: Green Are On Fire!!
2/20/09, Post your #1 very best card you have.

1/14/11, How worthless Beckett has become
1/07/11, Old-School MJ auto/jersey goes for CRAZY amount!
11/02/10, Ultimate 2010 is out -SICK UD!
10/31/10, Tales of Epic Fails…cards you should not have got rid of.
10/12/10, Really love this MJ’s card

1/25/11, Card companies leaving major hits out of their product?

3/06/11, i think famous fabrics puts out fake gu patches..
2/28/11, Stuff you won’t see from Panini (Or at least for now)
2/11/11, The Men Behind Blake Griffin’s $32,000 Panini America Basketball Card
4/10/10, Show off your Favorite Basketball Card!

More impressive 90′s sales: Larry Johnson

I don’t really track this card often, but this recent $70 sale caught my eye.  To see more sales of this set, go here. It isn’t updated very often, though.

Larry Johnson 01 Topps $40.88 11/26/10
Larry Johnson 01 Topps $70.51 2/23/11 190501920121

Could Shaq Have Saved Biggie’s Life?

Very interesting perspective.

Fourteen years ago Wednesday, the Notorious B.I.G. (aka Christopher Wallace) was murdered in Los Angeles after the Soul Train Music Awards. It was a massive loss for the music community, not only because Biggie was and still is one of the greatest rappers of all time, but because he was the kind of creative force that made everyone around him better. His absence is still felt in the genre to this day.
What does any of this have to do with basketball? Well, as discussed in the ESPN “Outside the Lines” feature above (via @jose3030), Shaquille O’Neal(notes) (then in his first season with the Lakers) was supposed to hang out with Biggie at a party on that fateful night. The two became friends during Shaq’s early recording career and even performed together on the track “Can’t Stop the Reign” for his third album. That song’s not “Juicy,” but it’s also far from the most ridiculous cut of Shaq’s middling forays into the world of rap.

I love this cover!

I haven’t been to the bookstore lately, so this looks new to me. It’s from a few weeks ago. Cool cover!

One Hell of an Endorsement!

Derrick Rose 07 Topps McDonald’s All American $599.99 3/06/11 220749153883

Nick Friedell, ESPN Chicago: “Former Bulls legend Michael Jordan believes Derrick Rose is the MVP of the NBA. ‘MVP of the season,’ Jordan said about Rose after the Bulls’ 101-84 win over his Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night. ‘He deserves it. He’s playing that well. He deserves it. Without a doubt. And if he doesn’t get it, now he’ll see how I felt a lot of years.’ Rose, who scored 20 points in the Bulls’ victory, loved the support from arguably the greatest player of all time. ‘That’s huge, man,’ he said with a smile. ‘When the person that you’re playing behind, all you hear about is Mike, especially in Chicago, look up to him. For him to say that, it’s unbelievable. It’s an honor and I’m speechless right now.’ … Rose said he didn’t talk to Jordan, the Bobcats owner, after the game, but hopes to later, when the stakes are higher. ‘No, I didn’t talk to him,” Rose said. ‘But probably in the playoffs. [I'll] probably have to talk to him about certain things.’”