Hendrick Holding On To Johnson, Gordon

When your teams make up the top three positions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Standings, it’s a pretty wise decision to keep them together. Hendrick Motorsports, the practical New York Yankees of racing, announced that Jimmie Johnson was given a new contract through 2015 while veteran Jeff Gordon will race through at least 2013. With a new family and recent back issues, many fans and NASCAR memorabilia collectors have speculated the 38-year old Gordon may be eying his career’s checkered flag.

The contractual news is of course secondary to Jimmie Johnson’s chase for a record fourth-consecutive Sprint Cup Championship, which is only 400 miles away given Johnson can finish 25th or better in Sunday’s Ford 400. While Jimmie Johnson collectibles haven’t come to rival Michael Jordan autographs in demand, the driver of the Lowe’s Chevrolet Impala is moving closer and closer to becoming what MJ was to basketball: the hands-down greatest.

The Ford 400 will go green this Sunday at 2:35 p.m. from Homestead Miami Speedway in South Florida.

Pats, Jets Look To Rebound

This Sunday’s matchup between the sulking New England Patriots and the sinking New York Jets may be the most crucial of the regular season for the AFC East. Coming off a heartbreaking, oft-discussed loss to the Indianapolis Colts on national television, Tom Brady and the Pats will look to put the final nail in the Jets’ once-promising season. Losers of five of their last six, fans and New York Jets memorabilia collectors have to be shocked as to how a team that started out 3-0 fall so far so fast. While their season is on life support, collectors of Tom Brady autographs and other signed Patriots items have been second-guessing head coach Bill Belichick’s now-infamous decision to go for it on fourth down in Sunday night’s loss to the Colts.

The Patriots currently own a two-game lead over the Jets in the AFC East. The teams will meet in Foxboro this Sunday at 4:15 p.m.

Lebron To NFL?

Lebron James is a man that’s used to being in the sports memorabilia news. After declaring he’d switch his NBA jersey number to 6 next season to honor Michael Jordan’s 23, Lebron caused a stir last night when he declared he’d one day consider playing in the NFL. Surely sales of his autographed football memorabilia would become the most in-demand for fans and Browns memorabilia collector. It’s not the most unbelievable idea to conjure up. After all, King James does weigh in at 250 pounds and, at over 6″8, he has the size of a prototypical wide receiver.

Lebron and the Cavs host the Washington Wizards tonight at 7 p.m.

James Urging Players To Retire 23

With Michael Jordan sitting just feet away, Lebron James made a daring challenge to all NBA players: follow my lead and ditch the 23. Lebron, whose number 23 Cleveland Cavaliers NBA jersey is one of the best selling pieces of NBA apparel around the world, is urging his fellow NBA’ers to unofficially retire the number in honor of the former Bulls superstar. James also stated he will switch to the number 6 next season. One has to wonder if that’s the only switch he’ll be making given his pending free agency. While Michael Jordan autographs and jerseys are still some of the most in-demand sports memorabilia items, Lebron’s no slacker as his licensed jersey has been in the top three of sales in each of the past four seasons.

Hornets Slow Start Costs Scott

Let the NBA coaching carousel begin. Fans and Hornets memorabilia collectors have been stunned by the team’s disappointing 3-6 start to the season, but their sports autograph collectors have to be even more shocked that the slow start has cost head coach Byron Scott his job. The Hornets fired Scott early Thursday and will replace him with veteran assistant Jeff Bower. While the slow start hasn’t hurt searches for Chris Paul autographs, the Hornets find themselves 2.5 games behind the Dallas Mavericks in the Southwest Division.

Upon Further Review…

The use of instant replay and just how prominent modern technology could be in major sports has been a topic of debate for fans and sports autograph collectors in recent years. On the same day MLB owners struck down an opportunity to expand the use of replay, an NBA game was decided by a 10-minute replay review after the game. The fact it was a nationally broadcast for fans, basketball memorabilia collectors and viewers made it even more intriguing. With the Chicago Bulls trailing the Denver Nuggets 90-89 with 0.3 seconds, Bulls center Brad Miller hoisted a desperation 23-footer that found the net and a raucous crowd of fans in Bulls apparel celebrated what they thought was a miraculous victory. Not so much. After a lengthy ten minute review, the officials ruled the ball had not left yet the tips of Miller’s fingers and the basket was no good. It was not only heartbreaking for fans at the United Center and tuning in on NBA TV, but also fanned the replay flames for fans of Major League Baseball who feel too many calls have been flat out wrong in recent years.

Exciting Start To ‘09 NBA Season

Fans and NBA memorabilia collectors were treated to an exciting start to the 2009-’10 regular season as the Boston Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 95-89. In a rematch of the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals, the big three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen combined for 52 points while Rasheed Wallace put in 12 off the bench.

Lebron James put in a game-high 38, but that wasn’t enough as the Pierce hit clutch shot after clutch shot in the game’s final 90 seconds to give the Celtics their first victory in Quicken Loans arena in almost three seasons. The game had to remind fans and Celtics autographs collectors of the 2008 Playoffs when Pierce was practically unstoppable.

The NBA’s best team at home last season, the Cavs will look to bounce back on the road against rookie Jonny Flynn and the Minnesota Timberwolves tomorrow night at the Target Center.

All Eyes On Blake Griffin

Some breaking news for fans and basketball autograph collectors: Clippers rookie Blake Griffin has a broken left kneecap and will likely miss most of the first two months of the season. It’s another tough break for the Clippers, although it seems fans and Clippers memorabilia collectors actually do have a lot to look forward to this season. Along with Griffin, the Clips have solid front court talent in the forms of Chris Kaman and Marcus Camby. The electrifying Baron Davis will be running the point, but all fans, season ticket holders and sports memorabilia eyes will be on top pick Griffin and his acclimation to life in the NBA.

Jordan Still Top Asset

Yesterday marked one of the truly important moments in sports history. A young man named Michael Jordan stepped onto an NBA court for the first time back on October 26th, 1984. While fans and NBA memorabilia collectors could never imagine the career that would come to be, Jordan would go on to become the greatest player in basketball history and one of the truly iconic figures in American history. Few sports autographs are more in demand each and every day than Michael Jordan signed items, and with Jordan’s entrance into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame this past summer that demand may be more intense than ever.

Jordan Rookie Jersey Set For Sale

Vintage jersey specialist Mitchell & Ness has been a hit for fans looking for vintage sports apparel and throwback NFL jerseys, but fans and NBA memorabilia collectors may have to stretch their wallets a little farther with the company’s newest product. M&N is set to release the Michael Jordan rookie jersey, an exact replica of the Bulls jersey his young airness wore back in his rookie campaign of 1984-85. The jersey will be limited to only 1,264 editions, one for every game of Jordan’s professional career, and will sell for $375 a pop.