Top 10 Pieces of Football Memorabilia

By Kevin Craft

1. Joe Montana & Dwight Clark Signed 49ers “The Catch” 16×20 Photo:
This duel-signed photo captures Montana’s legendary throw to Clark, whose fingertip catch was the winning touchdown in the 1982 NFC championship game. The 49ers would go on to win the first of the franchise’s five super bowls, and this catch would go down as one of the greatest plays in NFL history.

2. Walter Payton Signed Wilson NFL Game Ball:
An NFL game ball signed by Chicago Bears legendary running back Walter Payton displays perfectly and is a must for any football memorabilia enthusiast. Payton, known as “sweetness” set the all time rushing record and won the 1985 super bowl during his fourteen year career with the Bears.

3. Steel Curtain Autographed Black & White 16×20 Photograph:
This elegant black and white photograph captures the 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers’ famed front four of “Mean” Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood, Ernie Holmes, and Dwight White. Aptly nicknamed the “Steel Curtain” the quartet helped Pittsburgh hold opponents scoreless five times that season.

4. Lawrence Taylor Signed Giants Throwback Riddell Mini Helmet:
An autographed helmet from one of football’s greatest player. Taylor wrecked havoc in the NFC east recording 132.5 career sacks and helping the Giants win two Super Bowl titles.

5. Brett Favre Autographed SBXXXI Champs, 95, 96, 97 MVP Green Bay Packers Jersey:
Packer quarterback Brett Favre hand signed this jersey, “SBXXXI Champs, 95,95,97 MVP”. That signature sums up his dominance of the sport during the 1990’s. Favre, who is on the verge of breaking Dan Marino’s record for career touchdown passes, is a legendary quarterback whose reputation grows with each season.

6. Signed New York Times Cover Reprint January 13, 1969 Namath is Fabulous:
After guaranteeing victory against the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, Joe Namath delivered the goods and engineered a 16-7 victory. This signed reprint of the NY Times from the next day captures one of the watershed moments in NFL history.

7. Troy Aikman Autographed Career Retirement NFL Football:
Drafted number 1 by the Cowboys after finishing his collegiate career as the third best rated passer in NCAA history, Troy Aikman restored one of the NFL’s proudest franchises to its former glory by leading them to three Super Bowl titles in the 1990’s.

8. Peyton manning Autographed Super Bowl Confetti Indianapolis Colts 16×20 Photo:
After displaying individual brilliance for his entire career, Peyton Manning finally won a Super Bowl in 2007 thus achieving the one accolade that had so far eluded him. This photo shows Super Bowl XLI’s Most Valuable player being showered with confetti and is hand signed by the Colts’ star quarterback.

9. 2004 New England Patriots Team Autographed Helmet:
By winning 3 Super Bowls in 4 years, the New England Patriots became the first NFL dynasty of the free agent era. Captained by quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichik the Patriots represent team play in every sense of the phrase. Celebrate this dynasty with a helmet autographed by the entire team.

10. Barry Sanders Signed Lions Riddell Deluxe Full-Size Replica Helit w/’89 ROY & 97 MVP:
Legendary running back Barry Sanders signed this full size replica with the inscription “89 ROY & 97 MVP”. It celebrates Sanders’ brilliance as a running back who confounded defenders with his seemingly boundless ability to change directions on a dime. Sanders was one of the NFL’s most exciting players and this piece displays beautifully in any NFL collection.

Top 10 Notorious Sports Scandals

by Kevin Craft

1. Chicago “Black” Sox:
During the 1919 World Series, 8 members of the Chicago White Sox including “Shoeless” Joe Jackson received lifetime bans from baseball after evidence showed they had been paid that season to throw games. Baseball recovered from this early scandal, and Jackson went to his grave maintaining his innocence.
2. The Steroid Era:
Baseball’s current era takes place under the specter of steroid use and will continue to do so unless a mandatory testing policy is implemented by league officials. In the past decade, the number of home runs hit each year has soared and prominent power hitters such as Jason Giambi and Rafael Palmeiro have admitted to using steroids. Whether or not record setters such as Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds are clean is unproven, but public sentiment is certainly against them.
3. Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan:
Women’s figure skating became brutal in 1994, when American skater Tonya Harding’s ex-husband hired a thug to strike fellow skater Nancy Kerrigan on the knee at a practice session for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Kerrigan was forced to withdraw and Harding won the event, though later admitted to helping cover up the attack. She always denied being involved in its planning, and during the 1994 Winter Olympics placed eighth to Kerrigan’s second.
4. Pete Rose:
Major League Baseball’s all time hits leader received a lifetime ban from the sport after being accused of gambling on baseball games as a player and manager. In 2004, he admitted to betting on his own team, the Reds, and as a result one of baseball’s greatest players will probably never earn a spot in Cooperstown.
5. Ben Johnson:
At the 1988 Olympics, Ben Johnson defeated his American rival, Carl Lewis, in the 100 Meter dash while lowering his own world record from 9.83 to 9.79. He was forced, however, to relinquish the medal and record after testing positive for steroids. It would later be revealed that Lewis had tested positive for banned stimulants before the 1988 Olympics, but Johnson bore the majority of the disgrace.
6. NBA Referee Scandal:
NBA officiating took a big credibility hit when it was revealed that long time league official Tim Donaghy bet on games he officiated and held ties to organized crime. Whether this is an isolated incident or widespread problem remains to be seen, but it will be hard for fans and players to trust officials in the upcoming season.
7. Duke Lacrosse Team:
In 2006, members of Duke’s lacrosse team were charged with sexually assaulting a stripper they had hired to perform at a team party. The charges were eventually dropped, but the incident shed light onto the machismo infused and often perverse culture that surrounds male, collegiate athletics.
8. Diego Maradona:
Fifa’s player of the Century tested positive for ephedrine, a banned substance, during the 1994 World Cup. This tarnished the already shaky reputation of one of the world’s most prolific soccer players and demonstrated that not even the “beautiful game” is immune to cheating.
9. Michael Vick:
While Vick has yet to proven guilty of any illegal activities, the fact that a dog fighting ring operated out of his property in southern VA will go down in history as one of sports most notorious scandals. Vick faces the possibility of a lifetime ban from the NFL as well as a jail sentence that would effectively end his playing career.
10. Jim Harrick:
In 2002, Jim Harrick resigned from his head coaching position at the University of Georgia for giving his players A’s in certain classes. Harrick’s behavior is probably not uncommon, but it ruined the reputation of this former national championship winning coach.

Top 10 Sports Stories of the Week (7/23/07)

By Kevin Craft

1. NBA Referee investigated:
NBA referee Tim Donaghy is at the heart of an FBI investigation on sports gambling and faces allegations of betting on games he officiated as well as having ties to organized crime.
2. Michael Vick Indicted:
After weeks of speculation, Michael Vick was indicted by federal prosecutors on a number of charges relating to a dog fighting ring that allegedly operated out of Vick’s home in southern VA.
3. Sergio fails again:
Sergio Garcia lost a 4 round playoff Padraig Harrington to lose the British Open but retain his title as “The Best Golfer without a Major Championship.”
4. Barry Bonds inches closer to history:
Bonds pulled within two home runs of Hank Aaron’s record and with a seven game home stand starting on Monday looks to surpass the record in San Francisco.
5. David Beckham makes MLS debut:
Beckham played a mere twelve minutes as his LA Galaxy fell 1-0 to British powerhouse Chelsea in a somewhat meaningless exhibition match.
6. Danica Patrick collides with teammate:
Tony Kanaan collided with Danica Patrick and prevented her from becoming the first woman to win an Indy Car Series race.
7. A-Rod hits 498th home run:
As most eyes follow Barry Bonds’ march towards history, A-Rod quietly continues to make a case for himself as one of the game’s greatest power hitters.
8. Kobe shines in Team USA Scrimmage:
Bryant refused to answer questions about his status with the Lakers but hit the game winning shot for the blue squad in a scrimmage that featured players hoping to compete for the U.S. in the 2008 Olympics.
9. Rafael Nadal continues winning ways:
Nadal’s dominance on clay continued as he captured his sixth title of the year at the Stuggart cup in Germany winning 6-4, 7-5 against Stanislas Warinka.
10. Yi Jianlian refuses to play for Milwaukee:
In the days leading up to the NBA draft, Jianlian expressed his dislike of Milwaukee. Now his Chinese team, the Guangdong Tigers, is planning to block his move to the Bucks with no apparent complaints from Yi.

Top 10 Pieces of Autographed Sports Memorabilia

By Jesse Stein

This is the ultimate collection of sports memorabilia. If you could only have just ten pieces of signed sports collectibles, this would our selection.

(1) Michael Jordan Autographed Jersey – One of the best athletes of all time and indisputably the best basketball player who ever lived. This classic hand-signed red Bulls jersey from the 1997-98 season is the quintessential Jordan piece and, when framed, displays beautifully in a media room, office or game room.

(2) Tiger Woods Autographed Photo – Owning a piece from this golf legend is a must. Especially when it’s a hand-signed black-and-white 12X30 photo. One of the most elegant pieces of memorabilia on the marketplace. This “sweet swing” panoramic photo shows the master at work.

(3) Roger Federer Autographed Tennis Ball – Federer is already considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time and this piece, which includes a hand-signed tennis ball and photo inside a shadowbox, is the ideal collectible for this tennis phenom. Since 2003, Federer has reached 37 finals and won 33 of them. He’s already in the company of Sampras, Borg, Lendl and Connors- and Federer is still going strong.

(4) Mickey Mantle Autographed Baseball – A three-time MVP, Mantle hit over .300 in 10 seasons and participated in 12 World Series while playing for a team that won seven World Championships during his career. In our opinion, this hand-signed baseball is a must for any serious collector.

(5) 2004 Red Sox Team Signed Bat – Following an 86-year dry spell, the Red Sox finally prevailed and this hand-signed bat is the ideal piece, featuring 27 members of the team. This piece was created in a limited edition and numbered to just 175.

(6) Dale Earnhardt Jr. Signed Helmet – This is an authentic, hand-signed racing helmet from one of the most popular and respected NASCAR drivers. Add to Earnhardt own accomplishments his father’s legacy and you have the makings of a must-have piece of memorabilia.

(7) Wayne Gretzkey Autographed Rangers Jersey – This jersey from this hockey legend is hand-signed and features a fighting strap. If you’re going to own a hockey collectible, this is the piece.

(8) Joe Montana and Jerry Rice Dual Signed 49ers Helmet – This authentic hand-signed item is our pick for the best piece of football memorabilia anywhere. Montana directed the 49ers to four Super Bowl wins and Rice spent 20 seasons in the NFL, during which Rice won three championships.

(9) Pele Signed Jersey – Brazil has won more World Cups than any other country and this hand-signed jersey from soccer’s best-known legend is a must-have piece for any memorabilia collector.

(10) Muhammad Ali Autographed Boxing Glove – One of the best-known athletes in the world, Ali had 56 wins, 37 by knockout. His lovable arrogance, mastery in the ring and larger political symbolism in the midst of the Civil Rights Era make owning a piece of his memorabilia essential. This hand-signed glove is the ideal piece.

Top 10 Current Sports Rivalries

By Kevin Craft

Great rivalries make sports that much better. Here are the ten hottest rivalries in sports today.

10. Tiger Woods vs. the field:
Tiger Woods has reached the level of popularity Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali held in their prime. He is the most prominent athlete in the world today, and since no other PGA golfer can consistently challenge Tiger, the collective field Woods faces at every major has become his only rival.
9. Snow Boarding vs. Skiing:
ESPN’s X-games pushed snowboarding and its crop of young stars into the limelight this past decade. Skiing countered with the controversial Bode Miller in 2006, who grabbed headlines for his outrageous claims before the Salt Lake City Olympics. Miller tanked in the actual games while snowboarders such as Shaun White shined, but the skiing world still hopes snowboarding is just passing fad.
8. Packers vs. Bears:
This rivalry dates back to professional football’s early days. The Packers held the advantage during most of Brett Favre’s career, as number 4 for Green Bay tormented the Bears season after season. In the last few years, however, Chicago has bounced back and taken control of NFC north. But Favre may still have some magic left…
7. Yankees vs. Red Sox:
NY vs. Boston has lost some its luster since the Red Sox broke the “Curse of the Bambino” in 2004. Now that Sox fans have less to complain about and team owner John Henry is willing to spend like Steinbrenner, the yearly battle over free agents often carries more excitement than any on field action. Still, Boston and New York fans love to hate each other.
6. Steelers vs. Bengals:
Carson Palmer and Marvin Lewis revitalized a once proud franchise and looked poised to establish as the Bengals as the AFC North’s dominant team. Then Steelers defensive lineman Kimo von Oelhoeffen injured Palmer’s left knee, and Pittsburgh went on to a fifth super bowl title. No shortage of bad blood exists between these teams, and their talented rosters promise to make yearly battles worth watching.
5. Michael Phelps vs. history:
Phelps is quietly making a case for himself as the greatest athlete ever by shattering Olympic records and dominating his sport in a unique fashion. It is doubtful whether he’ll receive the recognition he deserves in Beijing – where he’s predicted to break the record for total number of gold medals held by an individual – but Phelp’s is arguably the world’s greatest athlete.
4. Shaq vs. Tim Duncan:
These two big men have dominated the NBA landscape for the past ten years. Each player holds four NBA championships and three NBA finals MVP awards. It would be appropriate if they could meet in the finals once before Shaq retires within the next few years.
3. Ohio State vs. Florida:
This is an unlikely rivalry that may cease to exist in the near future. Ohio State fans will not, however, soon forget the two NCAA championships they lost to the Gators in 2007.
2. Federer vs. Nadal:
The greatest individual rivalry in sports since Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. Nadal and Federer have won the last 10 grand slam titles and turned the ATP into their personal sparring ground. With Federer on the brink of history and Nadal on the cusp of all-around greatness, this match-up promises to stay compelling for years to come.
1. Manning vs. Brady:
Arguing over these quarterbacks’ places in history is more fun than watching most NFL games. Manning has incredible individual stats and finally got the monkey off his back by winning the Super Bowl this February– although his MVP trophy probably should have gone to Dominic Rhodes. Brady holds a 6 and 3 lifetime record against Manning and has three Super Bowl titles to his name. Neither player has shown signs of slowing down, and annual regular season match-ups, as well as the occasional playoff game, promise to keep this rivalry on the top of the list for a while.

Top 5 Reasons Home Run Hitting is Overrated

By Kevin Craft

Think smacking long balls is a good indicator of hitting prowess. Think again. Here are five reasons why home runs are an overrated statistic.

1. Location, location, location:
Not all baseball fields are created equally as the distance between home plate and the outfield wall varies from park to park. Players on teams with smaller stadiums have always held an unfair advantage in the home run category. For example, the distance to the old Yankees’ Stadium right field wall was a mere 285 ft; a distance that catered perfectly to Babe Ruth’s left handed swing. Barry Bonds benefits from playing in San Francisco where the right field wall lies only 309 ft away. Unless baseball establishes consistent dimensions for its fields, home run hitting will continue to depend on where a player swings his bat.
2. Performance Enhancing Substances:
Steroids and HGH may be rampant in the majors, but even over the counter muscle enhancing substances give today’s players extra juice that inflates their statistics. Mark McGwire admitted to taking androstenedione during the season he broke Roger Maris’ record. If Maris had access to creatine, however, his record may have been untouchable. Muscle enhancing substances gives today’s power hitters extra distance that makes comparisons to past sluggers nearly impossible.
3. A high batting average is more impressive:
In the past sixty-six years only one player has batted over .400 for the season, Ted Williams. Thirty players have hit over fifty home runs during a season in that same time period. A high batting average sticks out as the more notable stat.
4. Corked Bats:
Sammy Sosa was discovered using a corked bat in 2003. Since umpires don’t check teams’ equipment before a game, it’s impossible to know how often players like Sosa use these bats, which can give them up to twenty-feet of extra distance on their fly balls.
5. The Pitching Mound:
In 1969, Major League baseball lowered the pitching mound from sixteen inches to ten, making it easier for hitters. Today’s players may be rewriting the record books, but they have a huge advantage over their predecessors who had to face pitchers on a higher elevation.

Top 5 Reasons Greg Oden will Struggle in the NBA

By Kevin Craft

Since declaring himself eligible for the NBA draft, Greg Oden has been billed as a player who will dominate professional basketball for years to come. Don’t believe the hype. Here are five reasons that as a professional Oden will resemble Ralph Sampson more than Shaquille O’Neal.

1. Injuries will be his Achilles heel:
The ability to stay healthy during grueling professional seasons is often overlooked while evaluating draft prospects. When healthy, Oden is a force to be reckoned with. But a nagging wrist injury, a bulging disc in his back, and knees that undergo extra stress due misaligned hips threaten Oden’s durability. Sampson had a few great seasons before succumbing to injuries; Oden’s career may follow a similar trajectory.

2. He can’t stack up against NBA competition:
The most telling game of Oden’s brief collegiate career occurred in this year’s final four, when Ohio State played Georgetown and fellow seven footer Roy Hibbert guarded Oden. Against Hibbert, who is listed as two inches taller, Oden managed only thirteen points and nine rebounds. Dominating smaller players in college is one thing, but as a pro Oden will consistently find himself pitted against fellow seven footers. The western conference alone holds Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, and Yao Ming, all of whom stand seven feet or taller. It’s unclear whether Oden is up to the challenge of playing against bigger players and still performing at a high level.

3. He doesn’t have the passion needed to be a great player:
Great big men from Bill Russell to Tim Duncan have all shared one thing in common: a passion for basketball. Oden talks about basketball in a routine manner, and it’s unclear if he truly loves the game or was pushed into it due to his height. Physical skills can only carry players so far. Unless Oden works hard to develop his potential, he will not shine in the NBA and may end up pursing a career as a dentist – the job he wanted as a child.

4. His college career was not that spectacular:
Despite being seven feet tall and playing with a great point guard in Mike Connelly Jr., Oden only managed 15.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Some of that can be attributed to his injured wrist, but these numbers should have been higher. Compared to Shaquille O’Neal’s stats – 24.1 points and 14 rebounds during his final collegiate season – Oden’s numbers do not look that impressive.

5. Great College players don’t always make great pros:
Joe Smith, Marcus Camby, Michael Olowokandi, and are a three examples of college big men drafted in the last fifteen years who have failed to develop into the player each was expected to become. For every Tim Duncan, there are at least two players who struggle in the NBA. Considering he played only one, injury riddled season of college basketball, it’s foolish to definitively state that Oden will be an all-star caliber player for years to come.

Top Ten Sports Memorabilia Scams

by Kevin Craft

Fraudulent Memorabilia is a tangible threat to collectors. Before purchasing an autographed item, check that it comes with a credible form of verification and be extra careful to avoid these memorabilia scams.

1. Brett Favre Memorabilia:
In August of 2006, the Wisconsin Department of Justice filed charges against two merchants who had defrauded hundreds of consumers with framed prints purportedly signed by Packers quarterback Brett Favre. Due to Favre’s legendary status in Green Bay and amongst any NFL fans, his autograph carries value and is hard to acquire. Beware framed prints that lack credible verification.
2. The T206 Honus Wagner Baseball card:
The most famous baseball card in existence and the first card ever sold for over $1 million, this card is often fraudulently replicated because only 50 to 60 are thought to exist.
3. Babe Ruth Memorabilia:
Every now and then some innocent soul will venture into their grandparents’ attic and emerge with a baseball or bat baring the Babe’s autograph. How many of these pieces are authentic is questionable since Ruth memorabilia has been floating around for nearly a century. Unless it’s been appraised by a credible expert, do not trust anyone hawking Babe Ruth memorabilia.
4. Michael Jordan Memorabilia:
ESPN’s show outside the lines did a piece on fraudulent sports memorabilia and found Jordan’s signature is often forged. Do not buy any signed basketballs, jerseys, cards, or other Jordan memorabilia without a certificate of authentication.
5. Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa Memorabilia:
McGuire and Sosa’s record chasing summer of 1998 created a demand for signed memorabilia and conversely a plethora of fraudulent items. Many of these pieces are still in circulation.
6. Roger Clemens signed baseball:
One of the greatest power pitchers of all time, Clemens autograph is often sought. His John Hancock is also often forged so be careful from whom you buy.
7. Dwayne Wade signed basketball:
Dwayne Wade’s autograph is hard to acquire. Upper Deck holds signings with him but beware signed basketballs that lack credible verification.
8. Sandy Koufax autographed baseball:
Koufax is another pitching legend who rarely signs memorabilia other than with top companies such as Upper Deck. Beware sellers who claim they have autographed Koufax baseballs.
9. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson Memorabilia:
Memorabilia from either of these basketball giants is still some of the most sought after.
10. Rocket Richard Memorabilia:
Maurice “Rocket” Richard is a famous Canadian Hockey player from the 1950’s. His autograph is often sought by diehard Hockey players and unfortunately often fraudulently replicated according to ESPN’s outside the lines.