Do You Believe In (the) Magic?

About ten percent of NBA regular season games really have a genuine playoff feel, last night’s Magic-Celtics match-up was one of them. Despite the fact he was shown signing some autographed basketballs before the game, Celts star Kevin Garnett was limited to only four points in 17 minutes and didn’t appear during the fourth quarter. Each time it seemed like Orlando would pull away, fan and NBA memorabilia top-seller Paul Pierce would reel off a couple of tough buckets and pull the Champs closer, finally squaring up the game with 1:29 left in the fourth. But it was the play of Orlando’s own big-three - Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu - who sealed the victory, and the second seed in the east, down the stretch.

We’re hoping too see some of the Celtics NBA game used items from their championship run last season, especially given the recent popularity of center Glen “Big Baby” Davis. Davis has stepped his game up since Boston lost Garnett some four weeks ago, and best of all he’s still seen handing out sports autographs to the fans after shoot-around.

Spurs Make It 22 Straight Over Golden State

Basketball fans and sports memorabilia collectors know that the San Antonio Spurs are one of the most dominant franchises in sports. One club that knows that exceptionally well are the Golden State Warriors. While Tim Duncan autographs are must-haves for fans collecting signed NBA basketballs, I doubt Monta Ellis or Jamal Crawford will be getting in line for Spurs memorabilia any time soon. The Spurs beat the Warriors 107-106 last night, marking the 22nd consecutive victory for the Spurs over Golden State at home. If you want to do the math, that would mean the Warriors haven’t beaten the Spurs in San Antonio since all the way back on February 14th, 1997, a streak that’s currently good for best in the NBA.

“Classic” Best Entertainment of Weekend

It’s hard to decide which story that, as both a fan and sports autographs collector has grown more annoying; Terrell Owens missing his first practice in a Bills jersey or a new set of fans will be hunting for Jay Cutler autographs this fall. I do know one thing after what was a great weekend in sports: the World Baseball Classic is here to stay. Did anyone else catch the championship game last night? It was excellent and featured one of the best pitchers in the world: Daisuke Matsuzaka. The Boston Red Sox ace has been a hit with baseball memorabilia collectors since debuting for the Sox in the spring of 2007, and was named the Classic’s MVP while his nation took home the title for the second consecutive contest. Even though the United States team came up third in the tournament, it was still an excellent way to get ready for the 2009 baseball season.

UConn Breaks the Hearts of Chatanooga, Late Night Fans Everywhere

On Tuesday night, Late Night host Jimmy Fallon threw the support of his show and their fans behind #16 ranked University of Tennessee at Chatanooga in preparation for their opening round match-up with #1 seeded UConn. Sorry Jimmy. Even without head coach Jim Calhoun, UConn, one of the biggest college sports memorabilia sources, drubbed Chatanooga to the tune of 103-47. Crisp and playing with a swagger, it was a work of basketball and NCAA art the way the Huskies dominated from tip to buzzer.

I’m not sure exactly how far the Huskies will go in this tournament. In fact, I find them very similar to UNC in how they rarely play a full 40 minutes at the top of their game. I remember the UConn teams of the late 90’s, where Khalid El-Amin and Richard Hamilton lead some of the fiercest fast breaks I’ve ever seen. Signed college jerseys from those guys are still top sellers for sports memorabilia collectors looking for something to remember their favorite tourney by. If you’re looking for a gift for a friend or husband, NCAA home and office item might make the perfect gift, just make sure you match up that paperweight with the correct school.

Youk Latest Red Sock to Depart WBC

Just a day after reporting to our sports memorabilia collectors that Red Sox manager Terry Francona was on edge about injuries in the WBC, Team USA manager announced that Boston first baseman Kevin Youkilis will miss the remainder of the tournament with a sore left ankle. Youk was huge for Boston last year, and Kevin Youkilis memorabilia rose to the popularity usually reserved for Derek Jeter autographs and autographed bats from guys like David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez. Despite having to miss the remainder of the tournament, the Gold Glove first baseman will be back in camp for the Sox within the next week.

WBC Keeping Francona On Edge

The World Baseball Classic has been a treat for MLB memorabilia collectors and fans alike. In fact, the drama has even caught up with Red Sox manager Terry Francona, though not how intended. No, the drama isn’t the kind of pulling for your country and trying to win bragging rites for the next three years, it’s the nerves of a manager whose already seen one of his key players force himself into the trainer’s room due to injury. While I doubt it’ll have a negative effect on Dustin Pedroia memorabilia, fans and Red Sox memorabilia collectors certainly were holding their breath when the reigning American League Most Valuable Player had to pull himself out of competition with an abdominal injury. Thankfully for Dustin and the Nation, the “MVPedroia” will be suiting up in his regular MLB jersey in just a few short weeks as opening day creeps closer and closer.

Excellent Sunday In the NBA

Fans and NBA memorabilia collectors had no shortage of action on what was a great Sunday to catch some hoops. Nets memorabilia collectors had a chance to see Vince Carter put on a show in LA, dropping 41 in a game ultimately decided by Steve Novak’s buzzer-beating three from the corner. Meanwhile in Cleveland, fans looking for Cavaliers memorabilia got to witness Lebron James and company cruise past the Knicks and improve their record to a straight-up nasty 29-1 at home. In Dallas, fans saw their Mavericks’ playoff chances take a hit as the Lakers beat Dirk, Kidd & Co. for the sixth straight time. Even though most of the fans were cloaked in dark blue, there was definitely a large contingent looking to score a piece of Kobe Bryant signed memorabilia.

Cavs, Lebron Have Night For the Decade

Good things come to those who wait. For Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, extending their lead in the Eastern Conference meant notching their first win against the Suns in the desert in a decade. That’s right, the Cavs hadn’t won in Phoenix since the days of NBA apparel consisting of those really short shorts and fans were rocking Charles Barkley NBA t-shirts and collecting Suns memorabilia before the days of Nash and O’Neill. Fueled by Lebron James’ third-consecutive triple-double, the Cavs now have a two-and-a-half game lead on the Celtics for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Lebron, who rewarded fans with some autographed basketball jerseys before the game, is trying to put a grand finale for what has been an MVP-quality regular season.

Manny Mum On Pap’s Banter

With every baseball Manny Ramirez autographs in LA, the farther he seems from his days patrolling left field at Boston’s Fenway Park. The day before Hollywood’s favorite new star debuted in Spring Training, the dread-locked slugger was handing out some autographed baseball memorabilia and declined to comment on Jonathon Papelbon’s comments that Manny was a “cancer” and the Sox were “better off without him”. While signed Red Sox memorabilia is always a favorite of collectors, I doubt many will be looking to eradicate Ramirez from their own stock of autographed baseballs.

D-Wade Shining Brightest

On a night when things turned ugly in the City of Angels, Dwyane Wade blew ‘em all away against his home town Bulls. While it won’t impact searches for Lakers memorabilia, the shot Trevor Ariza doled out on Portland guard Rudy Fernandez was beyond uncalled-for. Even though both teams seamed to be on the brink of starting something really ugly, the story of the night came some 3,000 miles away down in Miami, where Wade put another page in his MVP notebook. Already having a monster game and a must-have player if you collect NBA memorabilia, Wade not only hit a three-pointer to send the game to overtime, but with under five seconds to go in double OT, Flash stole the ball from John Salmons and hit a running three to give the Heat a 130-127 victory. It was another thrilling chapter for what has been a comeback season for the 2006 Finals MVP. After missing most of last season with a myriad of injuries, Wade has started all 62 games for Miami this year, averaging 29.4 per night which is almost five points above his career average. Fans looking for autographed basketballs or for some new NBA apparel should consider D-Wade. This season has solidified him amongst the Lebron Jameses and Kobe Bryants of the world.