the world is coming to an end..... sooner than we thought.

doesn't look like the Macho Man can save us from this one.............


NEW YORK (AP) -- The fan who returned Derek Jeter's ball from his 3,000th hit will get a bit of memorabilia to keep -- his own baseball card.


Topps says it will produce a trading card featuring Christian Lopez that will be included in sets later this year.

"We thought what he did captures the essence of what baseball and the Topps company is about," said Mark Sapir, Topps vice president for sports.
The recent college graduate with outstanding student loans will get some financial help, too.
Memorabilia dealer Brandon Steiner and sporting goods CEO Mitch Modell said they will make sure Lopez gets at least $50,000 toward his outstanding student loans of $150,000.

Steiner said he got a call on Wednesday from his buddy Modell, and they got the ball rolling. Steiner set up an auction of memorabilia that eventually will include baseballs signed by both Lopez and Jeter and said Modell is pledging five percent from the sale of Yankees-related merchandise at the Modell's chain during what will be called "Christian Lopez Week."
"That itself is a totally awesome situation right now for all parties involved," Lopez said.

What impressed the sports executives -- as well as countless fans across the country -- was the way a 23-year-old mobile phone salesman passed on the chance to sell the ball.
Instead, Lopez gave the ball to Jeter, saying he deserved to have the keepsake.
"Can you believe how good a mensch this kid was?" Steiner said.
Lopez has been overrun with requests since Saturday.
"It's been overwhelming to be honest with you," he said. "It's been a little crazy. But I'm handling it as best I can. I'm trying to get back to everybody I can."
That includes Topps.
"Yeah, I spoke with them a couple days ago," Lopez said. "All I know, is they kind of want to make a baseball card out of me."

Lopez was an avid collector as a kid. He said he has "probably a couple thousand baseball cards."
His favorite? A Yankees card, of course. It depicts Babe Ruth and one of the Yankees' owners at the time he came over from the Red Sox in 1920.
"It's a very dear card to me. I've had it for 15 years now or so," Lopez said.
Now he'll have another Yankees card to keep next to it.

Going to a cardshow and what did I find?

Sweet F.A. baby.

It's a smaller show (15-20 tables) held the first weekend of every month in the lobby of a hockey/curling rink.
There was a women's hockey tournament going on, so it looked like a lot of people were there, but in reality maybe 20 customers.
I have never seen so much overpriced cards in my life. No dealers, only wannabes. Every seller there was between 48-65 years old. Unwashed. Still living in his mom's basement. You know what I'm talking about. Stereotypes exist for a reason kids!

Everwhere you looked it was quadruple jersey autographed game worn jock super refractors. Millions of them. And no prices. Anywhere. Warning! Warning!

I found two dudes selling football and baseball, and pulled a Kenshin Kawakami '09 Ballpark autograph /200. No price. *sigh* "How much?" I ask. "Well son, that card books for over $80, but I've never seen it sell on ebay for less than $100. You see, he's Japanese! It's rare that us white folk ever get to see a card like this. Them Japs snap 'em up so quick!" he says, snapping his fingers. I look around, assuming I just transported into middle Arkansas. Nope. Still surrounded by women on skates. "But I'll let you have it for full book. A steal!" he says.

I'd already walked away. I found one when I got home. Better snag it before them foreigners do, eh?

Wow. It didn't get any better. Finally I paid some dude $6 for 18 cards from the '76/77 and '77/78 OPC hockey sets. I think I got raped on that too... but I was busy looking over my shoulder for the Japanese.

And then I left. Thank the gods it was free admission and I could go watch some hockey after...

a question...

I've got a stack of Will Clark's sitting on my desk.

Who the hell were they for?

Speak up. My hearing might be going... my mind sure as hell is.

for the love of the gods...

WTF are they doing???? And it's an SP to boot.

I've been neglectful...

So with everything that has been happening over the last couple of months, I somehow have stopped acquiring cards of my favourite (or at least, top 2) player. Adam LaRoche.

In an effort to remedy that, I made a trip to the local card store. Here, that means ebay. A quick search, a couple of clicks, and voila! A brand new 2009 Upper Deck SPx Adam LaRoche auto jersey for $3.
Wait a sec... this is the brand new 2009 Upper Deck SPx Adam LaRoche.... in an Atlanta jersey?!?!? He's only been in Pittsburgh for over TWO YEARS! Can Upper Deck not do anything right? Remember this from the new 2009 base set?

idiots.

Idiot of the Year Award

You've all probably seen it. Heard it. Read about it. I, like a couple of other blogs, will not link to it. Google it if you must.
Chase Utley, hero to kids everywhere, is officially an complete idiot. A moron. A waste of space.
There is absolutely no excuse for purposely dropping the F bomb in front of all of those kids. What was he thinking? Oh, that's right, he wasn't. What really drives me is the complete lack of media reaction. If Terrell Owens or Barry Bonds had said that, there would be congressional hearings. All parades would be on tape delay. Marshall Law would be imposed.
Whatever. Maybe I'm over-reacting because I'm the father of two very impressionable 10 year olds.
Or maybe everyone else is under-reacting.