IT'S THREE HOURS BEFORE I FIND OUT TO WHAT EXTENT THE ATLANTA HAWKS HAVE FURTHER TRAINWRECKED THEIR FRANCHISE. WILL IT BE JUST A MINOR BLIP THAT STILL GIVES ME HOPE THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY MAKE IT TO THE PROMISED LAND ONE DAY? OR WILL IT BE A THOROUGH CATASTRASTROKE THAT WILL DESTROY ANY CHANCE OF THIS TEAM BEING GOOD AGAIN IN MY LIFETIME? ONLY TIME WILL TELL! IN THE MEANTIME HERE'S SOME RAMBLING ABOUT BASKEEBAWL CARDS I LIKE TO BUY WHEN I SEE THEM CHEEP BECAUSE I NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO CALM MY NERVES. IF THERE IS NO CATEGORY LISTED, ASSUME SUPERSTAR
2022-23 DONRUSS TRAE YOUNG PRODUCTION LINE
CATEGORY - HAWKS, TRAE
TRAE YOUNG IS MY FAVORITE PLAYER BECAUSE WHEN THE HAWKS PICKED LUKA AND AND THEN INEXPLICABLY TRADED HIM I MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO GET UPSET ABOUT A PLAYER I HAD NEVER HEARD OF A MONTH EARLIER AND INSTEAD GO ALL IN ON TRAE FANDOM. THIS HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD MOVE FOR ME SO FAR AS TRAE HAS BEEN AWESOME EVEN WHEN THE TEAM, COACHING, MANAGEMENT, FANBASE AND OWNERSHIP HAS SUCKED DONKEY BALLS. I WILL CONTINUE TO BE A TRAE FAN EVEN WHEN HE IS EVENTUALLY TRADED TO THE LAKERS OR (SHUDDER)
PELICANS. FORTUNATELY, EVERYONE HATES TRAE NOW SO I CAN PICK UP COOL CARDS CHEAP. EVEN THE LOCAL CARD SHOP HAS CUT PRICES AND TWO YEARS AGO THEY COULDN'T KEEP EM IN STOCK! OF COURSE I ALWAYS FIND CARDS CHEEP ON BASEBALLCARDSTORE DOT CA AND THIS PRODUCTION LINE INSERT IS VERY NICE
2019-20 CHRONICLES PANINI TRAE YOUNG
MY CHRONICLES HOARDING HAS DROPPED OFF A BIT LATELY DUE TO GETTING DISTRACTED BY A DOZEN OTHER SETS AND BEING TOO LAZY TO GET A SOLID NEEDS LIST TOGETHER. I WILL ALWAYS PICK UP PLAYERS I LIKE THOUGH EVEN IF THEY ARE FROM ONE OF CHRONICLES' MORE BORING SUBSETS. I THINK THE PANINI BRANDED BASKETBALL SET ONLY LASTED A COUPLE YEARS BUT CHRONICLES WILL DIG UP ANY OLD THING TO RECYCLE. DESPITE THE MINIMALIST DESIGN IT'S STILL A PRETTY GOOD LOOKING CARD WITH THE RIGHT PHOTO CHOICE. TRAE'S ALWAYS GOOD FOR A BUCKET
1991-92 SKYBOX MICHAEL VS. MAGIC
CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR, WANTLIST
MICHAEL JORDAN AND MAGIC JOHNSON ARE TWO PLAYERS I WILL RARELY PASS UP IN A BARGAIN BOX. ESPECIALLY JORDAN AS HIS CARDS USUALLY CARRY A PREMIUM PRICE TAG. MY 91-92 SKYBOX COLLECTION IS ANEMIC AND I COMPLETELY MISSED MY CHANCE TO BUY SOME BOXES FOR LESS THAN THREE FIGURES SO THIS WAS A QUICK PICKUP
1991-92 SKYBOX MICHAEL JORDAN SKYMASTER
CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR, WANTLIST
ANOTHER SKYBOX JORDAN THAT FILLS A HOLE IN A SET. THIS WAS IN THE DOLLAR BIN BUT WAS HONESTLY A BARGAIN. I MEAN, LOOK AT THE CARD. IF I FOUND THIS IN AN ANTIQUE MALL IT WOULD HAVE A $20 STICKER RIGHT ON THE CARD
1991-92 FLEER MICHAEL JORDAN TEAM LEADER
I HAVE THIS COMPLETE SET ALREADY BUT IT'S JORDAN. PLUS I'M ONE OF LIKE THREE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIKES THIS DESIGN. COLORFUL = LOGOS = MY KRYPTONITE
1992 SKYBOX USA BASKETBALL MICHAEL JORDAN
I'M NOT SPECIFICALLY COLLECTING THIS SET BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE NEAT TO HAVE A CARD OF EACH PLAYER FROM TEAM USA AND I DIDN'T HAVE A JORDAN SO IT'S A WIN FOR ME
1993-94 UPPER DECK MICHAEL JORDAN NBA FINALS
I MIGHT ACTUALLY NEED THIS CARD? I DON'T REMEMBER. EITHER WAY IT'S A NICE CARD OF A PLAYER I HATE. YES, I DISLIKE MIKE. BEING A NIQUE FAN WILL DO THAT TO YA. IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I DON'T HAVE AS MANY JORDAN CARDS NOW AS I WISH I HAD
1996-97 COLLECTOR'S CHOICE SHAQUILLE O'NEAL
CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR, SHAQ-FU
SHAQUILLE O'NEAL MANIA HAPPENED AT A VERY INFLUENTIAL TIME IN MY LIFE SO I'LL ALWAYS HAVE A SOFT SPOT FOR THE BIG LUG. HIS CARDS ARE WEIRDLY CHEAP TOO? MAYBE DUE TO HITTING DURING ONE OF THE MOST OVERPRODUCED ERAS FOR BASKETBALL CARDS EVER. YES, EVEN COMPARED TO NOW. I HALFWAY THINK I HAVE THIS CARD ALREADY BUT FASHION SHAQ WAS TOO GOOD TO PASS UP
1996-97 SHAQUILLE O'NEAL ON THE BLOCK
FOR SOME REASON I'M NOT TRYING TO COLLECT FLEER ULTRA BASKETBALL SETS. I ALREADY HAVE A TON OF ULTRA CARDS BUT I FEEL NO NEED TO BUILD THE SETS FOR SOME REASON. I STILL LIKE FINDING ULTRA CARDS THOUGH, THEY USUALLY LOOK PRETTY GREAT
1996-97 SKYBOX E-XL SHAQUILLE O'NEAL
I LOVE LOVE LOVE SKYBOX E-X AND THIS SECOND YEAR RELEASE LOOKS MUCH BETTER THAN THE BASEBALL VERSION OF THIS SET. I DON'T KNOW WHY THE THICKER FRAME BORDERS WORKS BUT IT DOES. MAYBE BECAUSE THE EDGE DOESN'T HANG ON THE BORDER WHEN YOU'RE SHUFFLING THROUGH THEM
1994-95 STADIUM CLUB SHAQUILLE O'NEAL DYNASTY AND DESTINY
THIS IS THE DESTINY VERSION OBVIOUSLY. THE ONLY THING BETTER THAN SHAQ BASE CARDS ARE SHAQ INSERT CARDS
1995-96 COLLECTOR'S CHOICE SHAQUILLE O'NEAL PLAYER'S CLUB
I STILL DON'T KNOW HOW TO FEEL ABOUT COLLECTOR'S CHOICE, SOME DAYS I WANT TO COLLECT THE WHOLE RUN, OTHERS I WANT TO THROW THEM ALL IN A CARDBOARD BOX AND DUMP THEM AT A THRIFT STORE TO FREE UP SOME STORAGE BOXES. STILL NOT PASSING ON A PARALLEL OF SHAQ THOUGH. UNLIKE THE FOIL SIGNATURES ON THE BASEBALL PARALLELS, OTHER SPORTS JUST GOT A FOIL STAMPED LOGO. BOO
2021 UPPER DECK SPACE JAM A NEW LEGACY LEBRON JAMES
CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR, OFFICIAL GREATEST PLAYER EVER
I'VE SAID IT ONCE, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. IF THE ONLY LEBRON JAMES CARDS I CAN GET CHEAP ARE FROM A SHITTY CYNICAL ANIMATED MOVIE, I'LL TAKE IT. GLADLY
2021-22 PRIZM WILT CHAMBERLAIN
CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR, ANOTHER GREATEST PLAYER EVER
ONE GOOD THING ABOUT PANINI PRODUCTS IS THEY USUALLY HAVE A FEW LEGENDS CARDS SPRINKLED HERE AND THERE. I ALREADY HAVE A FEW PRIZM HALL OF FAMERS AND WAS HAPPY TO FIND ONE OF WILT. DON'T THINK I DIDN'T NOTICE THAT BILL RUSSEL CAMEO
1989-90 HOOPS DAVID ROBINSON
CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR ROOKIE
OH MAN OH MAN, THIS CARD WAS THE SHIT BACK IN THE DAY. LIKE, SUPER EXTRA DOUBLE ICONIC. OK, TIM DUNCAN SORT OF STOLE THE ADMIRAL'S THUNDER BUT ROBINSON HAS THE BETTER SMILE. DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT DUNCAN'S ROOKIE CARD LOOKS LIKE OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD? THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT
2012 GOODWIN CHAMPIONS BILL WALTON
CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR, RIGHTEOUS DUDE
RIP BILL. WALTON HAS BEEN ONE OF THOSE GUYS LIKE BIP ROBERTS THAT MAKE ME SMILE WHENEVER I SEE THEIR CARD SO I PICK THEM UP WITHOUT THINKING TOO HARD ABOUT IT. HE HAS A SURPRISING NUMBER OF MODERN CARDS INCLUDING AN INSERT SET SO IT'S EASIER TO FIND THEM THAN YOU WOULD THINK. EARLY GOODWIN CHAMPIONS WERE ALWAYS CONTROVERSIAL FOR THEIR ART STYLE AND ODDBALL POSES BUT THAT JUST MAKES ME LIKE THEM MORE. I KNOW THAT'S NOT A GIGANTIC CLOUD OF SMOKE IN THE BACKGROUND, BUT IT COULD BE
2010 UPPER DECK WORLD OF SPORTS BILL WALTON
HERE'S BILL IN ANOTHER ODDBALL MULTI-SPORT SET. I THINK THIS WORLD OF SPORTS SET WAS UPPER DECK'S REACTION TO LOSING THEIR BASEBALL LICENSE AND I DON'T REMEMBER IT BEING SUPER POPULAR AT THE TIME. IT'S GOT A PRETTY AMAZING CHECKLIST THOUGH FOR A MULTI-SPORT SET EVEN IF THE SHORT-PRINTED STARS ARE UNFORTUNATE
2021-22 DONRUSS OPTIC ANTHONY EDWARDS T-MINUS
CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR, BULLDOGS
ANTHONY EDWARDS WAS A BIT OFF MY RADAR AFTER LEADING MY GEORGIA BULLDOGS TO ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE AND THEN GETTING PICKED UP IN THE DRAFT BY MINNESOTA. I'M ALL ON BOARD NOW AND AM NABBING SOME COOL CARDS OF HIS AS I SEE THEM. THIS T-MINUS INSERT CARD WITH THE FREAKING SPACE SHUTTLE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE DESIGNS AND I WAS SUPER HAPPY TO PICK THIS ONE UP TO GO WITH MY TRAE VERSION OF THE CARD
2019-20 HOOPS PREMIUM AL HORFORD
CATEGORY - PLAYER COLLECTION
WE BRING IT BACK FULL CIRCLE FROM MY CURRENT FAVORITE PLAYER TRAE TO MY ALSO CURRENT FAVORITE PLAYER NBA CHAMPION AL HORFORD. PICKING AL HORFORD THIRD OVERALL IS MAYBE THE HAPPIEST I'VE EVER BEEN ABOUT ANY ATLANTA HAWKS PICK EVER AND AS A RESULT HE IS A PERMANANT PLAYER COLLECTION GUY FOR ME. I'VE SHOWN OFF MY HEYWARD-HORFORD-TUGGLE BINDER PRETTY RECENTLY AND NOW I CAN FINALLY PUT THESE ONES AWAY. I GENERALLY HAVE NO USE FOR HOOPS PREMIUM OTHER THAN CASES LIKE THIS BUT I DO AT LEAST APPRECIATE HOW PANINI USES DIFFERENT PHOTOS ON THEIR PLAIN PAPER AND FANCY CHROMIUM VERSIONS OF THEIR SETS. UNLIKE SOME OTHER COMPANIES I KNOW
2020-21 HOOPS AL HORFORD
I'VE RECENTLY LEARNED THAT PHILADELPHIA FANS HATE HORFORD WORSE THAN HAWKS FANS DO. I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYONE COULD HATE AL, HE IS A TREASURE AND A DELIGHT. IT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE HE HAS A RING AND MIGHT GET ANOTHER ONE NEXT YEAR SINCE HE'S NOT RETIRING EVEN THOUGH EVERYONE MADE FUN OF HIM FOR BEING OLD IN THE FINALS. NO ONE MAKES FUN OF LEBRON FOR BEING AN OLD GEEZER, WHY THE AL HATE. I STILL LOVE YA AL
2020-21 MOSAIC AL HORFORD
FINISHING OFF WITH WHAT I THINK IS MY FIRST CARD OF AL IN AN OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER UNIFORM. I ALREADY HAVE ONE WITH AN OKC LOGO BUT HE'S STILL IN A PHILLY UNI. THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF CARDS OF AL IN THE THUNDER JERSEY WHICH MAKES SOME SENSE BECAUSE HE DIDN'T PLAY ALL THAT LONG IN ONE. I LOVE HAVING AT LEAST ONE CARD FOR EVERY TEAM A PLAYER WAS ON IN MY COLLECTION SO THIS ONE'S BIG FOR ME
ALL RIGHT THEN, GO HAWKS! PICK SOMEONE AS GOOD AS AL TONIGHT! PLEASE