INTERNET SHOW AIRS HOBBY CONCERNS
VOLUME 2, NUMBER 196
**HOT**BUTTON**STORY**
(DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS COMING BACK AS AN ON-LINE COMMUNITY GAME!!!)
** HOBBY AIRED OUT ON I-NET SHOW
** D&D COMING BACK FOR BOOMERS ON-LINE
** DODGERS GET COLLECTIBLE AT COLISEUM ANNIVERSARY
** UD MLB PREMIER LOADED PRODUCT CHEAPER THAN TOP LINE
** CANADIANS PULLING OUT THE STOPS FOR SPRING EXPO
These stories and more in today's TBR: The Brill Report...
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(DOCTOR WAX BATTLE SHOW TAKES HOBBY TWIST)
Doctor Wax Battle likes to get his hair up, even if it is fake, and last week on his Internet hobby show he took the hobby to task, especially Upper Deck and Beckett. The "Doc" as he likes to be called (Rick Dalesandro, who owns The BackStop in Tom's River, NJ), delivered a State of the Hobby Speech to his listeners. This came in the aftermath of a story in which he seemed to accuse Beckett and Upper Deck of a conspiracy when it came to the company providing "loaded" boxes of products to the media company for it's video box breaks.
(Exquisite at the center of the controversy.)
"The buck stops here, baby," he told his Internet audience. "We hope after tonight the manufacturers listen to the hobby and changes are made."
The Doc went positive for the most part pointing out flaws in the hobby and trying to give the firms a chance to deal with the controversy which was actually incited by a collector on a UTube video. The collector pulled no punches about his conspiracy theory. The maker of the UTube video, a collector, accused UD of giving Beckett loaded boxes to promote it's products knowing collectors would be watching and might rush out and buy boxes only to get less than the boxes broken by Beckett.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRiGYIJ65tk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_5WR3wFTRA
Both Upper Deck and Beckett later denied the boxes were loaded and put into motion a chance for collectors to actually win the cards found in the most recent box broken, NFL Exquisite. One of the cards was a dual cut autograph of Walter Payton and Brian Piccolo.
The Doc did invite both Topps and Upper Deck officials to be present on the show to answer questions and give the company line but both declined. Beckett Media associate publisher Tracy Hackler, himself a former employee of Donruss trading cards, did appear as did Alan Narz, a Topps consultant.
"We have gotten boxes from manufacturers for the past 25 years and we use these for box breaks to check ratios, cards for the catalog and checking insertion rates," Hackler said on the show. "The vast majority of the boxes we got over the years haven't been any different than any box a collector might get at a local hobby store."
He did admit the Exquisite Box was extraordinary adding "I realized it was something special."
The show's host suggested ending any controversy, by Beckett purchasing boxes from local hobby stores rather than taking products from manufacturers. The Doc said his show does not accept manufacturer products for box breaks. Hackler and later Narz agreed it was a nice idea but it went no farther. Narz in fact suggested getting cases for special occasions for publicity from the manufacturer was actually a better way to go. Narz hosts rip-parties on Topps TV breaking cases of the new products and getting people excited.
"We've yet to pull a card of the magnitude of the Exquisite box Beckett opened," he said. "The first time we get a hot box I'm sure someone will suggest it was not legitimate."
Both said they appreciated the passion of the Internet show and the fact it was being used as a forum for airing views in the hobby. Narz suggested turning the negatives into positives as a way to build up the hobby and Hackler agreed.
"I do appreciate your passion and your goals," added Hackler. "For the same reasons we at Beckett are so successful is because all we have is our reputation and our integrity and we hold onto that ideal and protect it at all costs."
Another question raised was the autograph quality and the purpose of using stickers for autographed cards instead of getting athletes to sign cards directly on the card itself. Hackler said Beckett's attitude is to loathe stickers but realized they are going to be around forever. Narz said until someone comes up with a better idea stickers will stay.
"To just slap a sticker somewhere on the card is an embarrassment and there should be a much better job done by athletes, they should take more pride," said the Topps consultant. "Topps sends out representatives to witness every signing and sometimes I guess those reps get intimidated by the player as the signature gets sloppier."
Topps has had Barry Bonds for the past two years as well.
"Can you imagine telling Bonds to sign his signature better?" Asked Narz. "He's not going there."
Stickers are used so lots of autographs can be gathered at one time and saved for various products over various years. It has cut down on the number of redemption cards which is a more frustrating issue than stickers.
Everyone agreed there is more support coming from the partner leagues and players associations for hobby stores now than ever before. While there is more support Doctor Wax Battle pointed out the promotions do little if the content of the boxes is inferior while prices continue to go up. The Doc has cut his weekly show to just one hour, once a week with box breaks and video replays part of the mix.
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(DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS GOING ON-LINE IN JUNE)
It took years for them to come around but in just a few months look for all those D&D players from the 70's to turn to the new on-line game Wizards of the Coast is building. It will be complete with a virtual board and a way to create yourself into the game as you did during your role playing days.
The new Hasbro D&D will be featured on a brand new social networking site Wizards is building. It will be similar to Facebook and MySpace. Social networking sites are all the rage and now they are getting more specific. Whether it's a sports game, a D&D style game or family sites, they are booming and they are the future.
D&D has always been a long game to play and in today's fast paced world this just doesn't fly. Especially not amongst older gamers or those who used to play D&D for hours with friends; before wives, husbands, kids and dare we say grandkids. The new Hasbro version is being designed to be quick, a game which can be played in the time allotted.
One of the problems with the earlier version of course was the role assumption phase. There were incidents of deaths and suicides because kids who already had problems escaped into the game rather than just playing it. The on-line experience in any field can be similar but Hasbro hopes the game becomes the game, and only the game.
Cost of playing D&D on-line is $14.95 per month but a long term contract can be had for less than $10 a month. About six million players still play the off-line D&D worldwide.
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(DODGERS RETURN TO COLISEUM, LOTS OF COLLECTIBLES)
The Los Angeles Dodgers returned to their first L-A home 50 years to the day after they opened at the Coliseum. The team moved from Brooklyn and into the vast 90,000 plus seat football stadium. They sold it out in 10 minutes this time and put 115,000 people into the place with 25,000 standing room only.
The team played there until 1961 when Dodgers Stadium opened.
The Dodgers packed the place and four homers were hit over the 250 foot left field screen over 60 feet high. There were lots of autographs as the team pulled out all the stops for this reunion exhibition game against the Red Sox.
Players signed, souvenir caps, programs, photos and much more were available, much of it ending up on eBay. The team celebrates its 50 year history in L-A this year and much more is expected. The Highland Mint is issuing a special commemorative to honor the moment.
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(MLB PREMIER FROM UD MIGHT BE PRODUCT OF THE YEAR)
When it comes to really great products it will be hard for anyone to beat UD's 2008 Premier. At $300 a pack it's half the price of Exquisite products and has more in it. The product is actually loaded with high end vintage items and autographs of both current and retired players.
(Two pulls from UD Premier 2008)
"Our 2008 Upper Deck Premier Baseball is designed with the serious collector in mind," said Jason Masherah baseball brand manager. "We included a significant number of Hall of Famers to the product this year to make sure collectors receive some of the best players to step onto the diamond."
One case we saw yielded a Ken Griffey Jr., 1/1 autograph, a quad jersey from Joe DiMaggio, A Don Mattingly autograph, a triple jersey from the Brooklyn Dodgers featuring Campanella, Reese and Robinson and a quad Patch of some of today's top pitchers heading into the HOF when they are done. This plus much more and this was only three of the five boxes.
The Babe Ruth 1/1 cut autograph and patch card was already pulled at a shop.
"My fiance and I wanted to thank Upper Deck for one of the best pulls of our lives," said collector Bill Waters of Illinois. "We were in shock to realize the piece of baseball history we held in our hands."
Premier came out last year and did not do as well despite a lot of hype. At $300 it is pricey and hopefully UD will respond and not raise the price next year due to the success of this year's product.
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(CANADIANS PULLING OUT THE STOPS FOR TORONTO EXPO)
It was 34 years ago the Canadian Toronto Expo began and over three decades later it is still doing well. The show this year will be May 2-4 in Toronto at the International Center. A strong line-up of guests for autographs is usually a feature and this year looks like more of the same.
Included certainly are Gerry Cheevers and Pete Mahovlich, all time favorites. They will be signing Friday night of the show. Admission is $12 for adults and $3 for kids. More information can be obtained from the web site www.sportcardexpo.com or by calling 705-722-7593.
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(HEAD OF THE CLASS FEATURES NEW HANNAH MONTANA FROM TOPPS)
(Kid made good Topps the charts.)
Topps is now offering a three pack of Hannah Montana cards in it's Topps Head of the Class Promotion for it's HTA stores. The three card packs are designed to bring little girls into card shops which participate in the school promotion.
The cards are actually base sticker cards. Hannah Montana is the hottest children's show around with sold out concerts. Mylie Cyrus plays a little girl whose alter ego is as a rock star.
Young Mylie is the daughter of one hit wonder Billy Ray Cyrus of "Achy Brakey Heart" fame. He also appears on the show.
(Dad, Billy Ray)
