Wax Heaven

Last night I received an email about another great essay-writing contest by Sports Cards Fun in which the best essay about ‘How to save the hobby’ wins a box of 2008 Topps. As much as I’d like to contribute, the truth is that the hobby is not dead or even dying. There will always be guys who only buy retail, others who only buy cards of their player, and high-rollers who will spend $1,000 a week on new product. Topps & Upper Deck knows this and will do whatever it takes to make more profit than the other. If that means $400 packs, 100% all sticker autographs, and a million new parallels—then that is what you are going to get. They do not care about the old school set-builders, the adult collectors who have to choose between putting food on the table or buying a new box of ‘08 FInest, or the dedicated player collector who was 90% complete in his collection until Co-Signers came out with 100 different cards of his player.

I am sorry to come off so bitter. I love baseball cards & collecting but being asked to pay $150 for a box of Spectrum a few weeks ago changed my views a bit. Apparently I am not the only one because Jason, who was featured in the extinct Wax Heaven Heavenly Collections is getting rid of his sick Jason & Jeremy Giambi collection. This is the affect that is being caused by the card companies. Another collector bites the dust…

“I’ve come to a decision as of late, after much thought and consideration, that I will be clearing out my Giambi collection. Overall, I’m just tired of the hobby and the time/energy/money/etc. can be put to better use.

I just don’t have the willpower anymore to chase after every card of Giambis, especially with the card companies still producing an obscene amounts of parallels. (i.e. 08 UD Spectrum - There are about 10 different parallels of Giambi jersey cards in that product alone). The thrill just isn’t there anymore for me and to continue in the collection would be useless if it doesn’t produce the desired effect for myself.”

Here we are about to end the first month of baseball and the Florida Marlins are still in first place. It seems almost every player has stepped up to help the Fish: Jacobs, Willingham, Hermida, Uggla, Ramirez, Hendrickson, Olsen, Pinto, Greg, etc. Unfortunately, the players that came over in the trade for Miguel Cabrera & Dontrelle Willis haven’t done much, including Andrew Miller. Miller has now started 6 games as a Marlin and has an E.R.A over 8. If this is not a call to the Minors I don’t know what is. Last night he gave up six runs in three innings before getting pulled. Burke Badenhop was called-up when Rick Vandenhurk stunk up the place and has not been much better (0-2, E.R.A over 8). Meanwhile, Cameron Maybin is in AA breaking records for strikeouts (36 in 24 games) and Mike Rabelo has taken Matt Treanor’s job but can’t hit worth a damn.

Heck, it’s not like Detroit is doing any better. They gave Cabrera millions only to see him get off to a horrible start while Willis pitched two games, gave up lots of runs, and got injured. The Tigers are currently in last place in their division while the Marlins are first in theirs. I don’t think anyone believes that Miguel won’t get his 30 home runs/100 R.B.I but as of now it’s clear both teams got shafted in this trade. I am as big of an Andrew Miller supporter as anyone but it’s time to send him down or at least put him in the bullpen where he might be able to build his confidence. I don’t like the feeling I get when Miller is starting a game. It’s a feeling of fear, pity, and anger that we are almost guaranteed a loss. I want my Florida Marlins to shock the world but it won’t happen unless the entire team contributes on a regular basis.

As for the card below, it’s a 2008 Topps Co-Signers. Doesn’t Topps have anyone who can take new photos of baseball players? These two images have been used, reused, and abused over and over again in 2007 releases. Isn’t that what this guy is for? Geez!

Adding boxers to their ‘08 Co-Signers product was a great way to attract fans of the endangered sport (like me!) but looking at some of the cards already popping up on eBay, it’s clear they took the cheapskate route. Joan Guzman? Chad Dawson? Andre Ward? Fine, you included Larry Holmes but what about today’s stars? Wladimir Klitschko is unstopable at Heavyweight, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is the pound for pound best fighter in the world, Miguel Cotto is an undefeated menace, and what about the most popular boxer since Muhammad Ali, “Iron” Mike Tyson?

If you are going to include boxing with your product, why not do it right instead of half-assin’ it once again? Mike Tyson is poor & lonely, and putting in autographs of the youngest Heavyweight champion of all-time could not only help your product but would have possibly revived Mike Tyson’s name in the sport he carried and ultimately destroyed in 1997 when he bit off Evander Holyfield’s ear.

This is what Mike Tyson looks like without boxing. How much could it have possibly cost to get him to sign 300 Topps stickers?

Check out this auction for a ‘94 Upper Deck SP rookie card of Alex Rodriguez. Now, I haven’t bought a Beckett Baseball issue for at least 6 months but last I checked this card usually sells for under $150 when not graded. This guy is demanding $875. He also says not once but twice that A-Rod played on the Florida Marlins. We haven’t had any over-priced “talent” since Gary Sheffield. Heck, we never do…why do you think we shipped Miguel Cabrera to the Tigers?

“It was NEVER hand touched!” he claims, so how did it magically get into the Top Loader? Also, where is the penny sleeve? I give him props for the mysterious photo, though. You gotta love eBay sellers….

There is something I have been meaning to do for quite sometime now. I didn’t know how to do it but now is as good a time as any. I love Sabu. There I said it. Now we can move on, right? Wait, you don’t know who Sabu is? Well, here we go. Sabu is in the “sports entertainment” industry. By that, I mean he is a wrestler. No, not like an Olympic wrestler but more like the Hulk Hogan type. Here is the thing, Hulk Hogan was known for his body slam and a drop kick. That was all he ever did in the ring. Sabu is an innovator, an “extreme” icon, and one crazy son of …..

Anyways, Sabu’s myth continues to grow with each day that passes. He became an underground legend in a company called E.C.W which went out of business but was bought by Vince McMahon a few years ago. It is now the worst wrestling show on television and features only one E.C.W original. Don’t ever watch this version of E.C.W. Instead, check out this Sabu tribute to see some amazing moves. Some real stories about Sabu are even crazier than anything made up. For one, he had his neck broken in the ring twice (on camera), cracked his jaw in a match but continued fighting after taping it up, and there is no explaining this move he did live on Pay Per View a few years ago.

The man is nicknamed, “the homicidal, suicidal, genocidal” Sabu and for a reason. Well, I think it’s about time I pick this Topps Heritage Chrome autograph ASAP because recent news items and rumors suggest that Sabu, 43 and working independent shows after being fired by WWE is letting those “personal demons” take over his life. My favorite wrestler of all-time, “Mike Awesome” who fought alongside Sabu in the original E.C.W was found dead in 2007 after hanging himself in his home. He was having marital problems but didn’t go the Chris Benoit route. Instead, he waited till everyone left and quietly took his own life. Unfortunately, this kind of stuff happens way too frequently in the world of wrestling. I just hope Sabu has enough left in him to bring his life back on track.

Charles is a die-hard Cubs fan who wanted to make a trade a few weeks ago. He had some Marlins, some Miller, and lots of Jeter for the old lady so I knew a trade had to be completed. When all was said and done he got a nice little lot of Cubs pitcher Rich Hill (including an autographed printing plate #’d 1 of 1) and in return I received a boatload of Florida Marlins and Derek Jeter cards and one really sweet Jeremy Hermida autograph not to mention an Andrew Miller ‘52 Topps chrome card. Pretty sweet deal! Now go check out his Andre Dawson blog. He just started it but his heart is definitely in the right place.

Also, out of the blue Steve from White Sox cards sent out a free package of cards (some Marlins, a couple of Jose, and even a Derek Jeter). Steve and I go way back in the sports cards blogosphere so he knows the package is much appreciated and the moment I bust some new product, he will be getting all my White Sox cards. Go check out his blogs, too. Here is one and here is the other. He is one of the best out there!

Thanks to all the bloggers who have accepted Wax Heaven into the community, all the readers who make this blog bigger than Ben Henry’s ( ), and everyone who has ever given the site some attention (good or bad). Days like these make me realize all the hard work is well worth the time & effort.

Wow, first Topps kills baseball cards and now we find out that a 28-year old Roger Clemens, married and with children at the time had an affair with a country singer who was just 15 years of age. Suddenly Steroids isn’t Clemens’ biggest problem anymore, now is it? She is legal now so enjoy this photo.

FULL STORY HERE!

(Source: NY Daily News)