illadef5
03-27-2009, 11:19 PM
The Exquisite Level
by Juan Martinez (http://www.examiner.com/x-4080-LA-Classic-Game-Examiner) aka illadef5
Last time (http://www.sportscardforum.com/articles/?p=559), I wrote about the players that have no business being in Exquisite. While I'm not a fan of the brand, I do realize the cache it carries. With many collectors anticipating this upcoming release of Exquisite to be Upper Deck's last stand, here is a dream checklist of players that need to be in Exquisite. Assuming they haven't finalized anything, Upper Deck needs to do everything in their power to get every player in this set on at least one insert.
Every player on this list has been debated on in various message boards and card shops across the world: what makes a player Exquisite-worthy? In the same way that fans argue about players that do and don't deserve to be in the hall of fame based on credentials and impact on the game, collectors should judge players' Exquisite Level worthiness based on their hobby credentials. Like with any hall of fame, there are your no-brainers (Jordan, Russell, Magic, Bird, Oscar Robertson, LeBron, Kobe), your locks (Jerry West, Cousy, Stockton, David Robinson, Carmelo, Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard), your unexpected picks because of their unwillingness to sign (Karl Malone and Scottie Pippen), your "obligated to bring them in because they're new" (rookies and second year players) and your borderline candidates. And this is where it gets interesting and fun.
For those players who are on the borderline, being a great player is only half the battle. On top of that, they also need to have shown that they are big sellers among collectors across the world. For this final Exquisite, every card pulled has to "wow" you, both in his selection to the set and his market value. As an example, let's use Joe Johnson and Penny Hardaway and there was only one spot left. You could argue the merits of both players and even come out with the conclusion that Johnson will finish with better career numbers than Penny. But at the end of the day, Penny's popularity in the 90s, coupled with the still-huge demand of his cards, overwhelms anything Johnson has accomplished up to this point. Conversely, if it came down to Darius Miles and Josh Smith, you would have to go with Smith. Even though Miles during his peak was one of the most recognizable and hyped players of the earlier part of the 21st century, Smith has formed a solid hobby following that has overshadowed everything Miles has done.
Thankfully we don't have to worry about things like set size. We can leave that to Upper Deck. And now, your (hopeful) autograph list for 2008-09 Exquisite.
Stars (current and retired) expected to be there:
All 2008-09 rookies and sophomores (this is a given if you look at previous releases, so don't bother asking why I didn't include Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose), Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Jerry West, Isiah Thomas, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, John Stockton, Brandon Roy, Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady, Chris Bosh, Vince Carter, Cylde Drexler, Amar'e Stoudemire, Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, Jason Kidd, Deron Williams, Walt Frazier, John Havlicek, Robert Parish, Bill Walton, Rick Barry, Elgin Baylor, Dennis Rodman, James Worthy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, George Gervin, Julius Erving, Gary Payton, Chris Mullin, Byron Scott, Darryl Dawkins, Alonzo Mourning
The next tier of stars rounding out the checklist:
Danny Granger, Baron Davis, Andrew Bynum, Andre Iguodala, Josh Smith, Al Jefferson, Monta Ellis, Rajon Rondo, Caron Butler, Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Pau Gasol, Rudy Gay, Tony Parker
Now here's where it gets interesting...
Locked up by Topps so there's no chance:
Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan, Greg Oden, Dwyane Wade, Gilbert Arenas, Allen Iverson
Sure would be nice, but don't count on it:
Earl Monroe, Bob Cousy, Scottie Pippen, Larry Johnson, Shawn Kemp, Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, Rasheed Wallace, Stephen Jackson, Kevin McHale, Wilt Chamberlain (cut auto), Pete Maravich (cut auto), Drazen Petrovic (cut auto), Oscar Robertson, Red Auerbach (cut auto), Joe Dumars, Dominique Wilkins, George Mikan (cut auto), Len Bias (cut auto), Mitch Richmond, Dirk Nowitzki, Charles Barkley, Manu Ginobili, Karl Malone, Grant Hill, Rasheed Wallace, Chris Webber, Patrick Ewing Sr., Reggie Miller
Borderline (would you happy pulling these guys in Exquisite?):
David West, Dikemebe Mutombo, David Lee, Nate Robinson, Elton Brand, Lamar Odom, Devin Harris, Kevin Martin, LaMarcus Aldridge, Antawn Jamison, Jameer Nelson, Josh Howard, Ron Artest, Michael Redd, Joe Johnson, Emeka Okafor, Gerald Wallace, Carlos Boozer, Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmut Okur
Let's hope this starts a debate and Upper Deck listens to what the fans want. If you feel there are players I missed or those who are undeserving, leave a message in the comments section. Whether Upper Deck goes out with a one last shining moment or with a UCLA-esque whimper (http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=294000025) (yeah, I said it, Bruin fans), we will have four years to talk about the good old days when packs were worth $500 and Alonzo Mourning cards topped a thousand dollars. Yeah, bring on the sandwiches (http://nba.paniniamerica.net/press.html)...
Special thanks to everybody who contributed in building this list, whether it was on the SCF Forums or otherwise.
by Juan Martinez (http://www.examiner.com/x-4080-LA-Classic-Game-Examiner) aka illadef5
Last time (http://www.sportscardforum.com/articles/?p=559), I wrote about the players that have no business being in Exquisite. While I'm not a fan of the brand, I do realize the cache it carries. With many collectors anticipating this upcoming release of Exquisite to be Upper Deck's last stand, here is a dream checklist of players that need to be in Exquisite. Assuming they haven't finalized anything, Upper Deck needs to do everything in their power to get every player in this set on at least one insert.
Every player on this list has been debated on in various message boards and card shops across the world: what makes a player Exquisite-worthy? In the same way that fans argue about players that do and don't deserve to be in the hall of fame based on credentials and impact on the game, collectors should judge players' Exquisite Level worthiness based on their hobby credentials. Like with any hall of fame, there are your no-brainers (Jordan, Russell, Magic, Bird, Oscar Robertson, LeBron, Kobe), your locks (Jerry West, Cousy, Stockton, David Robinson, Carmelo, Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard), your unexpected picks because of their unwillingness to sign (Karl Malone and Scottie Pippen), your "obligated to bring them in because they're new" (rookies and second year players) and your borderline candidates. And this is where it gets interesting and fun.
For those players who are on the borderline, being a great player is only half the battle. On top of that, they also need to have shown that they are big sellers among collectors across the world. For this final Exquisite, every card pulled has to "wow" you, both in his selection to the set and his market value. As an example, let's use Joe Johnson and Penny Hardaway and there was only one spot left. You could argue the merits of both players and even come out with the conclusion that Johnson will finish with better career numbers than Penny. But at the end of the day, Penny's popularity in the 90s, coupled with the still-huge demand of his cards, overwhelms anything Johnson has accomplished up to this point. Conversely, if it came down to Darius Miles and Josh Smith, you would have to go with Smith. Even though Miles during his peak was one of the most recognizable and hyped players of the earlier part of the 21st century, Smith has formed a solid hobby following that has overshadowed everything Miles has done.
Thankfully we don't have to worry about things like set size. We can leave that to Upper Deck. And now, your (hopeful) autograph list for 2008-09 Exquisite.
Stars (current and retired) expected to be there:
All 2008-09 rookies and sophomores (this is a given if you look at previous releases, so don't bother asking why I didn't include Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose), Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Jerry West, Isiah Thomas, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, John Stockton, Brandon Roy, Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady, Chris Bosh, Vince Carter, Cylde Drexler, Amar'e Stoudemire, Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, Jason Kidd, Deron Williams, Walt Frazier, John Havlicek, Robert Parish, Bill Walton, Rick Barry, Elgin Baylor, Dennis Rodman, James Worthy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, George Gervin, Julius Erving, Gary Payton, Chris Mullin, Byron Scott, Darryl Dawkins, Alonzo Mourning
The next tier of stars rounding out the checklist:
Danny Granger, Baron Davis, Andrew Bynum, Andre Iguodala, Josh Smith, Al Jefferson, Monta Ellis, Rajon Rondo, Caron Butler, Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Pau Gasol, Rudy Gay, Tony Parker
Now here's where it gets interesting...
Locked up by Topps so there's no chance:
Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan, Greg Oden, Dwyane Wade, Gilbert Arenas, Allen Iverson
Sure would be nice, but don't count on it:
Earl Monroe, Bob Cousy, Scottie Pippen, Larry Johnson, Shawn Kemp, Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, Rasheed Wallace, Stephen Jackson, Kevin McHale, Wilt Chamberlain (cut auto), Pete Maravich (cut auto), Drazen Petrovic (cut auto), Oscar Robertson, Red Auerbach (cut auto), Joe Dumars, Dominique Wilkins, George Mikan (cut auto), Len Bias (cut auto), Mitch Richmond, Dirk Nowitzki, Charles Barkley, Manu Ginobili, Karl Malone, Grant Hill, Rasheed Wallace, Chris Webber, Patrick Ewing Sr., Reggie Miller
Borderline (would you happy pulling these guys in Exquisite?):
David West, Dikemebe Mutombo, David Lee, Nate Robinson, Elton Brand, Lamar Odom, Devin Harris, Kevin Martin, LaMarcus Aldridge, Antawn Jamison, Jameer Nelson, Josh Howard, Ron Artest, Michael Redd, Joe Johnson, Emeka Okafor, Gerald Wallace, Carlos Boozer, Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmut Okur
Let's hope this starts a debate and Upper Deck listens to what the fans want. If you feel there are players I missed or those who are undeserving, leave a message in the comments section. Whether Upper Deck goes out with a one last shining moment or with a UCLA-esque whimper (http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=294000025) (yeah, I said it, Bruin fans), we will have four years to talk about the good old days when packs were worth $500 and Alonzo Mourning cards topped a thousand dollars. Yeah, bring on the sandwiches (http://nba.paniniamerica.net/press.html)...
Special thanks to everybody who contributed in building this list, whether it was on the SCF Forums or otherwise.