Do the Gameworn folks really hate us THAT much?!?!

[Bimola]

Give this one a read...

http://www.gameworn.net/cgi-bin/GW/u...c;f=1;t=024332

Although I can see part of their argument, they're missing that the collectors that can afford a full closet of their own gameworn jersey's are in the elitist segment of the overall hobby and don't represent that vast majority of collectors that want to find a way to get closer to the game (like them). I feel bad for Chris (Vegaspuck) as he is being dumped on without merit. Yes, Panini, ITG, Upper Deck (like all card companies) are focused on making a profit, however, they do it by allowing the average person to pick up incredible pieces of memorablia while without having to mortgage the house or sell the kids. I agree its a shame to cut up iconic and rare pieces of memorabilia, but, these are items that 99.9% of hockey enthusiasts will never see or hear of again - especially if it is purchased by a private collector for their own exclusive enjoyment.

Like all things, there are two sides to every argument. It doesn't have get nasty as the gameworn people have chosen to do. I much prefer being part of the civil side of of the world over here at SCF.

[hossa18sens]

That was unreal. By the end they are ready to eat their own.

[dmaksymyshyn]

wow...I feel hated :(

[30ranfordfan]

I can see it.

I know Bobby Orr has spoken out about it in the past, that he hates seeing his jerseys cut up for Cards, along with other 'vintage' players. (Modern players where a lot more of them, so not a big deal)

The two times I recall cards / memoribilia hitting the new (in this context) were Upper Deck cutting up a Babe Ruth bat, and ITG doing it George Vezina's pads.


The argument against: They should be on display somewhere, where everyone can enjoy them.
The argument for: By cutting them into pieces, many people can own a piece of history.

I'm 'for' it. There is only so much of this stuff that can be in a museum, and the amount of people that will ever actually see that museum are fairly limited. The fact that a card containing a piece of those Vezina Pads is my avatar... I think that says enough.

[the_nange]

Well apparently a guy wants to buy a key piece of Prime Colors and then burn it on video for us "collectors" to enjoy. He also claims he wants to destroy our hobby (however small his impact will be). Happy, happy, joy, joy! lol

I would be more empathetic and understand their opinion if 60% of them didn't post angry "shame on you" responses to Vegas. Oh well...

[dahabsfan]

If they flapped their wallets as much as their gums they could step up and own the "historical pieces". Not willing to do that? Guess it's not that big of an issue.

[Inferno]

That site has been around for quite a while and you can actually search out threads from 10+ years ago when game used cards were still relatively new, the opinions against cards in that thread haven't changed from the days the early BAP Memorabilia sets were just coming out. There have been threads about petitions to stop card companies from cutting jerseys, there have been threads saying GU cards are "only a fad that will die in a couple of years" (note this was a decade ago), and countless others like that one being discussed today. The game used card hobby isn't going anywhere and jerseys will continue to be cut and a lot of the people over there refuse to accept that. Can't say I blame them, they collect jerseys and jerseys are being destroyed every day, but that side of the hobby just doesn't have enough collective power to stop the overwhelming card industry.

[pwaldo]

I'm pretty sure the worst thing you can do in the eyes of a game used memorabilia collector would be to buy something whole and then cut it up into thousands of pieces and then glue them onto cards so their reactions shouldn't be too surprising.

[Yipper]

Too each their own. People love cards, people love jerseys. I could care less, people buy what they like. If there is a demand for either one of them then that should dictate the market. I want to preserve memorabilia too but I'm not going to go try to save every single jersey out there, which is what those individuals are saying on the forum.

Just like buildings around the world, there are heritage registers the city applies in order to preserve history. The NHL or HOF should determine whether or not that jersey is worth being intact.

Being a card hobbyist, I collect cards not jerseys so cut them up.

I do like a full gamer, but it's a different type of collecting. And I do own a few.

Different collecting style, I don't get why they are going so crazy.

Not everyone can afford the entire jersey either so it's nice to have a small token of history. I rather see a thousand small pieces that everyone can enjoy versus one giant one that these guys just keeps in his or her closest and collects dust.

[RGM81]

It's an interesting discussion, and it's too bad that they take the approach that they do over there because some of the outlandish and frankly outrageous comments really make their valid points fade into the background. The "shock and awe" stuff dilutes the message.

With only a limited supply of items out there for some of the all-time greats of this sport (and others) it is absolutely important that some of them be preserved, wholly intact, so that they can be viewed by people at venues such as the Hockey Hall of Fame, the arenas in which they plied their trade, etc. The "leave it alone so that *everybody* can enjoy" tack is facetious--unless a magical tour of hockey jerseys is coming to town, how is "everybody" supposed to enjoy seeing a Gordie Howe Hartford Whalers jersey? Would I want to see the jersey from Maurice Richard's final game cut to bits for cards? Not really. But a small part of me might want to own a small part of it. So I'm divided on stuff like that.

Hats off to Chris for holding up a respectable end of the bargain in that thread and keeping things away from flaming and unnecessary/rude editorial commentary about the other side of the memorabilia collecting world.