Chicago Bears Vintage Memorabilia

Chicago Bears Vintage Memorabilia isn't exactly an accurate title. The actual items for sale aren't vintage but the players sure are. Todays lineup features some of the greatest players of all time; Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers, Mike Ditka, Jim McMahon, Brian Urlacher and Mike Singletary.

The Bears are pretty good this year, not as good as last year, but still pretty good. Looking at the historical stats, its clear that the Bears are pretty good every season, whether the win-loss records reflect it or not. Thats because their rosters have always been full of larger than life characters, guys who brought a high level of energy and intensity to both their professional and personal lives. C'mon, what fan doesn't love a super competitive football player?

Typically, this where I would start yakking about the crazy careers of these players. Not today. These players are so iconic that if you want to know more about them, go find a football fan who's over 50. Better yet, I would suggest you buy one of these and give it to a football fan who's over 50.

Gale Sayers Autographed 8x10 Photo

Dick Butkus, Brian Urlacher, Mike Singletary Autographed Monsters of Midway Helmet

Mike Ditka and Jim McMahon Autographed Chicago Bears Logo Football

Chicago Bulls Think 2014 Will Be Their Year

Here at the beginning of the 2013-2014 basketball season, most b-ball experts are saying there will be only 5 teams with the talent to challenge the reigning champs, the Miami Heat. At that top of that very short list is the Chicago Bulls. Sports dude Brett Pollakoff wrote a nice piece about the contenders at ProBasketBallTalk and he thinks it will probably be the Pacers or the Bulls at the end. Looking at the rosters of each team I have to go with the Bulls. The Bulls were pretty good last year without Derrick Rose. Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng, and Joakim Noah are awesome in their own right and they're all coming into this season healthy and focused. Bad news for the Eastern Conference.

My pick for best Chicago Bulls Autographed Memorabilia is this basketball signed by the big four:

Derrick Rose, Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng, Joakim Noah Signed Basketball

You can't buy a cool autographed basketball without buying the coolest display case ever made. Real wood, real glass, mirrored, free engraving and ridiculously inexpensive for what you get:

Basketball Glass and Wood Display Case

Jimmy Buffett Parrothead gift ideas

Born James William Buffett on Christmas Day 1946, Pascagoula's favorite son has had himself one heck of a successful career as a singer-songwriter, actor, author, and business man. He's amassed a fortune estimated at $400 million from his hard work and he's returned a lot of it to local communities through a number of highly visible charities. As successful as he's been, he's still best known as just "Jimmy" to his legion of fans, the Parrotheads.

If you've got a Parrothead in your life (and really, who doesn't?) then you might be looking for something totally unique, perhaps even something hand signed. If thats the case we might have just what you're looking for. A Jimmy Buffett autographed photo is always great. If you're a little more adventurous you might even go for the Jimmy Buffett autographed microphone:

Jimmy Buffett Hand Signed Autographed Photo

Jimmy Buffett Hand Signed Autographed Microphone

Green Bay Packer Gift Ideas

The Green Bay Packers have one of the most storied histories in all of sports. Founded in 1919 by Earl Lambeau, the packers have won everything in sight including 13 league championships and 4 Super Bowls. Not bad for the smallest 'local' market in the league.

Green Bay Packers autographed memorabilia are often the most sought after items in our store, especially the Packers team signed helmets and balls. We love the team signed football memorabilia because its just so darn dramatic when displayed in a beautiful wood and glass case. If you're looking for 'wow' factor gifts, theses are the real deal.

Green Bay Packers 2013 Team Autographed Logo Football

Green Bay Packers Team Autographed 2013 Pro Line Helmet

Is Lionel Messi Almost Finished?

Many American sports fans have probably heard the name Lionel Messi but I'm guessing most would guess he's a tennis player. Yes, he's another handsome athlete from Argentina, which is famous for handsome tennis stars, but Leo Messi is one of the worlds highest paid soccer players. Playing forward for FC Madrid, arguably the best soccer team on the planet, Leo Messi has been nominated or won practically every award offered since he burst onto the scene eight years ago. At only 26, the measure of his greatness is revealed by the fact that there are only two opinions of him - you either love him or hate him. Nobody just likes him.

Leo Messi, like all great athletes, drives himself relentlessly. And, as with all great athletes, he sometimes pays the price with injuries. Yesterday Leo limped off the field with a hamstring injury after only 20 minutes of playing time and its estimated that his recovery time will be 8 weeks. This is the latest in a long string of muscle and hamstring issues that have struck the star down, each one taking him off the pitch for extended periods. 

As great as this guy is, I'm now wondering if this is where the inevitable decline begins. We all know how this works, he'll probably continue to play for years with nagging injuries and continue to have flashes of brilliance. He'll probably become the veteran who spurs his younger teammates to win games beyond their skill levels. I hope I'm wrong. No matter what happens, he'll surely be one of those players that everyone will be talking about for the next 50 years. Viva Leo!

Today's autographed sports memorabilia item of the day is a beautiful 16x20 autographed photo of the man himself, Lionel Andres Messi:

Lionel Leo Messi Autographed 16x20 Photo

What Teams Have Not Won the Super Bowl - Wow

So you think you're unhappy about the NFL team you follow? You're in good company. Plenty of people have never felt the thrill of the big win. I don't think about it often but when reminded, I'm always surprised by the number of really good teams that have never won the big game. And, as we all know, its all about the ring.

Buzzfeed.com recently ran a story about the teams that have not won the Super Bowl (and the four that have never been) and its full of little factoids you can use on your friends to win a free beer:

10 NFL Teams You Probably Didn’t Know Haven’t Won A Super Bowl

As I read the article I saw two teams who might actually make their way off this list, The Seattle Seahawks and the Carolina Panthers. Yep, I said it. They're not dominant teams by any stretch of the imagination but they do possess two things that no other team does - Russell Wilson and Cam Newton. In a season dictated by key injuries, these two look young and strong and hungry.

In honor of these two winners, and my pick for the best mid-season sports memorabilia buy, I give you Russell and Cam:

Russell Wilson Autographed Seattle Seahawks Proline Helmet

Cam Newton Autographed Game Model NFL Football

The Oldest and Fattest Teams in the NBA

I was cruising through the morning sports news when I spotted this great article on Deadspin.com: 

Charts: Who Are The Oldest And Fattest Teams In The NBA?

The first thing I noticed was the correlation between age and success. The oldest team listed is the Miami Heat, generally accepted as the best in the league, with the youngest team listed being the Cleveland Cavaliers. Ha, no comment. 

The "fattest" team (more specifically, the team with the highest BMI - this is comedy after all) is the Philadelphia 76ers. Tied with the Cavs for youngest team, its hard to know if the 76ers are young and fat or just young and big. Whatever they are this is probably not going to be their year, the Vegas oddsmakers have already voted and Philly is a 300-1 longshot.

In honor of the Oldest and Fattest, here are my product picks of the day; an Official Old Guy Dwayne Wade autographed photo and an Official Non-Fat Former Philadelphia 76er Julius Erving autographed basketball.

Autographed Dwyane Wade 16x20 Photo

 

Autographed Julius Erving NBA Basketball