Rich Camerillo is Fresh to Death

Early last week I picked up a box of 1990 Pro Set NFL cards for dirt cheap at the dirt flea market for the joy of randomly tearing open packs and amazing my friends.

Yesterday, that gift kept giving when I learned that DJ Pauly D is the bastard child of then-Cards punter Rich Camarillo.

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New Site: HHR's Gem Mint Ten

To help preserve the legacy of our cardboard heroes of yesteryear, HHR proudly announces the launch of "HHR's Gem Mint Ten."

And by "heroes" we mean 2 cent commons we have kept strictly for comedic purposes.

Glaring Ommissions on NYC's Top Selling Jerseys

CNBC's Darren Rovell did a quick piece today on the NBA's release of the top 10 best selling jerseys of the last 10 years at their New York City store (to commemorate the store's 10th Anniversary).

Here's the list:

1. Michael Jordan
2. Kobe Bryant
3. Allen Iverson
4. Lebron James
5. Shaquille O'Neal
6. Tracy McGrady
7. Dwyane Wade
8. Jason Kidd
9. Vince Carter
10. Tim Duncan

Rovell's observations include that Jordan has only played in 3 of the last 10 years in which the sales were tallied, there are no Knicks on the list and Duncan came as a surprise given the scarcity of his name on many yearly top 10 lists.

If we may make an observation of our own...

While we weren't surprised, we can't say we weren't disappointed by New Yorkers' aversion to David Wood's #10 Warriors jersey, Swen Nater's #31 SD Clippers jersey and Bayville's own Frank Brickowski's #40 Bucks jersey.

Shame. Damn shame.

I Don't Get It

Why does this guy get everyone all worked up? Is he really that bad?

Cleaning Out the Garage

Another weekend has passed and I picked up yet another footlocker of cards from my parents garage.

Let's just say, I was happy I did.

Had I not, I would not be inspired this St. Pat's Day morning thanks to Steve "Mongo" McMichael.

As only Topps can, the back of the card is chock full of interesting and useless tidbits about the player featured. A line reads, "Steve's wife Debra is a former Miss Illinois."

Which is interesting because her Wikipedia page states that the noted WWF(E) Diva "was a beauty pageant participant, winning the runner-up for Miss Texas USA in 1984." Someone doesn't have their facts straight, but then again Debra got around - in more ways than one. She went on to marry "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, only to have him physically abuse her.

Regardless, Believe & achieve. Believe and achieve, kids.

And don't let your dreams stop at football or sports entertainment.

Bernie Kosar proves that even jocks can reach their goals when they set their minds to it. Hell, looking at Bernie, they can even do your taxes.

His 1992 Pro Line Profile card states "Bernie Kosar is not your typical professional athlete. He negotiates his own contracts and manages his own investments."


I don't doubt it. He looks like a real David Kleinfeld.

I Must Break You

Dick Drago, best known for giving up the last of Hank Aaron's 755 career home runs, is sorely overlooked when ranking the best names in sports history.

Here he is, the pride of Bean Town.

Bonus points for having a pickle tickler that would put Harry Waxman to shame. Which leads us to believe he also was not afforded his just due in the by the AMI.

Think About It

Yes, I am still cleaning my card collection out of my parents garage. It's tedious, but luckily I came across a little pick-me-up this time around, thanks to the 1991 Pro Set "Think About It" inserts.

Here's what they probably should have read...

Singletary: Practice: "Audition for your post-playing career as a coach."

Bennett: Disappointment: "Despite being the best team in football, you'll be forever known as a big fat loser."

Moon: Crack Kills: "DUI's tarnish your reputation."

Mann: Steroids Destroy: "Luckily there was insufficient testing when I played."

Got em, Got em, Need em, Got em, Need em

TSG shows off a collection we hope someday ends up in Joe Sports Fan's worthless card collection.

Three Huckabees For An Obama?

Here's the one that catches our eye.

No mention of the Governor's baseball past?

C'mon Topps!

For nearly four decades, Richardson, a prominent Democrat frequently mentioned as a possible presidential candidate, has maintained he was drafted as a pitcher in 1966 by the Kansas City Athletics.

But an Albuquerque Journal investigation found no record of Richardson being drafted by the A's, who have since moved to Oakland, or any other team. Informed by the newspaper of its findings, the governor acknowledged the error in a story published Thursday by the paper.

"After being notified of the situation (by Journal reporter Toby Smith) and after researching the matter ... I came to the conclusion that I was not drafted by the A's," Richardson said.

For the record, if anyone's looking to deal, I'm offering a Buddy Biancalana, Steve Jeltz and a Brook Jacoby for a gem mint 10 Kucinich.

Ren's Ten: Coaches & Execs' Cards

A few weeks back I did a Ren's Ten segment title "Cleaning out the Garage." I promised more editions featuring the collectibles I rescued from my parents disposal.

Today, I offer sports cards featuring players who ended up coaches or executives, and opine on whether or not their transition has been successful.

White-Collar Success

Player: Joe Dumars
Position: Pistons’ President of Basketball Operations.
Notes: 2002-03 NBA Executive of the Year; 2004 NBA World Championship
Card: 1994 Skybox "Showdown Series" #SS10

Player: Avery Johnson
Position: Mavs’ Head Coach
Notes: Fastest Coach to both 100 and 150 wins; 2006 NBA Coach of the Year; 2006-07 NBA Best Record (Playoff Upset by #8 Seed)
Card: 1993-94 Upper Deck #328

Player: Steve Largent
Position: President and CEO of the CTIA -The Wireless Association
Notes: While he failed in his bid at executive office, Governor of Oklahoma in 2002, it is hard to say that a former Hall of Fame athlete who went on to serve as a four-term Congressman and currently as president and CEO of a trade association could be billed as anything less than an successful executive.
Card: 1990 Score (Record Breakers) #592

Middle of the Road / TBD

Player: Mo Cheeks
Position: 76ers Head Coach
Notes: We will give him the benefit of the doubt considering he went from the Jailblazers to managing an ensemble constructed by the as-of-today unemployed Billy King. Not the two most envious NBA jobs in the world.
Card: 1992 NBA Hoops #2

Player: Joel Skinner
Position: Cleveland Indians' 3rd Base Coach
Notes: While it is easy to signal out Skinner as a failure due to his most recent gaffe in Game 7 of the 2007 American League Champion Series, Skinner looks to have a history as a minor league coaching stud:

• 1995: New York-Penn League Manager of the Year
• 1997: Carolina League Manager of the Year
  
• 1998 : USA Today Baseball Weekly's Minor League Manager of the Year
  
• 2000: Baseball America and The Sporting News Minor League Manager of the Year; International League Manager of the Year honors

Let's do something in the Bigs can we?
Card: 1989 Fleer #270

Player: Ozzie Guillen
Position: Chicago White Sox Manager
Notes: As known for his mouth and erratic behavior as for his leadership qualities, Ozzie did lead his team to the 2005 World Series title. That is however, his squad's only playoff appearance with him at the helm.
Card: 1988 Donruss #137

Player: Glenn "Doc" Rivers

Position: Boston Celtics' Head Coach
Notes: The 2000 NBA Coach of the Year with the Orlando Magic, Doc never really had the pieces or chemistry or continuity to make a strong run deep into the playoffs. This year, of course, being a notable exception.
Card: 1990 SkyBox #7

Player: John Paxson
Position: Chicago Bulls General Manager
Notes: While I want to throw him in the following batch, Paxson has made as many great moves, particularly in the draft, as he has boneheaded ones, particularly via trade. The teams, while loaded with talent, have yet to crack the upper echelon of the NBA, despite being perennially poised to in recent years, especially in the Leastern Conference.
Card: 1989 NBA Hoops #89.

Laughing Stocks

No, I am not Fred Gwynne

Player: Kevin McHale
Position: Minnesota TWolves' Vice President of Basketball Operations
Notes: We made no bones about it here at HHR. It's been sometime since the NBA interested us. We could rip into McHale, but it would probably end up looking like some rehashed Sports Guy template. But because we recognize what a boob KMac is, BOOYAH! We asked good buddy and our goto guy for NBA insight and humor, Benjamin L. Pray over at Stu Scott's Lazy Eye, to give us his thoughts...

Kevin McHale is a terrible talent evaluator: from 1996-2005, exactly TWO of his picks (out of 15) remain in the NBA: Wally Sczerbiak and Rasho Nesterovic. Of course, that total would be higher if he hadn't brokered a secret deal with Joe Smith and robbed his team of FOUR first round picks. McHale actually drafted both Ray Allen and Brandon Roy, but then traded them both away on draft day for inferior players (Marbury and Foye). McHale is supposedly a vaunted teacher of footwork and post-play, but how many Timberwolves have benefited from his tutelage? Kevin Garnett is essentially a small forward, favoring fade-aways and jumpers over trips to the free-throw line. Can you name a single productive center from McHale's tenure? Who has he helped blossom into a good player, other than KG (note: not Mike Olowokandi or Eddie Griffin)? Free agency has also been a disaster for McHale. Last year's savior Mike James lasted one season. Troy Hudson wasn't quite worth the 37 million Kevin gave him. Sam Cassell and Latrell Spreewell both performed well for a year, but Sam was swapped for the more expensive and less productive Marko Jaric while Spree wasn't resigned.Kevin McHale traded for Mark Blount and Ricky Davis. Kevin McHale allowed his team to begin training camp with 8 small forwards, leaving the point to Sebastian Telfair and Marko Jaric. Kevin McHale's only good decisions have been to cover up for his bad ones: buying out Troy Hudson, re-trading Davis and Blount, trading Trenton Hassell, Buying out Juwan Howard etc. How bad is Kevin McHale? His worst contract has been forced into playing this year, as McHale's roster is so bad, there is simply no one better than Mark Madsen to play minutes at Center. Ouch.

Cool as the other side of the pillow.

Card: 1991 NBA Hoops (All-Star) #255


Player: Isaiah Thomas
Position: New York Knicks Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations
Notes: Of everyone on this list, Zeke has spent the most time in the news as of late and is, by far, the most polarizing and criticized. So, the only tidbit I will rehash here on his post-playing career is this: One of Isaiah's nicknames as a player is listed as the "Baby-Faced Assassin."
Raptors, CBA, Pacers, Knicks, female co-workers, white ticket holders. Still appropriate.
Card: 1992 NBA Hoops (All-Star) #303

---

Interesting list here: Best General Managers In Sports
Obviously, I know nothing.

Von Hayes, choo got some spalinin' to do

"Von? Ed Werder, here. Can I get my mustache back?"

Ren's Ten: Cleaning Out the Garage

Having become a home owner, my parents have finally come clean on their word to throw out all my old crap unless I move it out in a timely manner. By old crap, they primarily mean my card collection.

After going through the first box of randomness (very few of my cards are in any particular order - something I have vowed to tackle with the relocation process), the following 10 were all found in the same container. It gave me an idea to periodically (ie as I go through them) put together topical lists of the cards I find.

This first list is comprised of former players who have gone on to become commentators in some capacity.

Section 1: Locals and Fringe Commentators

Player: Dave Gallagher
Station: Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia
Notes: While this is a stretch, Gally is probably somewhat well-known (and dare I say respected? - ok that's a stretch) in the Philadelphia sports area, and has contributed to Comcast Phillies coverage throughout the season. The native Trentonian fits right in with his Philadelphia/Southern Jersey drawl that is hard to ignore.
Card: 1991 Topps #349

Player: Mitch Williams
Station: Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia (Daily News Live, Postgame Live), WIP Morning Show (contributer)
Notes: Mitchy Poo recast himself as a straight-shooter in the Philadelphia market and regularly makes light of his infamous pitch to Joe Carter in Game 6 of the 1993 Series.
Card: 1992 Score (Dream Team insert) #892

Player: Mike Pagliarulo
Station: DugoutCentral.com
Notes: Hates Billy Beane.
Card: 1992 Fleer #216

Section 2: Big Boys

Player: Howie Long
Station: FOX (NFL)
Notes: Amazing that a former NFL lineman (and a good one at that) and actor (and a failed one at that) is the brains behind your football coverage.
Card: 1992 Score #299

Yes, that's Rony Rebound he's taking it to.

Player: Brad Daugherty
Station: ESPN (NASCAR Now, NASCAR Countdown)
Notes: Says HHR resident NASCAR expert Rusty: He's still learning, but he's decent. Even though he's a Tarheel, I try to ignore that fact since he doesn't report on basketball. It's NC, home of NASCAR, birthplace of NASCAR, so I'll allow it.
Card: 1992 NBA Hoops #38

Player: Eric Young
Station: ESPN (Baseball Tonight)
Notes: HHR are NOT big fans. Bring back the Patron Saint.
Card: 1991 Line Drive #548


Player: Merril Hoge
Station: ESPN (NFL), ESPN2 (College Football)
Notes: Snappy dresser, snappier commentator. Nice transition.
Card: 1990 Pro Set Collect-A-Books #NA

Player: Mark Gubicza
Station: FSN West (MLB Analyst)
Notes: Despite the card listing Phila, PA as his hometown, Wiki tells us he is another Trenton-native, which scores points with the HHR team. Not nearly as many points, however, as his mullet which in our humble opinion would make Barry Melrose weap.
Card: 1992 Pinnacle #102.

Player: Greg Anthony
Station: ESPN & ABC (NBA)
Notes: Another great transition. Insightful and intelligent. Forever working feverishly to get from under Grandmama's shadow.
Card: 1994 Upper Deck #292

Section 3: Because It's "Ren's Ten," not "Ren's Nine"

Player: The Splendid Splinter
Station: Paperback: The Science of Hitting
Notes: Something tells me the frozen head would be proud.
Card: 1991 Line Drive #348

Worthless - Football and Hockey Edition

One of our favorite features on one of the more amusing sites, Joe Sports Fan, offers his "The Worthless Card Awards - Football & Hockey Edition."

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