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Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Countdown to The National is on, as bobblehead mania takes over MLB, plus NFL rookie cards to watch
Collectors, we are two weeks away from The National Sports Collectors Convention. I repeat. Two. Weeks. Away from The National. We haven't even caught our breath from Fanatics Fest, yet we're already counting down the days before The Hobby descends upon Rosemont, Il. for one of the very best weeks of the year. I've been fortunate enough to attend The National multiple times, and I'm pretty convinced that if a card or piece of memorabilia exists, you'll be able to find it on the show floor. We were curious what members of the Mantel community were planning to hunt for at The National this year, and Mike Metzler pulled out a few of our favorite 'In Search Ofs' for a fun read… Mantel: Can't Find It Anywhere Else? Try The National Sports Card Convention The National isn't just a convention… it's the collector's Hail Mary, the one place where impossible grails suddenly feel within reach. Whether it's a Harry Heilmann card tied to a family legend, a PSA 10 Hulk Hogan from the ultra-rare 2013 Upper Deck Employee set (only 125 made, with no Hogan 10s surfacing since 2020), or the elusive junior-year high school card of John Smoltz, this is where the hunt gets personal. It's not always about value; sometimes it's about closure, purpose, or just proving the card exists. Sports Collectors Digest: Sports Memorabilia Dealer Raided, Admits Scamming Collectors, Hobby in $350M Fraud and Forgery Scheme In a still developing story, one of the largest autograph forgery rings in hobby history has been exposed, with dealer Brett Lemieux, founder of 'Mister Mancave', publicly confessing to forging millions of sports memorabilia items over the past two decades. Authorities raided his Westfield, Indiana facility, seizing merchandise allegedly worth up to $700M. Lemieux has admitted to faking autographs, holograms, and even developing a signature machine to fool COAs, en route to selling more than $350M in fraudulent items. With connections to nearly every major athlete and authentication company, Lemieux's operation may eclipse even the infamous Operation Bullpen. And last night it was reported that a dead body was found at Lemieux's warehouse, though at press time no more details were confirmed. Collectors are now left wondering how many "authenticated" items in their stash are actually fakes, as the whole industry turns their attention to this sad, still developing story. FOS: Baseball's Bobbleheads Are the Center of the Collectibles Universe Bobblehead mania is officially out of control, and incredibly collectible. Fans now show up hours before first pitch to stadiums across the country, braving summer heat and subway chaos for the chance to grab a limited-edition bobble, often reselling them for big profit before the game even gets underway. Designs have evolved beyond basic poses into creative collabs and cultural tributes (hello, Superman Judge and George Costanza Night), fueling a booming subculture and prompting the National Baseball Hall of Fame to dedicate an entire exhibit to them. Rising tariffs have jacked production costs, but between attendance bumps and eBay markups, teams are still all in. cllct: Mickey Mantle Jersey From 1960 All-Star Game Hits Auction Block A photo-matched, game-worn Mickey Mantle Yankees jersey inscribed 'No. 7' and authenticated across 13 images including the 1960 All-Star Game, is heading to auction at Heritage with a $4M estimate. Fresh to the hobby and unaltered (a rarity for gear from that era), the jersey was quietly acquired in the 1990s from a teammate's estate. It's been linked to multiple games across 1960 and 1961, including spring training and an exhibition with Roger Maris. If bidding meets expectations, it could join Mantle's elite memorabilia club, alongside his 1958 jersey ($4.68M) and a 2024 World Series gamer ($3M). IGN: Pokémon Card Shop in Japan Allegedly Robbed by Rival TCG Shop Owner Pokémon cards continue to be the ultimate high-stakes collectible, now doubling as bait for international heists. In the latest caper, a shop in Japan's Gifu Prefecture was hit for $92,000 in cash and cards, allegedly orchestrated with help from the manager of a rival card shop. It's the third arrest tied to the June 16 robbery, which involved a knife, a 3:30 a.m. break-in, and a flood of online outrage. Similar heists have struck Osaka, Melbourne, and Massachusetts, with six-figure losses becoming disturbingly common. Pikachu may not carry a wallet, but collectors clearly need safes. Mantel: Hidden Gems and Big Names: the NFL Rookie Cards to Watch in 2025 With 2025 Score Football hitting the market just in time for preseason hype, collectors are already placing bets on this year's NFL rookie class. Aside from the more obvious, early picks like Cam Ward and Travis Hunter, plenty of rookies are worth keeping an eye on, with cards currently trading at reasonable prices. Shedeur Sanders is a risky but intriguing QB play at $100. Further down, Tetairoa McMillan ($33), Tyler Warren ($35), and Matthew Golden ($45) offer solid value with potential upside. True bargain hunters may eye sleepers like Xavier Restrepo ($15), Tre Harris ($7.50), and Elic Ayomanor ($10), all of whom could be poised for big seasons. NYT: Would You Pay Nearly $9,000 for a Puzzle? Hand-cut wooden puzzles are having a luxury moment, with elite puzzlers shelling out thousands for bespoke, brain-twisting works of art. Companies like Elms, Stave, and Par craft these heirloom-quality pieces from fine hardwoods, often featuring irregular edges, no image references, and sculpted, whimsical pieces. Top-tier sets can hit $9,000 (or more for custom commissions), with some puzzlers spending over $500K to grow their collections. Meanwhile, micro-puzzle jeweler Lazels just dropped a $1,200 titanium puzzle the size of a cellphone, which sold out in only 12 minutes. Call it jigsaw couture: tactile, meditative, and wildly collectible. Your collection deserves a community. Download Mantel today.
Fox Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Belichick Fires Back At Kraft For Saying Patriots Took 'Big Risk' In Hiring Him
Bill Belichick is pushing back on some recent comments made by Robert Kraft. After the Patriots' owner said that he took a "big risk" in hiring Belichick to be the team's head coach in 2000, the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach believes he also took a big risk in accepting an offer to become the team's head coach. "As I told Robert multiple times through the years, I took a big risk by taking the New England Patriots head coaching job," Belichick told ESPN. "I already had an opportunity to be the Head Coach of the New York Jets, but the ownership situation was unstable." The Patriots went through an unconventional process to hire Belichick in 2000. When they requested that the Jets allow them to interview Belichick that offseason, Bill Parcells stepped down from his post as New York's head coach and named the then-assistant head coach and defensive coordinator as his successor. However, Belichick resigned as the Jets' head coach a day later and eventually agreed to a deal to become the Patriots' head coach, but New England had to surrender a first-round pick to New York. Due to the compensation, along with Belichick's 36-44 record in his five seasons as the Cleveland Browns' head coach, Kraft recently told the "Dudes on Dudes" podcast (hosted by former Patriots stars Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski) that hiring Belichick was his most "questioned" decision since he became the team's owner in 1994. But he also mentioned Belichick's hiring when asked what his best decision has been as the Patriots' owner. "I gave up a No. 1 draft pick for a coach that had only won a little over 40% of his games to get him out," Kraft said on the podcast, which was filmed at "Fanatics Fest" in New York last month. "I don't know if there are any Jets fans here. I think getting Bill Belichick to come to the Patriots in 1999 was a big risk, and I got hammered in the Boston area, but he was with us for 24 years. "And we did OK," Kraft joked. While the Patriots won their first of six Super Bowls in Belichick's second season with the team, New England's former head coach indicated that New York was in a stronger on-field position at the time of his hiring in 2000. "The Jets were a solid team after three years of rebuilding under Bill Parcells, which included an AFC Championship Game appearance in [January] 1999," Belichick told ESPN. "Meanwhile, the Patriots Organization had dismantled their 1996 AFC Championship team and became one of the worst in the AFC. It didn't help that they were $10 million over the cap heading into my first season as Head Coach in 2000." Even though Belichick and Kraft enjoyed unprecedented success in their 24 years together, there has been some tension between the two since the head coach was let go in January 2024. In the Apple TV+ docuseries "The Dynasty," which covered the Patriots' dynasty run, Kraft called Belichick a "pain in the tush." Many also believed that the docuseries painted Kraft in a positive light, with former players criticizing it for being too negative on Belichick. In that same offseason, ESPN reported that Kraft warned Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank "not to trust" Belichick when the team was interviewing the former Patriots head coach for the same role. Adding to the tension, Kraft told "The Breakfast Club" in October 2024 that he had fired Belichick. Before that admission, the team had said that Kraft and Belichick mutually agreed to part ways. Belichick, who has since been hired by North Carolina to become its head coach, has largely avoided directly addressing Kraft's remarks since he was let go as head coach of the Patriots. He hasn't publicly commented on the report that Kraft influenced the Falcons not to hire him. But he made a joke about how he was portrayed in "The Dynasty" during the Roast of Tom Brady in May 2024 and has questioned Kraft's claim that the Patriots fired him. "It was a mutual decision for us to part ways," Belichick told CBS News in April. Belichick also snubbed Kraft in his recent book, "The Art of Winning: Lessons from My Life in Football," failing to mention his former boss once in the book's 289 pages and acknowledgements. "It's about my life lessons in football and it's really more about the ones that I experienced directly," Belichick said on why Kraft wasn't mentioned in the book in his interview with CBS News. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
New York Post
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Bill Belichick fires back at Robert Kraft's ‘big risk' comment in rare move
It appears there hasn't been any thawing in the relationship between Bill Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft. In a highly unusual move, Belichick has responded to comments Kraft made last month in which the owner said he took a 'big risk' by giving up a first-round pick to steal Belichick away from the Jets in 2000. 'As I told Robert multiple times through the years, I took a big risk by taking the New England Patriots head coaching job,' Belichick told ESPN. 'I already had an opportunity to be the Head Coach of the New York Jets, but the ownership situation was unstable.' 5 Patriots owner Robert Kraft (l.) and Bill Belichick (r.) during a press conference announcing Belichick's departure from the team on Jan. 11, 2024. AFP via Getty Images There was a bidding war for the Jets at the time between eventual winner Woody Johnson and Charles Dolan in the wake of former owner Leon Hess' death. Belichick noted that concerns also engulfed the Patriots' opening. 'I had been warned by multiple previous Patriots' coaches, as well as other members of other NFL organizations and the media, that the New England job was going to come with many internal obstacles,' Belichick told ESPN. 'I made it clear that we would have to change the way the team was managed to regain the previously attained success.' 5 Robert Kraft speaking on the 'Dudes on Dudes' podcast at Fanatics Fest on June 20, 2025. Darren Agboh/Shutterstock During an appearance last month on ex-Patriots stars Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman's 'Dudes on Dudes' podcast at Fanatics Fest, Kraft said his decision to hire Belichick, whom he gave roster control to, was the best decision he's made as the team's owner, noting he got questioned for giving up a first-round pick for a coach who had a 36-44 record over five seasons leading the Browns. 'I don't know if there are any Jets fans here. I think getting Bill Belichick to come to the Patriots in [2000] was a big risk, and I got hammered in the Boston area, but he was with us for 24 years,' Kraft told the crowd at Javits Center. 'And we did OK.' After going 5-11 in his first season as the Patriots' head coach, Belichick led them to a Super Bowl title the following season as Tom Brady emerged as a franchise QB after Drew Bledsoe was sidelined by an early-season crushing hit from the Jets' Mo Lewis. 5 Robert Kraft (l.) and Bill Belichick (r.) after the Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVIII on Feb. 1, 2004. AFP via Getty Images Belichick, Kraft and Brady ultimately won six Super Bowls in New England, with Brady earning another ring with the Buccaneers. The 73-year-old Belichick, now he head coach at UNC after a stunning move to the college ranks, told ESPN he 'appreciated Robert giving me the opportunity' to shake up the Patriots' roster, but said 'you'll have to ask Robert' why he described Belichick's hiring as a 'big risk.' Belichick makes no mention of Kraft in his book 'The Art of Winning: Lessons from My Life in Football,' which was released in May. 5 Tom Brady (l.) and Robert Kraft (r.) at the FIFA Club World Cup final between Chelsea and PSG at MetLife Stadium on July 13, 2025. Getty Images He was asked about Kraft's conspicuous absence in the book during his disastrous 'CBS Sunday Morning' interview in April. '[The book is] about my life lessons in football and it's really more about the ones I experienced directly,' Belichick said during the interview. While Belichick's departure from the Patriots following a 4-13 season in 2023 was portrayed as 'mutual,' Kraft has since described the coach's exit as a firing. Asked about that phrasing during the CBS interview, Belichick said, 'It was a mutual decision.' 5 Bill Belichick (l.) and girlfriend Jordon Hudson (r.) at the NFL Honors in New Orleans on Feb. 6, 2025. Getty Images It was after that interview that Belichick's relationship with 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson became further scrutinized, as Hudson shut down a question about how they met as she loomed off to the side. 'We're not talking about this,' Hudson interjected.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Bears safety Jaquan Brisker's Packers trash talk game stronger than ever
The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers rivalry has been renewed following Chicago's Week 18 win over Green Bay that snapped an 11-game losing streak for the Bears, new head coach Ben Johnson making it clear he loves to beat Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and quarterback Caleb Williams joining an anti-Packers chant. The Bears have been on the wrong side of the rivalry for the better part of two decades, but the tide appears to be turning following their impressive win over the Packers last January. Quarterback Caleb Williams led a game-winning drive that resulted in a Cairo Santos' game-winning field goal. During an appearance at Fanatics Fest back in June, Williams discussed why Packers fans "suck" and happily taunted how he's 1-0 at Lambeau Field. And it seems Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker didn't take too kindly to that remark. "They got lucky," Walker said on Good Morning Football. "We're gonna remember he said that." Then, in true Bears fashion, safety Jaquan Brisker had something to say about Walker's comments -- and it was akin to keep crying in your pillow. "Awwwww it'll be okay," Brisker wrote on X. "I have a nice Bear for y'all, so y'all can sleep tight at night! It's a gift from me." As for Walker's comments, it's actually the Packers who got lucky last season. The Bears (and Williams) should be 2-0 against Green Bay rather than 1-1, if not for a blocked Santos 46-yard field goal at Soldier Field in Week 11. Now, with Johnson leading the charge, it's safe to say that this Bears-Packers rivalry is finally back on level footing -- and Green Bay is no longer a lock to beat Chicago. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
LeBron James draws an unusual analogy while revisiting his NBA Finals runs
LeBron James draws an unusual analogy while revisiting his NBA Finals runs (Image Credit: Getty Images) LeBron James recounted his impressive NBA finals run while conversing with Steve Nash at the recent episode of Fanatics Fest, recorded for the Mind the Game podcast. He compared his teammates to soldiers who are willing to die in a warzone. While recalling the team members who stood by his side during his fabulous NBA journey, he mentioned several NBA players who shared the same ambition as him. His unwavering trust in his teammates was evident from the statement where he considered he and his NBA fellows 'together in a foxhole.' LeBron James makes an interesting comparison revisiting his iconic NBA Finals run What's RIGHT with the NBA Today? | LeBron James & Steve Nash | Season Finale LIVE From Fanatics Fest NBA superstar has a boastful journey in the league. His career's main highlight is eight back-to-back appearances in the NBA finals. Recalling how he achieved the feat, he gave full credit to the trustworthy people he had collected over the years. Talking about the teamwork and trust that played a crucial role in his successful journey, he said: 'I think the best feeling for me as a player is that, when a national anthem is going on and I usually stand on the end, is that when I can look down the rope and I know that I got 11 other guys, 13 other guys that's in a foxhole with me. And I know for sure that if it's a grenade thrown in a fox hole, we don't all stand there. Like we want to die for this game." He further said, 'You know, and that is a beautiful feeling when you can look to your left and look all the way down the road either if I was teammates with Dwayne Wayne, Chris Bosh, Udonis Haslem, James Jones, Mike Miller, you know, the rest of the crew." Naming other players crucial to his journey, he continued, "Or if I looked to my left and I saw, you know, Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving, you know, J.R. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Luxury 2–4 BHKs in Pune's Iconic Green Township Shapoorji Golfland Vanaha Enquire Now Undo Smith, Iman Shumpert, Tristan Thompson, Channing Frye, Richard Jefferson, or Anthony Davis, you know, Alex Caruso, Rajon Rondo, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, you know, Danny Green, and looking at my-- just knowing guys that, you know, who are willing to die for it on the floor and be in a fox hole with you. There's no better feeling than that, man. There's no better feeling than that, absolutely.' Basketball is an entirely game of teamwork and trust. No one can be solely responsible for a team's success. LeBron's expressing his admiration of teammates took fans to beautiful parts of the game, built entirely on camaraderie and mutual respect. LeBron James owes his success to devoted teammates who nursed a passion for game LeBron James' Top 5 teammates 👀 LeBron played eight NBA finals consecutively from 2011 to 2018. He also won four NBA championships during this tenure. His time in the NBA is divided among the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers. Owing to his experience and command over the game, he was always given the responsibility of taking the team's game to the next level. He succeeded in building invincible squads with the help of devoted players who had a hunger for delivering a character-laden performance and winning. With a sharp eye for talent and a passion for the game, he always ended up building a successful team. His NBA stint started with the Cleveland Cavaliers, with players like Shaquille O'Neal, Mo Williams, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, among others, by his side. On moving to the Miami Heat, LeBron got the company of players with a formidable reputation like Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Together, they orchestrated Heat's move up to sixth position in the league. FLASHBACK: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh win Miami's SECOND NBA Title in 2012 🏆 When it was LeBron's Lakers, the NBA superstar drew strength from players like Anthony Davis. Davis was the best defender LeBron had ever played with, as per a Bleacher Report article. After Bosh and Wade, he filled the position of defender that LeBron needed to take the Lakers to new heights. The last season saw brewing camaraderie between LeBron and Luka Doncic, who was traded to the Lakers in a blockbuster deal from the Dallas Mavericks. Luka's adaptation to LeBron's play style was slick and helped the team put amazing numbers on the board. Also Read: LeBron James makes a joint appearance with Los Angeles Lakers' newest recruit Deandre Ayton at Summer League game against LA Clippers Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
