i’m living the dream: football card edition

(courtesy photo)

Over the weekend, the wife and I sat down to watch the ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 documentary “You Don’t Know Bo.”

For those who aren’t familiar, it’s a detailed look into the mesmerizing two-sports career of Bo Jackson. During one of the early commercial breaks, I explained to my wife that Jackson is the reason, to this day, I stay away from the stock market.

Confused — as any reasonable human being would be — she struggled to figure out what a football/baseball player from my childhood could possibly have to do with how I choose to invest my money today.

I explained to her that when Jackson burst onto the scene, I was convinced he’d be one of the greatest to ever play professional sports. My eyes could hardly believe the amazing feats of speed and strength that Bo was able to accomplish with ease, so I decided to invest everything I could into his career.

That meant acquiring as many of his football and baseball cards as possible. Unfortunately though, that wasn’t going to be easy considering I was barely a teenager and was making next to nothing courtesy of my pitiful weekly allowance.

So I took matters into my own hands and sold several of my top rookie cards — which included Hall of Famers Ryne Sandburg and Tony Gwynn — to have enough cash to buy as many Jackson football and baseball cards as possible.

The crown jewel of those days was theĀ 1990 Bo Jackson Black and White card by Score. This card was a must-have for any collector (in my 13-year-old eyes, at least) and it was only a matter of time before my stack of this particular card was going to help pay my way through college.

Well, Jackson’s career was derailed by a devastating hip injury roughly one year after this card came out and Bo was never Bo again. Fast forward to today and that same black and white card can be purchased for less than four bucks. In related news, my wife is in charge of handling our finances.

Sadly, this was my final foray into the world of football cards … until now. That’s because, a mere 22 years after my traumatic experience, the football card industry found a way to rope me back in — by putting me on my very own card.

My moment of glory comes courtesy of football card No. 196 in the 2012 Panini Gridiron Platinum Xs series. While the card itself mistakenly lists the name of Redskins tight end Fred Davis, it’s clear to anyone that the focal point of the image is yours truly.*

*Seriously, why else would I stop shooting photos while seated in the back of the end zone if I wasn’t posing for this shot? It’s the only plausible explanation.

Sure, four dollars can buy you a vintage Bo Jackson football card, but you can land the Homer McFanboy rookie card for just three bucks. Talk about a bargain!

4 comments

  1. Paige
    December 11, 2012 at 5:26 pm

    It’s a shame that Fred Davis got in the way of your glamour shot.

  2. Michelle
    December 11, 2012 at 6:41 pm

    I want one. Now will you do autographs? Also, remember the day your entire collection was on the roof of the car and you were in the road picking them all up? Damn traumatic childhood

  3. P Cooke
    December 12, 2012 at 1:30 am

    I want one also

  4. Scott
    December 12, 2012 at 6:47 am

    Maybe you will be on Pierre Garson’s card from the Washington Post shot Sunday, then WE could start our Homer collection.

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