The return of Kobe ... 's mailday

[spinotron]

Salut,

It's been a while since I posted my last mailday. It's been a hectic year workwise and my heart was not totally in the hobby. I was able to use some Finals game to relax and now it seems a good time to share some Kobe content.

As many may know, I'm as a crazy hardcore Kobe fan as there ever is. I was working late into midnight and heard Kobe's announcement of his retirement at the end of season, then I immediately bought myself a ticket at ticketmasters at a super cheap price and at player's tunnel too, but only found out three hours later and the transaction was cancelled. I won't let an amoral seller to end a Kobe fan's dream and went to stubhub and got another slightly better seated ticket but now at a wooping double price. Later, from the infamous news about stubhub seller being able to back out a sale one month year if he ever desires, I felt very uneasy until I finally entered the stadium for Kobe's farewell game, which made my day (easy to please me as I just wanted to be there to see him off in person). I kept a video diary, feel free to check it out, not like you guys haven't watched the highlights for a few times, but atmosphere captured was electric and Staples went nuts!

http://www.spinotron.com/kbfarewell.html

After the game and just before I was about to leave Cali, the cardgod sent me a goodbye token for my Kobe final game trip:
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n591/spinotron/significards/5EEAEE75-73C0-49EC-91AB-C20E449AD0D3.jpg

Which then forms a pairing with my existing card, a theme which is now bread and butter of my collecting these days:
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n591/spinotron/top10KBMP/DF19102C-B706-4864-9233-00F34338C648.png.jpeg

I particularly enjoy USA themed Kobe cards and this year it happens to be an Olympics year as well, so I picked this one up:
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n591/spinotron/significards/316E729E-6F1D-4B92-8158-F6140D0373C3.jpg
This is the first time Kobe solo auto appears in a USA themed auto set featuring various other USA team players.

Kobe's greatest and most symbolic momeny is none other than this:
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n591/spinotron/significards/7A595542-7C61-4721-B54F-EAAA3DEBA63E.jpg
Without achilles, made both free throws like nothing and then walked off court and to the locker room on his own. Kobe's great farewell game, probably greatest walkout performance in all sports, is a reward the god of basketball gives to his endless hardwork and respect to the game.

Kobe's inscriptions are plenty, and this is by far my favorite one, as every point consists of sweats and deep loves of the game, and it is also the ultimate transcript a legend recorded.
http://www.spinotron.com/uploads/1/0/2/2/10221136/303205365.png
I missed out initial presale due to indecision and then kept refreshing and finally landed one and cannot believe it's the 1/124. I don't plan to keep collecting Kobe autos post retirement, and to me this piece is a perfect watershed of what to collect among the endless outpouring of Kobe's autos in issued cards and memorabilia.

Due to the coverage restriction, the first time I closely watched Kobe was the All stars weekend in 1997. Also his individual pinnacle moment is undoubtedly the 81 points. So feel very blessed to land this pair:
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n591/spinotron/significards/77E243D7-0BA6-4438-92FA-BBA5A6105F9B.jpg
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n591/spinotron/significards/F8CC0C78-8D4B-46F5-9A59-C586103F0ECF.jpg

Kobe wears 8 in both action shots:
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n591/spinotron/significards/E5FFA1D2-85A3-4DC9-AF3D-4A84EDB95885.jpg

However I feel Kobe might favor retiring 24 jersey, even though no one dares to wear 8 anyway. So I end with this one. I like this because FINALLY a Kobesque action shot, in full detail no less, not just the standing around dribbling or holding the ball cliché.
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n591/spinotron/PC4LIFE/C59971F6-6C81-4D2E-A137-FE86D388B476.jpg
Kobe might fade away from the game, but he will never fade away from our memory. This is my belated tribue to Kobe. May he find new challenges in his Kobe inc. and story telling endeavors.

[eastbayak]

Sweeeeet A

[phdbeckett]

Awesome Kobe pickups. I have been finding it harder and harder to land one's I don't have. Your masterpiece collection is great! I'm not looking for the 1/1s, just the great ones from the 1996 to 2006 decade of Kobe.

[blackcrow]

congrats, just awesome pickups!

[duron]

Love the first pic, rare sighting indeed for Spino to post an actual photo instead of scans.

Makes the Gold Labels really pop. Absolutely booty-full.

[byronscott4ever]

Very nice indeed

[Tarheelsfan2012]

Absolutely incredible spin!!!! Enjoyed the nice summary as well :)

Are you going to still collect rare Kobe's pre-retirement? Will you consider this years Immaculate and Flawless as part of the pre-retirement or are they post.

[hychang5]

Hey my man,

Always nice to see your posts, glad to see you haven't stopped collecting Kobe!

[WillC]

Those Kobe Chronology cards are worth $$$$$! Absolutely sick.

[bma0215]

Kobe Chronos #/10!!! Crazy and incredible! And expensive....

:eek::eek::eek::eek:

[LALeakers]

truly amazing.

[goehring9]

Absolutely fabulous batch here- i Love the Red Label, I just got one myself and they are so very nice in person. Congrats.

I was at the farewell game- hard to describe the atmosphere if you weren't there- just electric, better than a playoff game. Glad you had the chance since you are obviously deserving of seeing him off in style!

[JMarchand1981]

Holy smokes. This is some great stuff. Thank you for sharing.

[SPauthentic84]

Love the Chronos. That dunk contest was one of my first memories of Kobe as well

[Rip67vdub]

That Olympic NT is a beauty.

[ljandkg]

Just some beautiful cards Spinotron.

I love how you chase down his jersey numbered stuff. It can't be easy when the whole world collects him.

[thecomebacker]

Beautiful Story and unbelievable kobe's. Looking forward to your post retirement Kobe collection and maildays!

[tristan20]

Many monsters!

[DMcollector]

Wow, those two Green Chronology are just amazing.

[spinotron]

Sweeeeet A
Thank you for checking it out.

Awesome Kobe pickups. I have been finding it harder and harder to land one's I don't have. Your masterpiece collection is great! I'm not looking for the 1/1s, just the great ones from the 1996 to 2006 decade of Kobe.
Thank you. Yeah, lucky to have a few 90s masterpieces, Topps first ones besides plates. It's a great period you chose to collect, covering all the great and historically significant releases. Glad to know someone besides me is still collecting him after he leaves the spotlight. GL with your hunt.

[spinotron]

congrats, just awesome pickups!
Hi, nice to see you here. Thanks. It's been a while since my last mailday, but I got to do one for Kobe's retirement.

Love the first pic, rare sighting indeed for Spino to post an actual photo instead of scans.

Makes the Gold Labels really pop. Absolutely booty-full.
I would rather do all things scans, as they are easy to organize. But don't have time and luxury to scan them in for the moment. I agree pictures give a different feel, but I tend to like organize things in group pictures and pairing and scans are easier, quicker and more uniform to do. Thanks.

[spinotron]

Very nice indeed
Thank you for the kind words. Glad to be able to share again.

Absolutely incredible spin!!!! Enjoyed the nice summary as well :)

Are you going to still collect rare Kobe's pre-retirement? Will you consider this years Immaculate and Flawless as part of the pre-retirement or are they post.
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed writing as well. I'll concentrate more on Kobe's playing days cards, as infinitely many tribute or legend cards aren't that great and special anymore. I consider NT as his playing day's release, as autos were probably signed by him during his last few games prior to retirement. Immaculate now just has some concept photos out. I would regard them as post retirement. But that's just me. I can also imagine some people would consider all 2015-16 releases as Kobe's playing days cards, although some of them might come out in 2017 LOL.

[spinotron]

Hey my man,

Always nice to see your posts, glad to see you haven't stopped collecting Kobe!
Hi Henry, my inspiration. Glad to see you here. Yeah, sorry to disappoint those who are waiting for me to unload and cash out Kobes. I'm waiting for such unloading by others as well, but surprisingly nothing crazy shows up and prices also tick up, unlike some sage predicted when players retire and disappear from spotlight, no matter how great, people will rush to unload and price will fall. Guess Kobe has many loyal supporters and true fans.

[spinotron]

Those Kobe Chronology cards are worth $$$$$! Absolutely sick.
I know you would enjoy those. Thank you for the appreciation.

Kobe Chronos #/10!!! Crazy and incredible! And expensive....

:eek::eek::eek::eek:
Thank you. Your 50 ATG autos are insane. Thank you for your kind words.

truly amazing.
Thank you. Glad to finally post a mailday again.

[spinotron]

Absolutely fabulous batch here- i Love the Red Label, I just got one myself and they are so very nice in person. Congrats.

I was at the farewell game- hard to describe the atmosphere if you weren't there- just electric, better than a playoff game. Glad you had the chance since you are obviously deserving of seeing him off in style!

Yeah, those are nice in hands and 1/1 are first ever Topps 1/1 (excluding plates) and very historical. Still puzzled and no definitive evidence about whether 4 or 12 1/1 for each basketball player.

Glad you were at that event as well. Kobe had six 60 + point games and glad I was able to see the last two live in person, although I haven't watched that many games at stadiums. Yeah the atmosphere, excitement and performance were off the charts, unlike anything I have been to.

[spinotron]

Holy smokes. This is some great stuff. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you. It took me a while to accummulate these and glad you enjoy them.

Love the Chronos. That dunk contest was one of my first memories of Kobe as well
Thank you. His swagger and finesse immediately grabbed one's attention. Too bad almost no Lakers games were broadcasted live in Kobe's first couple of years back home for me and of course no youtube and league pass. LOL. But I did watch lots of news highlights and inside stuff (very late in the night and after TV adaptation of those classic works).

[spinotron]

That Olympic NT is a beauty.
Thank you. What makes it special is that it forms a USA themed 1/ triple pairing:

http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n591/spinotron/significards/EA8258AF-A734-4C34-9BBE-44793E0BA752.jpg

[spinotron]

Just some beautiful cards Spinotron.

I love how you chase down his jersey numbered stuff. It can't be easy when the whole world collects him.
Thank you. I'm not as obsessed as you for those jersey numbered cards. LOL. 238 is an amazing number. Congrats! Yeah, collecting Kobe is not easy, but on the other it's great to know many passionate collectors of him are out there.

Beautiful Story and unbelievable kobe's. Looking forward to your post retirement Kobe collection and maildays!
Thank you. My Kobe collection post his retirement will be about those issues prior to his retirement. LOL. I hope there are special cards to be issued to make me think of making exceptions.

Many monsters!
Thank you. I'm suspicious you are holding off a monster, when to reveal? ;)

Wow, those two Green Chronology are just amazing.
Thank you. Have you landed the card which is ever increasing in demand and price to complete the exquisite base set in all 7 years? That's an amazing feat. Nice to see you around.

Thank you very much for everyone checking out my mailday, especially to those who kindly commented. Until next time, I guess.

[yhnws6]

Wow! Those chronology green are dream collection of any Kobe collector. Soooooooo sick!

[hychang5]

Hi Henry, my inspiration. Glad to see you here. Yeah, sorry to disappoint those who are waiting for me to unload and cash out Kobes. I'm waiting for such unloading by others as well, but surprisingly nothing crazy shows up and prices also tick up, unlike some sage predicted when players retire and disappear from spotlight, no matter how great, people will rush to unload and price will fall. Guess Kobe has many loyal supporters and true fans.

LOL, what are you talking about? You inspire me, not the other way around, haha. Your collection is crazy, I'm so glad to see it grow to where it is now.

I was looking to see if there was going to be a wave of ultra rare Kobe's close to his retirement, but it didn't look like it happened. I couldn't have afforded it anyway!

Always love seeing your pickups!

[DMcollector]

Thank you. Have you landed the card which is ever increasing in demand and price to complete the exquisite base set in all 7 years? That's an amazing feat. Nice to see you around.

I am shame to say that I still don't have that ONE, and I might not be able to have one if he wins the G7 tomorrow.......or maybe someday if I wins a lottery, haha. But you know, sometimes it is good to keep myself in the hobby because I have a dream card to be always tracing on...but I did...or maybe never....who knows. Anyway, love to see your great post everytime.

[croatiantwins]

First class premium mailday and congrats on landing all those Beautys!

Especially that gold label /1 to go with your other kobe gold label is just stunning ...and those Kobe chronologys.....its just the best of the best :-)

just like you and hychang5 i was expecting to find some high quality kobe cards to appear during his retirement but it was kinda quiet...but they will come out one day, all those rare gems that you never see! :-9

-kiks