Top 9 of # 9 - Tony Allen

[jmmintz]

My wife and I moved to Memphis from Atlanta the summer of 2003. We bought a ten-game pack of Grizz tickets that fall when the team still played in the Pyramid (which is now the largest Bass Pro Shops store in the world).

We were there for the first playoff run when they got swept by the Spurs.

And the next year when they got swept again...again by the Spurs.

And the year after that, another sweep (this time by the Mavs).

Not long after that, the team was dreadful, but we stayed true to the team, eventually splitting full-season tickets with friends.

For a small-market team, it's imperative to build through the draft, but we watched bungled pick after bungled pick (Hasheem Thabeet, anyone?).

Through a miracle of reclamation projects, and a brother-for-brother trade that was widely panned that worked out in the best way, we watched the birth of an era.

The Grit and Grind era.

The cornerstone of that was the Grindfather - Tony Allen. It was after a game (and sadly, which one escapes me at the moment) that, in a postgame interview, he stated they won with "All Heart. Grit. Grind."

The term stuck.

TA and Zach Randolph were the embodiment of basketball in this city. It was never pretty, but it was hard-nosed, dirty, and blue collar.

My family loved watching TA - for better (Kobe Bryant said Tony was the best defender he ever faced) or for worse (the guaranteed bricked layups and at-times awful shot selection).

So...he became my main PC guy (if you've got any, even base, that I don't have I'm interested.)

In honor of #9, the Grindfather, here are my top 9 Tony Allen cards. These aren't necessarily my rarest, or most valuable, but they're my favorites.


#9:

This came in the other day - it's #9/29 - the fact that it's his Grizz jersey number was complete coincidence. I love that the green card matches his green Celtics uniform.

[jrussell_sig]

The Grindfather!!!!! First Team All Defense!!!! Can't wait to see the rest.

[smalltown]

Very nice! Looking forward to this!

[rdleifriaf]

Loved watching Tony Allen smother and frustrate guards with his relentless D

[Oldschool42]

Wish the C’s didn’t let him go. Great defender.

[SHowley2003]

Originally Posted by Oldschool42

Wish the C’s didn’t let him go. Great defender.

He sealed his fate when he blew out his ACL showboating. He needed a change of scenery to fully develop. He was too focused on his offensive game in Boston. Felt he had to be Pierce’s #2 for some reason. Remember all those possessions where he would dribble for 10 seconds not knowing where to go before turning the ball over? I love TA, but he truly matured in Memphis.

I’m so excited for this thread. It’s off to a great start.

[vto47]

ohhhh man, I love Tony Allen!!!

[SPauthentic84]

Trick or Treat Tony

[jmmintz]

#8

This would be higher up the list, but while it literally says "Rookie Patch Autograph" on top of the card, calling that white swatch of fabric a patch is generous.

The Exquisite RPA is basically THE rookie auto to get of anyone, so this was one I knew I had to have. I still track them on eBay and occasionally see white & green ones come up, but they always end up going for more than I'm willing to pay for what amounts to a replacement card.

But, it's got a clean, bold auto, a nice photo of a young TA chillin', and no top list would be complete without an Exquisite RPA.

[the34truth]

Share the love for TA. Thanks for sharing!

The first few seasons of this guy was sometimes hard to watch, basketball IQ was questionable. Fouled on Chauncey Billups last second pump fake at least twice and lost those games, plus that almost career ending injury dunk after whistle. While I loved Delonte and Big Al much more, TA stayed on and developed an elite on ball defense.....

As for 04-05, although exquisite rpa is always the rc to get, the ultimate rpa /25 and the trilogy rpa /10 were more appealing and scarce.

[The Zodiac]

Very nice!

[jmmintz]

#7

I dig this one, the Skybox Rubies /75, because it's just a clean, simple design on a rookie parallel. I'm trying to track the Emerald /15 down to go along with this and the base /999, but those aren't easy to come by (never seen one).

[kukocitb]

NICE stuff so far! Cannot wait to see the rest!

[celtics]

Very nice, I always wish the Celtics hung onto him

[jmmintz]

#6

This is the last non-Grizz TA on my list. Again - this isn't my most valuable, or rarest...just my favorite (I may put an honorable mention after with the handful that didn't make the cut).

Not sure I need to say anything about this one - it's a rookie Topps Chrome Gold Refractor. Topps made a handful of variations on this one, but I think the Gold always has a special place amongst collectors. Plus, gold's an accent color for certain year Celtics jerseys and goes well with the green, so...here we are.

[SHowley2003]

Originally Posted by jmmintz

#6

This is the last non-Grizz TA on my list. Again - this isn't my most valuable, or rarest...just my favorite (I may put an honorable mention after with the handful that didn't make the cut).

Not sure I need to say anything about this one - it's a rookie Topps Chrome Gold Refractor. Topps made a handful of variations on this one, but I think the Gold always has a special place amongst collectors. Plus, gold's an accent color for certain year Celtics jerseys and goes well with the green, so...here we are.

This is my favorite so far. I love Gold Refractors and having a rookie year gold refractor of a PC player special. Great card.

[The Zodiac]

Sweet! if this is the last Celtic uniformed card, than I am done following this thread, lol

[volblorx8634]

That Chrome Rookie Gold refractor is awesome! That year is a particularly nice design, and the gold does really go well with the green. I really wanna pick up a Mike Bibby Topps Chrome Gold refractor soon.

[Deadshot]

2004 is my favorite Topps Chrome design!

[SHowley2003]

Originally Posted by Deadshot

2004 is my favorite Topps Chrome design!

Interesting. I love 2004 but I think 2008 & 2009 are the at the “Topp” of the list for me. High quality gold refractor effects, clean designs and amazing action shots. Regardless this is an excellent card the OP shared.

[ljandkg]

Originally Posted by Deadshot

2004 is my favorite Topps Chrome design!

It's my least favourite, Topps Gold looks like Topps Brown!

[Deadshot]

I think it's the team logo in the bottom middle that does it for me. Now if only the set had Jeff Foster or Ron Artest...

[jmmintz]

#5

We hit the Grizzlies portion of this list.

2012-13 Panini Signatures is, IMO, an underrated set. A lot of folk hate predominantly white cards, but personally, I really like them. I'm a graphic designer - I think negative space is a GOOD thing. So - clean design up top but they tastefully worked in a color headshot at the bottom along with the team logo.

That, and a decent chunk of the autos in this set are on-card. One of my favorite cards I own is a Bill Russell auto out of this set - it's low-numbered and on-card.

Which brings us to TA's line in this set. There are definitely a lot of variations, which is a common gripe about this set. I've got three - the base /10, a die-cut /5, and this one. I went with this because it's the lowest-numbered I have at /3 and it has the cleanest auto.

Off-topic side note: I was at a show here in Memphis and a dealer had one lone box of this. I passed because I was certain that the biggest hit would be an Andrew Nicholson auto or some crap like that.

Nope.

Dealer opened it and pulled an Anthony Davis auto (which, for those keeping score, is a RC auto).

[jrussell_sig]

Never leave the last pack, box, etc.

[jmmintz]

Originally Posted by jrussell_sig

Never leave the last pack, box, etc. when it's at Mickey's table

Fixed it for you.