My First Kobe Bryant Graded Rookie Card: 96-97 Topps #138 RC BGS 9.5

For my Kobe Bryant side PC, I don't intend to collect all his cards.

Only his rookie cards as well as his insert cards from his rookie year up to the 1998-99 NBA season.

Kobe Bryant 96-97 Topps Draft Redemption

Kobe Bryant's rookie campaign was not exactly explosive.

As only the 13th pick in a very deep 1996 NBA Draft, and the first guard to be ever taken out of high school at that, his minutes were very limited especially that the team he plays, the Los Angeles Lakers already got a talented guard duo in Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel.

Mail Week April 11 - 15: Cool Kobe and Jordan Inserts, etc.

In this mail week, I got a Shaq refractor and Dwight Howard wood auto for my main PC and cool Kobe and Jordan inserts for my side PC. Also got a nice patch for my trade baits.

Check out my mail week for April 11 - 15.

Vince Carter 09-10 Exquisite Collection Buyback Auto

Last July 22, 2010, I redeemed four redemption cards for 09-10 Exquisite Collection Buyback autos of Dwight Howard, Chril Paul and Vince Carter.

After the process, I was given a message to allow up to 12-16 weeks for delivery. That's 3-4 months which I find very long. However, I did not expect that it will be until 8 months later before I receive... not all cards but only one -- the Vince Carter.

My White Whale: 1/1 Dwight Howard Autographed Jersey Printing Plate

In the world of sports cards, a white whale is a card that you have decided to be a must have for your collection. It might not be valuable to others but for you, your collection is incomplete without it.

However, acquiring it is very difficult because it seldom comes up and chasing that card might sometimes take you years.

Mail Week March 28 - April 1: 1 of 1 Inserts and Autos, Carter Exquisite and Jordans

I have been literally flooded with mails this month.

While I really like my March 21-25 mail week because of the rare Shaq 90's inserts, nice Dwight Howard autos and Kobe 2nd year inserts, my mails for the past week is not too shabby either because, finally, my Dwight Howard white whale has arrived.

Michael Jordan 86-87 Fleer Rookie Card Reprint... Err, Fake

Michael Jordan is widely considered as the greatest basketball player ever.

It is therefore understandable that in the world of basketball sports cards, his rookie card, the 1986-87 Fleer #57 is considered as the "Holy Grail"; the most coveted card every fanatic wants to add to his collection.