And so Topps gets another notch

Upper Deck is being sued by the MLB. That's not news anymore.

What is news these days in the trading card industry?

The NFL joins other companies in suing Upper Deck for failure to pay contractual obligations. Yeap, Upper Deck, the big boys that took over some of the most beloved names in sports trading cards is now up the creek.  And, they broke their own paddles.

This effectively launches Topps to the forefront of sportscards.  While that was great back before there WERE other trading card companies, this is an absolute disaster for the hobby.  Topps has exclusive rights to the MLB, and we have seen what junk has come of it.  Granted, there are a couple intriguing designs, most of it is stuck in the "retro" world.  Seriously. Retro went out at least three years ago, if not back when it was actually new and NOT retro.

Anyway, I hate "exclusive rights" models that are really nothing than legal monopolies.  Yeap, Upper Deck has, er had anyway, them too.  I guess my beef should be with the various sports leagues for being so stupid to allow such a mess in the first place.

Here's the story on the NFL and Upper Deck, thanks to Cardboard Connection for posting it.

http://www.cardboardconnection.com/nfl-tackles-upper-deck-another-lawsuit

**On a side note: Had I known Ted on "How I Met Your Mother" was an Indians fan, I would have watched the show a long time ago... Er, no. I wouldn't have. I would have thought about watching it though...

Win a chance to play catch... with a football player?

Yeah, you read that correctly.  The Indians are taking names for a chance to play catch on-field at Jacob's, er Progressive, Field on Father's Day.  Will the winner(s) play catch with a current Indians player? No.  I know, I know, how about a former player? Nope.  Who then?  The winner(s) get to catch a football on-field with HOFer Joe DeLamielluere.  No offense to Mr. DeLamielluere, but I had no idea who he was until I researched him for this post.  I'll let you Google him. After all, my issue here is the concept.

On Father's Day, some lucky winner will get to play catch with the HOFer after the baseball game.  Oh, and the promotion on Father's Day is this: The first 7000 kids under 12 get a free pass to the Hall of Fame... The FOOTBALL Hall of Fame.  And, the kids get a free pack of Panini Adrenyln football cards.  At the Indians game.  On Father's Day.  Am I the only one that sees this a great injustice to America's Pasttime?  I mean, come on.  The Indians are playing the Pirates that day.  Why not get one of the Tribers to throw a few balls after the game?  How about snagging any one of the hundreds of former Indians (or a few dozen for that matter) to play catch?  And, what's up with football cards at a baseball game?  I foresee a lot of cardboard going to the trash bins and/or to the stadium floors to be trampled like discarded toilet paper stuck to the bottom of one's shoe.

Maybe it's just the semi-purist in me, but I think the Indians, the Browns, and the FBHOF missed the boat on this one.  Does baseball really need such a booster shot in the arm that they have to bring in a football HOFer to try and rally the crowds to come out on Father's Day?  And, DOES that rally the crowds? 

Well, if you're interested, here is the contest info and entry form.  And, if you win, tell 'em Tribecards sent you. That'll confuse them instead.

http://mlb.com/cle/fan_forum/on_field_sweeps.jsp?tcid=tw-cle-joed

Football and baseball collide on this ridiculous 1990 Score Bo Jackson (image from Capewood's Collections):

Expanding the baseball playoffs?

Oh, sure, for several years now some people have been crying for an expanded playoff session for baseball.  Well, now it seems thing are moving beyond the talking phase.  Some players (and fans, and maybe even an owner or two) say that baseball has the lowest team-to-playoff percentage of all major professional sports.  Granted, it is a true statement.  Half the hockey teams and half the basketball teams make it to the playoffs.  "Only" eight baseball teams make it to the playoffs.

I am not in favor of expanded playoffs.  To me, the fact that so many teams make it in hockey os part of the reason I have become disenfranchised with NHL in general (though, yes, I will watch the Pens if they are on).  Frankly, why bother even watching the regular season if HALF the teams are going to be in the playoffs anyway?  Oh, and then the playoffs seem to last just as long as the regular season.  No thanks.

I'm not a baseball purist by any stretch (I am completely in favor of expanded instant replay), but I see no reason to stretch the playoffs any more than they already are.  Though, I suppose if they were expanded to include more teams, surely they would be reduced to best-of-three.  Please!!  Seriously, best-of-5 is bad.  Best-of-7 is ludicrous.  Frankly, I think it should be like football.  You have one game that decides it all.

Oh, I know, "But what if a team just has a bad day?"  Well, I say they picked the wrong day to have a bad one.  Sorry, boys. Better luck next year.

Thoughts?

BTW, more info: http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2010-10-26/baseball-union-would-consider-expanded-playoff-field