Sometimes, people would classify me as excessive. I wouldn't doubt it, being a Raider fan.
The way I look at being a fan, or being a collector, as such, I enjoy supporting my team, through the rough times, and the good times. Sure, the best year we had, in years' past, was in 2002, and we lost the Super Bowl, but still, there were 30 other teams that didn't make it to the final game.
For me, it's a developing mad passion. I used to collect cards, of the 4 primary sports, but discovered, it was going to be difficult, and almost impossible, for a one of everything collection.....and to that end, very expensive.
So, I contemplated....how about collecting just Raiders items?
I already had a decent uptick in football, narrowing it down wouldn't be hard....some sets, i'd already have intact, i'd just check off.
Other cases, it turned out lucky for me, living in bronco territory, because they'd want to get rid of Raider items pulled, and I'd try to get rid of my donkey stuff. Fair trading would ensue, with me moving things like, an autographed mini helm of Terrell Davis, for an autographed mini helm of Otis Sistrunk, numbered.
Sometimes, it was a call for finesse, like in stalking Ebay like a hunter, looking for the trophy buck.
A couple of my more well-picked items, include getting a Jim Otto Rookie, from 1961 Topps for 99 cents, a Printing proof strike set, of Prism, featuring Jerry Porter's rookie, 4 color impressions, and the Die card sealed, and a complete 1973 Football set, containing the Stabler and Shell Rookies....all in an album.
Two particular deals stick out in my mind, one, was a pick made out of Washington.
Posted up, someone lost a storage lease, containing a lot of Raider items. Locally, some of the stuff wouldn't have been obtainable, like a mini popcorn cart, a plastic front wall clock, several pennants, and pictures, while some, I could have bought, but with the local markup, out of my price range.
Items, like a soap dish, dispenser, dartboard and darts, checkers set, signs, etc....it fills out the room nicely.
Of course, by this degree, my dad, who's a bronco fan, feels i'm mental....I don't think it's quite that bad.
I've seen some examples, of truly pathetic broncoisms, like the fan who made the world's ugliest van worse, with a blue and orange paint job. Also, the upshot of living in bronco territory, is if someone steals some stuff, I can lock down the town, by going to the local shops.....anything enters town, I usually know about it, on a 24 hour call.
All in all, it's a fun life, being an excessive Raider fan.....the Trucks, cars, planes, hummers, helicopters, bombers, helmets, cups, mini stadium, down to the fingernail tattoos they sell....i'm hooked.
Cheer and debate with
6,000,000+ fans!
Charlotte
Michael
Britney
more
Comment!