Death is inevitable. Nonetheless, we are always saddened by it - especially when it touches our mortality. Such was the case the week of 23 June 2009 in Hollywood.

Three icons have died: TV’s greatest sidekick, one of Hollywood’s favorite blondes, and the King of Pop.  For those old enough to have watched each rise to stardom, it can be difficult to accept. The line keeps moving – and we all get one step closer to the end.

Ed McMahon was 86; Farrah Fawcett 62; and Michael Jackson 50.

Most remember Ed McMahon as the sidekick of Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show. I first remember Ed has Johnny’s sidekick on the TV game show Who Do You Trust.

To many, Farrah Fawcett’s fame began as a member of Charlie’s Angels. However, she became a heartthrob to many young men as the “hot” commercial girl for toothpaste and shampoo. That big smile. That big hair. That big poster.

And, while many will remember Michael Jackson’s great performances as the King of Pop – and his incredibly successful albums, including the greatest of all, Thriller; I will most remember his appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show on December 4, 1969, American Bandstand in 1970, and his first national tour stop in Boston on October 9, 1970.  His was just a young child….and an amazing talent.

I thank them for entertaining me. May they each rest in peace.

To the now-generation basketball fans, excuse me for being more than 30 years old. When I played hoops, or anything else for that matter, I wore Converse “Chuck Taylor” canvas sneakers. The first time I bought “basketball shoes” was circa 1969. They were Adidas. And while I thought they were cool, they were also too damn heavy. So when ranking my greatest NBA players of all-time, I actually took into consideration players pre-1980. Hell, pre-1960. After all, the list is “all-time.”

As I read today’s columns and blogs about the game’s greatest players, I’ve concluded that writers are either aiming at the younger-than-30 crowd or have little knowledge of the truly great players from yesteryear. Many in the now-generation actually include Kobe and LeBron in their top 5 list of best ever. Of course, that’s nonsense. Maybe LeBron will soon be included (once he wins a championship or two), but he’s not there yet. As for Kobe, he’s certainly a great player and could be in the top 10 by the time he retires, but forget the top 5.

I realize athleticism plays a role in comparing NBA players of today to those who wore Converse canvas sneakers but, rest assured, Russell, Wilt and The Big “O” take a back seat to no one in today’s game. Maybe the game has changed, but great basketball players endure. Larry Bird was a good athlete, but he was a great basketball player.

So, if you’re younger than 30 or living in Chicago, you might want to click off now, as I give you my top 5 greatest NBA players of all-time.

5. Larry Bird
4. Wilt Chamberlain
3. Oscar Robertson
2. Michael Jordan
1. Bill Russell

Tough to keep off the list: Kareem, Magic, Dr. J. and Jerry West.

Were has the time gone?

by Jeff Figler, Collectibles Editor, HOFN.com

As baseball cards have become a part of American tradition and folklore, it is interesting to see how its evolution developed. A thumbnail sketch is as follows.

It is hard to imagine that baseball cards were first issued in 1887 by a few of the existing tobacco companies of that era. A New York company, Goodwin & Company, issued the N172 series in Old Judge and Gypsy Queen cigarette packs. More than 500 players are pictured, and as some players were pictured in several poses, nearly 3500 different variations are know to exist. This set was issued between 1887-1890, as were other sets issued by other tobacco companies, notably Allen & Ginter. Cards issued in that time period were usually quite small, sometimes as small as 1 ½ x  2 ¾.

It should also be noted that one company, Green and Blackwell (G & B) of New York, included chewing gum with their baseball cards, the first time that idea had been implemented.

Not much happened on the baseball card front until the years 1909-1915. During that period baseball cards became very popular, and were issued by such diverse companies as tobacco, candy, and bread manufacturers, as well as sports magazines.

During this time the American Tobacco Company issued the famous T206 set from 1909-1911. Of course, the Honus Wagner card, the jewel of baseball card collectors is included in this set. Again, some players, such as Ty Cobb, are depicted on several cards with different poses. Other tobacco companies, such as Ramly, Hassan and Mecca, also issued cards, as did candy manufacturers such as American Caramel, Cracker Jack, and Zeenut candy.

In most cases, the cards would be included with the product, but not always. One exception was the set of cards issued by Sporting Life magazine, which could only be ordered by mail.

During the 1930s there were many card sets, primarily through gum companies. The Goudey Gum Company issued cards from 1933-1941, and the Bowman Gum Company issued the Play Ball sets in the late 1930s and into the early 1940s. During that time frame, and even as late as the 1960s, Exhibit cards were prominent, which were very distinctive in that they were thick and black-and-white.

The 1932 U.S. Carmel company issued a set, which, if a person sent to the company the entire set, the person received a free baseball or glove. It was not until the 1980’s that card number 16 (Lindy Lindstrom) was discovered, and supposedly only two such arts are known to exist today.

Leaf, another gum company, issued a card set in 1948, and Topps produced its first sets in 1951. Topps has been producing cards ever since. During the 1950s the two major issuers of cards were Topps and Bowman. However, other companies such as Red Man Chewing Tobacco, Mother’s Cookies, Wheaties Cereal, Wilson Weiners, Esskay Meats, and Red Heart Dog Food, among many others, all issued cards. In 1955 the Topps Company bought out Bowman, and through 1980 dominated the card market. Other companies such as Post Cereal, Jello, Hostess, Kahn’s Weiners, Milk Duds, and Hires Root Beer issued cards, but did not match Topps. Finally, the Fleer Corporation slowly began to make a dent in the Topps domination. More on that next time.

QUESTION #1: I saw your article on Tiger Woods collectables in HOFN.Com. I have a signed baseball cap that he wore in a tournament at West Englebrook on 1/19/01. What is the value?

ANSWER: It is worth approximately $5,000-7,000.

QUESTION #2: I just bought a 2007 Buick Invitational golf flag signed by Tiger Woods at a silent auction. How much do you think it is worth? How much do you think it will go up in value?

ANSWER: It is worth approximately $1500-2000. It will continue to go up in value if he continues to win more tournaments.