Sometimes collecting doesn’t make sense — and that’s just fine

The recent Ken Stabler Career Collection sale via Pristine Auction was one on my collecting radar from the second it was teased and on my mind until the final gavel came down earlier this month.

Simply put, I had to have something.

Why? Stabler wasn’t the first NFL player I ever met — he was probably the second — and I had his autograph a dozen times from various appearances where I played autograph hound in the past, but I knew I had met someone unique every time I ran into him. I knew that the MVP awards and the game-used items would be out of my reach. I knew that the game balls would be scooped up by serious collectors just like many of the odd mementos in the auction that included everything from wedding photos to belt buckles, cowboy hats and mix tapes.

But I knew I had to have something.

Buzz Break: 2016 Panini Black Gold college football cards

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there’s a box you’d want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2016 Panini Black Gold college football cards
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 2
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 10
Base set completion: 
0 of 89 (0 percent)
Duplicates: 0

First Buzz: 2016 Panini Immaculate Collection Collegiate football cards

What: 2016 Panini Immaculate Collection Collegiate football cards
Arrives: Sept. 14
Box basics: Five autographs or memorabilia cards per box (15 boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: The college gridiron gets its own Immaculate Collection release with the stars of the past (and recent past) with the high-end take we got a taste of with the multi-sport edition last fall.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Ken Stabler’s personal memorabilia to be sold via Pristine Auction

More than 450 lots of memorabilia from the collection of a former Alabama Crimson Tide and Oakland Raiders great are headed into collectors’ hands soon as they are now on the auction block.

Trophies, game-used memorabilia and more from the collection of Ken Stabler, who will be posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 6, are up for grabs after his family decided to part with them. “Snake” died in July 2015 after a brief battle with colon cancer.

“In honoring Ken Stabler’s requests, his family has chosen to make items from his personal career collection available to the fans of Mr. Stabler’s career through Pristine Auction,” read a release from the Phoenix-based company. “It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity … to obtain a piece of sports memorabilia owned by legendary Oakland Raiders quarterback and 2016 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Ken Stabler.”

First Buzz: 2016 Panini Black Gold Collegiate sports cards

What: 2016 Panini Black Gold Collegiate sports cards
Arrives: July 27
Box basics: Four autographs or memorabilia cards per two-pack box (eight boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: This brand arrives on the college level for the first time with four cards per pack and the familiar look that we’ve seen in other sports with baseball, football and basketball cards in this release.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Buzz Break: Panini Country Music trading cards (retail box)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there’s a box you’d want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: Panini Country Music trading cards (retail box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 192
Base set completion: 
100 of 100 (100 percent)
Duplicates: 45

Base cards of notables – Darius Rucker, Florida Georgia Line, LeAnn Rimes, Tracy Lawrence, Kimberly Perry, Sara Evans, Alabama, Big & Rich, Trick Pony, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Wynona Judd

Buzz List: Five NFL players to watch in Week 13

With the Patriots jettisoned from the unbeaten ranks, all eyes are on MVP candidate Cam Newton as his 11-0 Carolina Panthers take on the high-powered offense and no-powered defense of the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon.

Newton has thrown for 2,466 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, scoring seven more times on the ground. His 2011 Rookie Cards have to be among the most-watched right now, too, with Topps Chrome and Panini Contenders autos among perennial favorites with more tradition-minded collectors who can’t swing for the high-end brands. (Or maybe that’s just Buzz.)

Something wants Buzz to call an upset here because the Saints have potential on offense, but … we’ll see.

Keep reading for four more guys to watch on Sunday.