When I was 11 years old, one of my best friends took me to a couple of Utah Jazz games.
The best part? Our seats were right near the opposing team’s tunnel. This led to many player interactions highlighted by my face-to-face with the NBA’s infamous “Bad Boy,” Stephen Jackson. Earlier in his career, he served a 30-game suspension for his involvement in the “Malice at the Palace.”
My friend’s dad looked at my friend and I and dared us to say these words to him: “Hey, Stephen, want to fight?” At the age of 11, I balled up my fists, looked Jackson in the eyes and asked him if he wanted to fight. He shook his head, scoffed, and headed to the court to warm up.
Moments like this led to the opportunity to obtain some awesome memorabilia.
I have game-worn shoes from Samuel Dalembert and Wesley Matthews and one of my favorite memories is cheering for the Sacramento Kings and having their trainer give me and my friend a bunch of Kings gear. After the game, I even got DeMarcus Cousins’ game-worn headband.
Sweaty, but epic.
What upgrades can we make in the golf memorabilia world?
I’ve been on a bit of a sports card kick lately so that’s the first option we’re going to visit.
Six weeks ago, I opened a Topps MLB Holiday box and pulled a Paul Skenes authentic game-worn jersey card numbered to 99—meaning only 99 copies of that card exist.
Would it not be the coolest thing in the world to open a box of golf cards and find something similar?
Panini has rolled out LIV Golf cards over the last couple of years but we haven’t seen many options from the PGA Tour. Upper Deck releases PGA Tour-themed cards sporadically, but I want more.
Create cards with legendary inserts. How hard can it be?
I mean, imagine how cool it would be if you pulled a Scottie Scheffler card with an insert featuring part of his sneaker, a polo, a glove or scorecard?
I did some research and found evidence that these types of cards have been made in the golf world before but it doesn’t seem to be a priority right now.
If I had to guess, I’d say golfers are having issues with committing to card deals with the major manufacturers.
For the fans and collectors’ sakes, MAKE A DEAL HAPPEN. I’d go bankrupt chasing a Scottie Scheffler insert.
If I can be given Dalembert and Matthews’ shoes, what’s keeping golf greats from doing the same?
Picture this: you head into your man cave for a quick moment to yourself. You kick your feet up and look at the shelf under your 1,000,000-inch TV. Staring back at you is an autographed pair of Tiger Woods game-worn Sunday Red shoes.
Even more epic.
This is all doable but it’s going to take some fan help. I’d be willing to bet Scheffler hasn’t been asked to take off his shoes post round. If he has, I’d guess it hasn’t happened many times.
I get it. Fans can be greedy. Fans can sometimes overstep but lifelong fans are made through intimate experiences like this.
I’m 26 years old now and I’ve held onto the game-worn memorabilia that I have for nearly 20 years. There’s something about the feeling of attachment to a player/sport/game. It creates a new level of connection that golf is lacking.
I’d love to see change in this aspect.
I’d be ecstatic to watch the golf memorabilia landscape change right before my eyes. Heck, maybe I’ll be the one to spark change. As a fan and a collector, I don’t just want it.
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