Firstly ... why does every assume that Upper Deck got canned in regards to the NBA license? did anyone actually pay attention to the contract negotiations as reported on Beckett.com last january? I did and i can say that Upper Deck was not canned - they walked away, choosing not renegotiate their contract with NBA Properties. Same with Topps. Both Companies quoted the difficulty of the economic times. So all of this BS that upper deck got canned, that panini took over the license is just that - BS. After the announcement from Upper Deck and Topps, Commissioner Stern was left holding the short straw. fortunately, Panini was approaching the NBA to be a third wheel in the basketball hobby. By circumstance, they became the only wheel. So please, get your facts right before making blind statements like "Upper Deck got canned" and "panini took over the license" and "Monopolies aren't good" - it's a monopoly by circumstance, not by design.
Secondly, in March 2009, Panini bought the licensing from Donruss-Playoff LP when Donruss was losing a major courtcase that eventually saw the company go bankrupt.As such, Panini now owns the rights to all licenses from Donruss, Playoff, Leaf and Pinacle - as these four companies went through a series of mergers earlier this decade. This why we are seeing products formerly released by these companies - Playoff Contenders, Prestige, Donruss Elite, Rookies and Stars, Rookies and Star Longevity, Threads, Limited, Certified, Royale Crown and Studio. They are all Donruss-Playoff LP licenses.
Thirdly, Panini is releasing so many products for two reasons - to meet their statement of 15 products a year and also to see exactly what works and what doesn't. We will see a reduction of products next season, with licenses being limited to the longstanding Donruss products - Prestige, Rookies and Stars, Rookies and Stars Longevity, Threads and Elite - as well as the base Panini product. Other than that ... whatever sold the best.
Finally, how often did you see Upper Deck - or topps for that matter - guarantee 1 card serially numbered to 25 or less per box in every product mid-range or higher? never. As to the card designs - you have to remember that panini was limited by what Donruss Playoff LP had designed for their 2009 releases. I expect that we'll see designs next year that are uniquely panini. Personally, I see nothing wrong with a mid-1990's style break - ala Panini. It's about time a card company went back to the roots of the modern card collecting era.
have you ever seen so much kobe auto's on the bay is that a good thong or bad?so far i have liked the look of the absolute panini base numbered and the awesome logos in timeless treasures.
