OCAAT: Mean Gene Autograph

As much as I can, I'd like to keep the OCAAT posts relevant with current happenings.  As many of you may know, "Mean" Gene Okerlund passed away on January 2.  As a guy that always loved GOOD announcers, and went to school for TV & Radio Broadcasting, Okerlund was one of the voices of my youth.  He was an icon to all who watched wrestling in the 1980s and 1990s.

Almost two years ago, I was fortunate enough to receive back a TTM request I had sent out to Okerlund.  I was much more active sending then and more than a handful of the men that I sent to during that time have passed away.  One of them, one of Okerlund's best friends, Bobby Heenan.  This is about Mean Gene, though.




Because of how the wrestling industry has changed, there will never be anyone that can hold a candle to Gene Okerlund.  There just won't be the opportunity.  Even if there was, Okerlund would be the best, ever. 

Okerlund was 76 years young.  Per Wikipedia (always there, sometimes accurate), his son has stated that he recieved three kidney transplants and suffered a fall that caused his health to deteriorate in his final weeks. 

He is survived by his wife, two children and three grandchildren. 

Thanks for the memories, Mean Gene. 

TTM Success #40 - The Brain

My latest TTM autograph success is from a WWE Hall of Famer and in my opinion, the top heel manager of all time.  After his wrestling and managing days were over, he became a broadcaster and is one of my favorite announcers ever as well.

As I was writing this post, I googled Bobby Heenan.  I admittedly didn't realize that he's had as many health issues and may not be in the best of health.  I feel badly for having sent this now, but I'm thrilled to get it back.

I love the Allen & Ginter's card because of the image.  I wanted to have both he and Harley Race sign the card on the right.  Unfortunately, he signed the cards on the back, so I won't send on to Race.  Nonetheless, I am happy to add these to my collection.

If you shop online and haven't signed up and used ebates yet, you're missing out.  I also use it on eBay to get money back.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in about seven months.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

My Second Topps Now WWE Purchase

A week ago I posted my first Topps Now WWE card.  I now have my second one, picked up in the same manor, as in not from Topps.  I didn't even think about checking their site the day after Elimination Chamber.  Thankfully, there are eBay sellers out there willing to make a buck!

It's less than a month until Wrestlemania.  I'm eagerly awaiting finding out how the Bray Wyatt/Randy Orton angle plays out after that unbelievable development last week (you can watch below).  I knew the turn was coming, and soon, after seeing how Orton was eyeball-screwing the title the week before when he was looking over Wyatt's shoulder.  I didn't see anything like this coming.  Well done, WWE.  Well done.

2017 Topps Now WWE #58 Bray Wyatt (WWE Elimination Chamber/Wins the WWE Championship Elimination Chamber Match)

2017 Topps Now WWE #58 Bray Wyatt (WWE Elimination Chamber/Wins the WWE Championship Elimination Chamber Match) (back)

Happy collecting, friends!

The First WWE Topps Now Purchase

I'm not the biggest fan of the Topps Now program, but I do believe it has a place in the hobby.  I had forgotten that Topps has the program for WWE until I was looking for Bray Wyatt cards on eBay shortly after he won the WWE title.

The print runs are obviously much lower on these than their baseball counterparts.  All three picturing Wyatt are still available and I was able to get this one very cheaply.

2016 Topps Now WWE #42 Randy Orton / Bray Wyatt (WWE Tables, Ladders and Chairs/Defeat Heath Slater and Rhyno for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship)

Yes, I'm a grown man.  Yes, I still enjoy pro wrestling.  No, I am not ashamed by it.  You'll be seeing wrestling card posts on here from time-to-time.

I can't say that I have favorite wrestlers like I did as a kid.  However, I love the Bray Wyatt gimmick and how he works the mic.  Thank heavens he is no longer "Husky Harris."

TTM Success #37 - Half a Demolition

A few months ago, Jason asked me if I knew who Bill Eadie is.  It didn't ring a bell and he told me that it Ax from the WWF tag team Demolition.  He played football at my alma mater, West Virginia University, his sophomore year.  I loved Demolition as a kid and even has a poster in my room.  I had no idea that he'd played football five or so mile from where I grew up.

If you are interested in sending to him, the address is in the Sports Card Forum TTM Manager.  This one came back to me in just ten days.