Catching Up with Kobe: Panini America Sits with Bryant for Intense Signing Session

During a strict business trip to Southern California this week, Panini America’s Brian Bayne has spent parts of two days — and is about to spend part of a third — meeting with Los Angeles Lakers superstar (and Panini exclusive athlete) Kobe Bryant for a series of intense but profusely productive signing sessions.

Bayne departed for LA with a priority list big enough to qualify as a carry-on. He’ll return to Texas in the next few days as something of an office hero. So far this week, Bryant has signed autographed trading cards for 2012-13 Totally Certified, 2012-13 Crusade, 2012-13 Gold Standard, 2012-13 Signatures and 2012-13 Elite Series. On the agenda for this afternoon: 2012-13 Limited, 2012-13 Marquee, 2012-13 Past & Present and 2012-13 Momentum.

We’ll have more from this week’s trip right here on The Knight’s Lance in the coming days. But we simply couldn’t wait to show off some of the early fruits from Bayne’s labor — and Bryant’s incomparable right hand.

Enjoy.