The Panini America Interview: Dallas Stars Goalie Kari Lehtonen on Collecting, Signing
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtA-t80Q2zs&w=480&h=390] Would you trade a cherished Wayne Gretzky hockey card for one of Felix Potvin? Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen would . . . and has. And he'd do it again in a heartbeat. Lehtonen revealed that and so much more on Thursday evening during a signing at his home with Panini America hockey acquisitions guru Alex Carbajal. (more…)
Panini America’s New HQ Taking Shape
They say time flies when you're having fun, which must be the reason why it seems simply unfathomable that two full weeks have passed since Panini America's big corporate relocation. Admittedly, 10 working days should be more than enough time to gather my bearings in the new building, but I still tend to get lost amid the labyrinthine layout of…
Black Box Confidential: The Hand-Picked Gems Headed to the 2011 Industry Summit
Panini America's vaunted Black Box. It began back in 2002 as a way to provide added value to attendees of the industry's annual Hawaii Trade Conference. Before long, it became -- and remains -- one of the event's biggest attractions. Simply mention the term "Black Box" to veteran collectors and you're likely to get a raised eyebrow and a knowing nod, telling reactions inspired by the inherent buzz and…
A Special Farewell Episode of Panini Unwrapped: 2010-11 Crown Royale Hockey
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC7B-gTClAA&w=480&h=390] Join Panini America's Tracy Hackler and Scott Prusha for the historic final episode of Panini Unwrapped . . . at least the final episode in Panini America's old office. On Monday, the company will be operating in spectacular new digs just a few miles up the road. One of the final acts of business in the old building…
Quality Controlling 2010 National Treasures Football (with Massive Gallery & Video)
The anticipation is palpable. 2010 National Treasures Football is coming -- and as you can plainly see by the mouth-agape gallery below, it's equipped with some of the most breathtaking big-ticket memorabilia cards in NFL history. Not to worry, it's packing only the biggest autograph guns too, many of which are showcased in the exclusive video that follows the…
Panini America on Location: Kobe Bryant Cemented at Grauman’s Chinese Theater
LOS ANGELES -- Five-time NBA champion and Panini Exclusive spokesman Kobe Bryant made history last week by becoming the first athlete to ever have his hands and feet cast in cement inside L.A.'s famed Grauman's Chinese Theater. Panini America co-sponsored the event and dispatched Tracy Hackler and Scott Prusha to brave the Hollywood paparazzi for the following video montage, featuring…
The Panini America Interview: T-Wolves Rookie Superstar Wesley Johnson
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zDJPlx_4aw&w=480&h=390] LOS ANGELES -- Just minutes after engaging fans Saturday at the Panini America booth inside the NBA Jam Session, Minnesota Timberwolves star rookie Wesley Johnson sat down with Panini America's Chris Reed for a quick interview. The phenom from Corsicana, Texas, talks about his experience at NBA All-Star Weekend, the cards he collected growing up and why Panini NBA…
Panini America on Location: 2011 NBA All-Star Weekend (Massive Gallery)
LOS ANGELES -- During the furious five-day basketball free-for-all that was 2011 NBA All-Star Weekend, Mother Nature rained, Kobe Bryant reigned and Blake Griffin gave new meaning to the term “carhop.” All the while, Panini America was busy putting on a week-long, show-stealing performance of its own . . . at the Los Angeles Convention Center for NBA Jam Session…
Coming Soon . . . Complete Coverage from 2011 NBA All-Star Weekend
Be sure to stay tuned to The Knight's Lance for complete coverage from Panini America's exhaustive, event-filled trip to Los Angeles for the 2011 NBA All-Star Game, including tons of exclusive images and video. In the coming days you'll see everything, including Kobe Bryant getting his hands and feet immortalized in cement at the famed Grauman's Chinese Theater to interviews with NBA superstars…
Gold Rush: Dallas Collector Becomes First to Claim Playoff Contenders Golden Ticket
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksmdbGeU048&w=480&h=390] Dallas-area collector Michael Keller struck gold Wednesday night, literally, when he pulled a Golden Ticket solid-gold redemption card from a pack of 2010 Playoff Contenders Football. First thing Thursday morning, Keller made the 20-mile trek to Panini America corporate headquarters to become the first collector in the world to take possession of his solid-gold gem featuring New York Jets…