The calendar flipping to February can mean only one thing (well, it can mean a few things; but for those of us with collecting genes, it means at least one thing): Basketball cards are about to take center stage – uh, center court – at hobby shops around the country. The NBA and Panini America have joined forces again this…

Early last week we provided a list of the 72 short-printed autographs available in the 2010 Donruss Football Rated Rookie boxed set. Our one misstep, apparently, was not including the respective quantities to accompany that short-print list. This morning, we intend to start our week off properly by correcting that wrong. Therefore, below you’ll find a list that looks eerily similar to…

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xQdDyrAe_I&w=560&h=345] RALEIGH, N.C. — While en route to an autograph signing at the Panini America booth inside the 2011 NHL All-Star Fan Fair, Carolina Hurricanes rookie defenseman Jamie McBain takes time to open some packs . . . and answer some questions. We won’t tell you about the part where Panini America’s own Chris Reed, behind the wheel for our drive,…

RALEIGH, N.C. — We just thought Friday was wild and woolly during the first day of 2011 NHL All-Star Weekend. Turns out it was nothing more than an ice-breaking  appetizer. Indeed the weekend gave way to a frenzied, festive free-for-fall that featured show-stealing Panini America activation at both the Raleigh Convention Center for NHL Fan Fair and at the RBC Center for a massive sampling opportunity…

With the big game now officially a week away, Saturday at the NFL Experience has “officially” become the kickoff to Super Bowl week. With snow predicted next week in North Texas, the Dallas Convention Center was smoking hot as pigskin fanatics gazed upon more than 850,000 square feet of football heaven. With so much to see, I only had time…

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocIqMmRfeRk&w=480&h=390]  RALEIGH, N.C. — I could wax with prosy praise for paragraphs about the superior skill set possessed by Boston Bruins rookie superstar Tyler Seguin, the swoon-worthy center and second overall pick of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft who turns 19 on Monday. The offensive-minded teenager scored his first career goal in just his second game and entered the NHL All-Star break with 16 points, including…

RALEIGH, N.C. — The puck officially dropped on the 2011 NHL Fan Fair Friday afternoon, a festive first day when elbow room was hard to come by and Panini America hockey wrappers filled the Raleigh Convention Center floor like carpet. When we weren’t overwhelmed with foot traffic inside the booth, we managed to take a few pictures of the day’s festivities, which featured a steady…

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MppCm6ief0U&w=480&h=390] RALEIGH, N.C. — A mountain of a Thursday that started for the Panini America crew at 4 a.m. and didn’t end until Friday after midnight provided NHL All-Star Weekend with one of what promises to be countless signature moments. Luckily for us, NHL superstars themselves spent a great deal of Thursday providing splendid signature moments of their own at the Panini America autograph room. (more…)

While part of the team prepares to light the lamp in Raleigh, N.C., for NHL All-Star Weekend, the rest of the squad is preparing to break the huddle in anticipation for some football game being played next weekend. The NFL officially kicked off Super Bowl XLV festivities on Thursday today when they opened the doors to the NFL Experience. On the…

 [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rrTiM-xJ_U&w=480&h=390] RALEIGH, N.C. — One of the first orders of business after we set up the Panini America autograph station inside the host hotel earlier today was to high-tail it over to the RBC Center to film a video spot starring Carolina Hurricanes superstar Jamie McBain. The video will air in-arena during Sunday’s NHL All-Star Game as part of a huge 2010-11 Panini NHL Adrenalyn promotion that will award…