Buftex

Not to hi-jack this thread..but how do you do this? If you hook your laptop up to your HD tv, can you watch anything on the computer, using your TV as a monitor? I tried this once, at my sisters house (didn't have a laptop of my own at the time), but had no luck. Can you do this, and watch, say, Youtube videos on your 46' HDTV? Is it as simple as just running an HDMI cable from your laptop to your tv?

I wouldn't say your pricing is unreasonable, and please, don't take this like I am being a prick...I am just being honest... you would be lucky to get $10 for all the cards you have listed. That is speaking as somebody who does this stuff a lot. Of course, maybe I am jaded. A few months ago, somebody linked their EBAY auction, here, for a similar lot, but with very few details. IIRC, somebody paid about $50.. all I can assume is that the buyer is a Bills fan, but not necessarily a collector...if he was, he would never have paid that money. Appealing to Bills fans, as opposed to Bills fans who are collectors is a shrewd move! The idea of selling them on Craigs' List is interesting though... I would be very interested in seeing how your sale goes. I would recommend you coming up with a nice price for the whole lot...selling regionally, as on Craigs' List might net you some better results.

I have lots of autographed 8x10's (probably around 100), but the only not flat items I have signed are a Jim Kelly football (given to me as a gift in the late 80's...not an authentic ball) and a "mini-helmet" signed by Jim, Bruce, Thurman and Marv Levy. I love that stuff, but honestly, I never really started collecting non-paper items, because of the space involved. The Kelly ball is tucked away in a closet somewhere, but the mini rests on top of a shelf in my living room... right above that is my "wall of fame"....all Bills QB's autographed photos: Bledsoe, Ferguson, Flutie, Kelly, Kemp, and Lamonica. They have been hanging there since Bledsoe was here...been meaning to change out the pics at some point...

Lots of good information here. What you say about 80's and 90's stuff is pretty accurate. Cards from 1989-1996 were just mass produced, and while many are very nice, they are very common and if you know what you are looking for, you can find them for pennies. Sadly, for Bills fans, this is when a lot got into collecting, as it was the golden era of the team, which just happened to coincide with the "card explosion" of the 90's. Modern cards (1997-present) do retain more value, because, for the most part, they are produced in much smaller quantities, and (maybe) sadly are marketed toward adults who would have more money to spend on them. A pack of cards can range from 1.99 to $200.00 a pack. Certified autograph cards are the hottest thing...also game-used jersey cards (not really my thing), which incorporate a small piece of a players jersey in the card design. Now, the stuff is expensive. The most money I have ever spent on a single card was $85...for a very good condition Jack Kemp rookie card...at that time, it was worth far more than that...and still is. Keep in mind, old "vintage" stuff from the pre-80's retains its' value. If anything, it goes up in value. Cards weren't made back then to be kept in protectors and horded...kids stuck them in their bike spokes. They are much harder to find in good, let alone mint, condition. A "cheap" way to collect is via internet "case breaks". What this is, essentially: find a dealer on EBAY (or whatever site you prefer) who deals in box or case breaks. Normally they will list it something like "2013 Buffalo Bills 12Box Prestige Case Break". You bid on the team you want. What you are bidding on: the dealer will crack open an entire case of the product, on-line, with a camera on his hands, and the cards he is pulling out of packs. You will get every card in the case, from the team you won. I recently paid $52 for a case-break of Bills 2013 Prestige football cards. A case of this product consisted of 12 boxes, 24 packs in each box, with a guarantee of 4 "hits" in each box (a minimum of 2 autographs and the other hits being jersey cards" I hit the mother-lode. I got a Marquise Goodwin jersey card, a Goodwin autograph card, and two (2!!!) different EJ Manuel autograph cards. I don't plan on selling the EJ cards, but I can tell you, the cards I got are selling anywhere from $40-60 each on EBAY right now...and the kid hasn't taken a snap yet! The Goodwin cards can be had for about $10-15 each. So, for $52, I got about $100 worth of cards for $52... when I get all the cards, I will take the doubles, and sell them for a few bucks..which, I put back into more cards....pretty nuts, but it can be kind of fun. I also keep in mind, thos $100 worth of cards might be worth $30 if EJ ends up being a bust.... My own Bills collection goes back to the 1960 inaugural team up through the 2013 draft class. I have about 12,000 different Bills cards, as well as another 1265 different certified autograph cards, and another 500 or so non-certified autograph cards. Over the years, as well, I have made friends with other team collectors that I trade with. We don't worry about the value of the cards, just periodically mail to each-other whatever we have accumulated from their team. In the long-run it all evens out, the longer you do it. I trade cards with a Seahawks fan, a Redskins fan and a Ravens fan. If I go to a card show, here in the middle of Texas, where there is little interest in any of those teams (or the Bills for that matter) I can usually pick up some really nice stuff, for next to nothing, to beef up my trade arsenal. Some team message boards allow you to link EBAY auctions...it is allowed here, but only in the "trading post" section, which very few look at, sadly. But, it is a great way to meet other people who are interested in cards, and you can establish trade agreements with them. I sell primarily through EBAY. I won't say that it is great. People just don't want to spend much on this kind of stuff, and I can't necessarily blame them. What is frustrating about selling through EBAY, however, is that their fees and "cut" are increasing all the time...and now they even take part of the shipping fee. So, unless you are selling something with considerable value, it almost isn't worth selling there. Sadly, I haven't found antoher auction sight that has EBAYs traffic. I listed stuff on another auction site, about a year ago...not only did I not sell much of anything, but my listings got almost no views. It was just kind of a waste of time. There are some card trading sites, but they are mainly for trading, not selling.

Not necessarily worth thousands, but I have three neat (I think) autograph cards from a set called "Fans of the Game"...the set consists of team logos signed by celebrities who are fans of that particular team... I have a James Gandofini New York Yankees autograph card, as well as a Chris Berman and (get this) a Micky Rourke signed Buffalo Bills card. Who knew Micky was a Bills fan?

Thanks for the tip...you beat me to it! btw at 4am eastern, Monday July 8th (another "prime-time" showing) they are showing the "MIssing Rings: 1990 Buffalo Bills" on NFL Network.

The guy can be a major factor, if he ever sets his priorites straight. His two-face routine in Orlando rubbed me the wrong way... Dwight Howard just wants everybody to like him, and in the process, makes everyone dis-trust him. Guy has talent, and, honestly, I think Kevin McHale may be able to get more out of him than most other coaches. It is a good place for him...if I were a Lakers fan (and I am so not!) I wouldn't be too upset. At least not yet. As Section 122 pointed out, players gravitate toward the Lakers...they want to be there (except Dwight!)...it may take them a year (Laker land isn't used to having to wait!), but they will likely be better off...if Kobe returns to form, you know they will add a piece or two and be competitive for a year...they will be back. That is, assuming, the new Lakers owner doesn't destroy the flag-shiip franchise that his father built.... I thought it was funny to hear that Howard is saying that he and Hardin will be the new "Shaq and Kobe"! Uh, dumb-ass...you couldn't play on the same team with the real Kobe, and you aren't half the player Shaq was, in his prime... the guy just doesn't get it. He is nothing but untapped potential at this point...a long way from Shaq and Kobe V.2...

Don't have time to respond to all your questions now (I will later) but there is no book that will give you an accurate value of what something is worth. Card values fluctuate from day to day, week to week...it really is that active... one thing I can tell you, if you plan on selling, sell in season...unless you have something really treasured (a Michael Jordan rookie for example), people aren't thinking about football so much in February, as they are the upcoming baseball season... I have thousands and thousands of cards and have been buying, selling and trading for years...bottom line to keep in mind when selling, the cards are only worth what someone will pay you for them...EBAY is really your best way to determine current values. Look at "completed listings" rather than current listings. If you are lookig to make a killing, you won't...I have recently listed a bunch of lots, on EBAY, of autographed Bills cards, with percieved values of $150-200 a lot... I only sold a few of the lots, at about 25-30 each... I have recently been sortig through all my NFL stuff, seperating by teams...stuff I haven't looked at in 10-15 years...unearted about 500 different Joe Montana cards...even found an autographed Chris Speilman card I never realized I had....fun to look at...but probably not worth very much.

All due respect, have you ever seen "Number One" with Charlton Heston? He plays an over-the-hill QB for the New Orleans Saints...it is really bad...as in possibly "all-time worst" movies period. Heston, I think, was in his mid-50's when it was made...it is so bad, I rarely see it mentioned at all as a good or bad sports flick...

Yeah, might have to look into that...progressives. Right now, I walk around the reading glasses, way down low on my nose, so I can see over them for distances...works okay, but I swear, it gives me an headache, constantly shifting my eyes back and forth. Just in the last two months I feel like the eyes have gotten very noticably, worse. I can't live in denial on this issue any more. I used to have the reading glasses strictly for low-lighting situations, but now, the lighting doesn't matter...I just can't see **** right n front of my face...I thought it was becasue I am normally going on 4 hours of sleep every day and my eyes always feel tired...but now i think it is just the ravages of old age...I have a big family (6 sisters and a brother), and everyone, except my broter and I, had pretty bad eye-sight pretty early on...I was always the one who got called in to find a contact lens that was dropped on the floor...but now, diminishing eyesight, and chronic sore knees have taken all my super powers away...very humbling!

I am 48...over the last year or so, the reading glasses seem to becoming a more constant attachment to my face...kind of a bummer...I have always had good eye-sight, in a family where everyone else was not so fortunate.

For me, it comes down to "Friday Night Lights" (eliminated by "Varsity Blues") and "Everybody's All-American" which didn't even make the cut. Sports movies are tough for me, as I normally don't like many of them...is "Varsity Blues" really that good? I remember renting it once, when it was new, and couldn't make it past the first half hour... I have a theory that I am formulating that "Everybody's All-American" didn't make the cut because it is one of the few movies that portrays the "after the cheers die down" life of an NFL player... a "hot-button" issue for the NFL right now, I suppose...this thing is sponsered by the NFL. As a movie, it is certainly better than most of the flicks on in this tourney. Jeff- "The Program" is in the "final four" on the bracket.... facing off agaist "Varsity Blues"! Vote early, vote often!

Because if you can't call her "fat ass" what reason is there to start a thread?

I am intriqued by all of the guys on your "keep 'em" list. I think, barring injury, you have the correct guys on your roster. Da'Rick Rogers and TJ Graham could really be wild cards...both could be far more talented than we realize, but either could disappoint as well. Personally, I liked what I saw of Graham, for the most part, last season. I think he was playing in an offense (or moreover with a QB, in Fitz) that didn't take advantatge of his speed. Sure he had the one, costly, gaffe against the Pats (or did he just take the fall for it?), but I thought he showed great speed and abiltiy to beat DB's, but nobdy could get the ball to him...so he became more a possesion receiver, and, I thought, showed good hands, and repeatedly fought for an extra yard or two (even though well covered) to get a first down. I iike TJ. All reports from mini-camps were very positive. Rogers is just such an enigma. Personally, i have never seen him play a down of football, but if you believe what all the talking heads had to say, pre-draft, he was one of the best WR prospects in the draft, but off-field stuff made him a non-factor in the draft. It seems assumed that Woods will be an automatic starter, but I wonder if Rogers pushes him....

Call me crazy, but I really enjoy pre-season games. I won't necessarily watch every nationally televised game (though I normally watch all the Cowboys pre-season games) but, to me, it is fun watching your own teams' games...it all adds to the fule for the season....you get to see, for the first time, normally, guys that you haven't seen before (can't wait to see the current rookies in action!), but guys you migt not see the rest of the season..but you can clamor for them during the season based on what you think you saw. I suppose another reason why I enjoy the pre-season games, it is a chance to see your team (albeit watered down) wearing your team colors, and the results don't really matter. Growing up in a big family, where money was tight, going to that first home pre-season game every summer (my dad could get free tickets!) was a really big deal for me and my brother...summer was marked by a trip to Crystal Beach and a Bills pre-season game...if I was really lucky, would get to see a regular season game too, but that wasn't automatic. What will be so great (or maybe just so interesting) about this pre-season is that, for the first time in a long time, most every major part of the team is new.. right now, they are all just names (EJ, Kiko, Da'Rick, Marquise...great names!) waiting for a personality. I am really jonsed about what I percieve to be a much improved defense. I realize though, pre-season isn't likely to tell me much as far as schematics go. I am not only curious to see Kiko play, but also to see what kind of energy a healthy Marcell Dareus, Mario Williams and Mark Anderson can bring to the table. Even if it is only pre-season, I want to see a little spark from these guys on defense. I want to see some indication that they are excited about what they migh be able to do this coming season...

It is 2013, different faces so it is no big deal now...but if you sign a vetran QB as an "insurance policy", and the vetran QB you have is throwing away your season, what does it say about you mgmt/coaching if you have one guy who is playing awful (Fitz), and two guy backing him up that you are afraid to give snap to, let alone a start (Thigpen), or even let dress for a game (TJ)? It was a bad move all the way around. Bring on the new era...

I would never suggest that the Sabres are more popular than the Bills, in Buffalo...but if you don't live in WNY, or visit frequently you might not be aware of just how popular the Sabres are, in Buffalo. I go home once a year...the last 10 years or so, I have noticed a disproportionate number of people wearing Sabres gear veruse Bills gear...not a scietific study, mind you... now living smack dab in the middle of Texas, everyone takes their opportunity to give me **** about being a Bills fan...but when I wear a Sabres shirt, the most common comment is "is that minor league baseball?"

In the end, it is not a big deal, I suppose (teams waste money like this all the time, draft pick notwithstanding), but the thing I found really curious was that Jackson re-signed with the Bills earlier this off-season. I thought it was odd on both ends....from the Blls and Jacksons perspective. You could look at it (as I probably would if i was him) that he kind of got screwed over by the Bills, but, an outsider view might be that he might not have a ton of confidence in his own abilities, or in the desire for his services elsewhere in the NFL. Incidentally, I read somewhere in the last day or two, that Jackson could very well be cut by the Seahawks before the summer is over...if that happens, he most likely signs with a team that suffers an injury at the position.

All I can think of, when I read this, is Kevin Kolb clearing his throat a few times, and muttering "what about my vetran wisdom?"

The first season of "Californication" was really good...sort of a Charles Bukowski fantasy...but then, slowly, Bukowski slowly began to morph into just sleazy David Duchovney, and it just lost its' charms...other than all the hot ladies!

I think Talley became so well known for being "underrated" that he almost became overrated, if that makes sense. Some great names on that list... I would add Joe Cribbs, Jerry Butler, Charles Romes and Steve Freeman....

This was a fun idea, but honestly, I dont think anyone, at least amongst Bills fans who were cognisent when each guy played, really overrates any of the guys on their overrated list. Everyone knows that Bledsoe had one really amazing half season with the Bills in 2002, and then it was clear he was on the down-turn of his career. I have never really heard anyone mention how great he was as an all-time Bills player. I suppose, Joe Ferguson is held in higher esteem by some (myself included) than might be warrented by cold, hard stats, because Joe Ferguson, head hanging and all, was our guy through a lot very bad, and pretty good years. He was a big part of our youth, for us 40+ somethings. We were fans, we knew our team normally had some major weaknesses, but Ferguson (in the pre-free agency era) was our guy year in and year out... For me, much as I dislike the guy personally, of the choices, I would say Fred Smerlas is most underrated...Don Beebe most overrated. All this, keeping in mind, while I remember Byrd, I am a little too young to have an opinon on his play. I take it he was very good...I knew him more from his 1972 Topps football card than anything. Also, an important factor in all of this, is who is doing the over and under rating. Are we talking about amongst Bills fans, or just NFL fans? We got a lot of guys who were underrrated overall...Kent Hull.

Showtime, for me, has picked up its' game a little...but sometimes I find their series to fall into the "edgy for edgy sake" to the detraction of the story. I know that "Homeland" is considered by many, the best show on tv right now...but I don't get it...may just not be my cup of tea, but I think it is just kind of silly, and very unrealistic. As a movie it might work for me. Showtime has a tendancy to let their shows run way past their prime..."Dexter", "Californication" (despite its' awful title, it started out very good but is just trash now) and "Weeds" are all shows that could have ended a few seasons earlier than they did. Only "Nurse Jackie" seems to get better with age.

Have to admit, the ads did nothing for me...it just looked like kind of a brainless action show...but I have heard good things from a few people...of course, I realize, everyone has different things they look for in a show. When the Sopranos was new (you already know the high esteem with which I hold it) and at its' peak in popularity, there was always an element amongst fans that complained that "nothing happnened" (ie: nobody got "whacked")...to me those "nothing happnes" episodes were what made the show so good. All of the PR stuff I have been reaiding for "Ray Donavan" seems to be implying that Schriever/Donovan is the new Tony Soprano. I will watch the first episode, and if it intrigues me enough, keep watching, unitl it doesn't. Normally, it seems, the first episode or two of most new shows is not typical of the way the show will play out on a week to week basis, only sets up the situation for the characters. Watch "Rectify"...

Hmmm...may have to check out "Ray Donovan"...might be good filler between "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad"...all the reviews have been pretty positive, though I get a little nervous when they start comparing something to the Sopraonos right out of the gate. I think Shriver is a really good actor too. If anyone has not seen "Rectify", I would highly recommend it as well. It had a short, six episode, first season on the Sundance Channel It is excellent, from some of the creative people who work on "Breaking Bad". Amazing acting, great dialouge... it is about a guy, in deep Georgia, who gets let off of death-row, after 19 years, when DNA casts some doubts on his guilt. It may not sound earth-shattering, but I can't recommend it enough. Even though the first season ended (picked up for a 12 episide season 2), they re-run it quite a bit, on Thursday nights I have noticed. As for "Dexter", last night wasn't bad. I must say, I have watched from the begining, and my excitement for the show has dwindled a little...but I will see it through... Charlotte Rampling might make a good foe. To me, the show never has matched the early tension of the first couple of seasons when Dexter was playing cat and mouse with Doakes.