Sports Card Trifecta #14: Nate Robinson

The Black Mamba won it once.

Air Jordan did it twice.

But... Nate Robinson has won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest a record three times.

I'll be honest... I've lost interest in the dunk contest over the years. These days... I'll wait until the next day and watch the highlights online.

That doesn't change the fact that I'm a huge fan of KryptoNate. There's just too many similarities between the two of us... to not like him:

A. I live in the Bay Area and he's a Golden State Warrior.

B. I played one season of organized basketball and was a PG. Nate's a point guard.

C. I'm short and he's currently the shortest player in the NBA.

It's eerie right? Like we were separated at birth or something. Anyways... here's a look at the first Sports Card Trifecta I've built in over seven months:

Rookie Card: 2005-06 Topps Chrome #193

Autographed Card: 2006-07 Sweet Shot "Signature Shots Leather" #NR

Memorabilia Card: 2007-08 Artifacts "Divisional Artifacts" #DANR

Okay... that's all I have left in the tank. It's been a long week and it's time for bed. Have a great weekend everyone... and sayonara!

Sports Card Trifecta #11: Spud Webb

When I was growing up... I loved playing basketball and never let my height stop me from running the court. I was always the shortest guy out there, but I made the best of it and developed my baseline jumper... thanks to my favorite player of all-time... Byron Scott.

But I'm not going to lie... deep down inside, I've always wanted to dunk the ball like Spud Webb. At 5'6"... this guy made a name for himself a quarter of a century ago, when he beat his teammate Dominique Wilkins to win the 1986 Slam Dunk contest.

Every dunk was amazing. Okay... so he didn't dunk two balls or three balls like JaVale McGee. No hanging by the arm or ball under the leg dunks like Vince Carter either. He didn't grab a teddy bear with his mouth and dunk at the same time like Serge Ibaka. Nor did he jump over anyone like Nate Robinson. He didn't pull out a blindfold like Cedric Ceballos. And he didn't jump over a car like this year's champion... Mr. Blake Griffin.

Nope... he won it the way it was meant to be won. No gimmicks... just three things... talent, creativity, and heart.

Well tonight... in honor of Anthony "Spud" Webb's 1986 Slam Dunk Contest victory... I have for you my Spud Webb Sports Card Trifecta.

Rookie Card: 1986-87 Fleer #120

Autographed Card: 2009-10 Sp Signature

"INKredible" #ISW

Memorabilia Card: 2006-07 UD Trilogy

"Generations Past Patches" #PMSW

And before I forget... here's the last card in my Slam Dunk Contest Champions PC... The Human Highlight Film:

Actually... this isn't my card. It's a card from COMC. Unfortunately, I took a some of my nicer cards to my parents house this past Christmas for safe storage... and my 2009-10 Bowman 48 autograph set was part of those cards. Sorry about that... I guess I'm getting old.

Speaking of old... it's getting late. I'd better wrap this up. Congratulations Blake Griffin on winning this year's slam dunk contest. You're definitely one of the best "in game" dunkers the league has to offer.

Okay... tonight's question is:

Who's your all-time favorite "Little Man" in NBA history?

It's pretty obvious that I'm going with Spud... but it's hard not to cheer for Muggsy Bogues too. Let's hear it... who you got?

Have a good evening y'all. Sayonara.

PC Spotlight #8: Slam Dunk Champions

Growing up in the 80's... I looked forward to the slam dunk competition more than the all-star game itself. A lot has changed since then. These days... I don't even watch the competition live anymore. I'll usually catch it on the internet either later that evening or in the days following.

I can't put my finger on one specific reason for the loss of interest. Maybe it's that all of the dunks look the same. Or is it that in recent years... a lot of the big names have avoided the contest.

Well this year... I'm planning on watching it live. And it's all because of Mr. Blake Griffin. The things this guy does with a basketball is crazy for a guy of his size. Don't believe me... check out this video I found on YouTube:

Dang... I wish I had invested in this guy... or at least picked up an autograph earlier, before he blew up. Because if he wins this weekend (and I'm betting he does)... it's going to cost me an arm and a leg to add him to my Slam Dunk Champions autograph collection... which I'd like to share with you right now. I'll start with the most recent winners and work backwards:

2006, 2009, & 2010 Slam Dunk Champion

Nate Robinson

2008 Slam Dunk Champion

Dwight Howard

2007 Slam Dunk Champion

Gerald Green

2005 Slam Dunk Champion

Josh Smith

2004 Slam Dunk Champion

Fred Jones

2002 & 2003 Slam Dunk Champion

Jason Richardson

2001 Slam Dunk Champion

Desmond Mason

2000 Slam Dunk Champion

Vince Carter

Unfortunately... there wasn't a slam dunk contest in 1998 or 1999.

1997 Slam Dunk Champion

Kobe Bryant

1996 Slam Dunk Champion

Brent Barry

That's all folks... 15 years of Slam Dunk Champions. I actually have two more autographs in this collection... but I'll save them for Saturday's post. Can you guess who they are? Here's a hint... I can't even begin to afford a Jordan autograph. Stay tuned to find out.

Until then... I leave you with today's question of the day:

Who do you think is the greatest dunker of all-time?

My vote has to go with Vince Carter. That dunk over that 7'2" guy from France during the 2000 Olympics... are you kidding me? Never seen it? Click here.

And that's not even my favorite dunk from him. The one that I've watched over and over... took place less than an hour away from my house at the 2000 Slam Dunk competition. I've watched it at least 50 times and it's still exciting to watch. Figure it out yet? It's his collaboration dunk with T-Mac... where McGrady bounces the ball... Carter grabs it... throws it between his legs... then windmills it home. That dunk can be described in one word... PERFECTION. Check it out here at the 1:50 mark.

I honestly think that was the last year I truly got excited over a dunk contest and I now I know why. VC set the bar too damn high for anyone else. But that's just my humble opinion... what's yours?

Enjoy your evening... I'm out... sayonara!