Normally, I wouldn’t even post about as product as awful as Crown Royale looks and is. However, there is one redeeming factor that contributes to why this might possibly sell above expectations. Overwhelmingly, Panini is aiming this product at people who A) love their style of mid end products that all look and seem exactly the same, and B) love the old brand that this is based off of. In the end, the only people who will end up liking this product as a whole will be the ones who can ignore the awful design that is spread like a layer of diarrhea over 95% of the hits.
Much to my surprise, the other 5% is surprisingly awesome. The die cut rookie patch autos with hard signed autographs are tremendously successful. So successful that it makes me wonder who I need to send an email to at Panini. My email would read, “Dear So and So, whatever you did for these cards, keep doing it. Ditch anything and everything else. Yours Truly, Gellman.” The cards not only use a very unique production method of diecutting a swatch window with a player picture over the memorabilia, but look simple and well designed as well. It is the correct combination of creativity and innovation that has been rudely and sorely overlooked in just about every product from Panini this year. Where was this type of design for a product like Contenders, which instead looks created by an amateur? Why are so few of Panini’s cards this well done? Who’s head is up who’s ass? The answers are never clear the way they are with every other company. Topps has successful and enormously successful elements in EVERY product they have done so far. Panini rarely has more than one, if any at all.
Lastly, my BFF, the big white box for the label autographs are back in full force. I honestly cannot understand how anyone thinks this is okay, as many of the cards looks like they were created without the knowledge that a sticker would eventually be added to the design. “Oh crap! You mean there needs to be a sticker on here? I should have used a lighter background!” Since I know that exclamation never happened, I question professionalism for just sinking to the lowest and laziest common denominator in this respect.
Then, when you see a post like this, you just end up shaking your head as to whether or not there are even any lights on in Dallas.
Here is the damage:
Cam Newton Auto Patch Rookie Die Cut – Awesome card
LaDanian Tomlinson Die Cut Auto Jumbo Jersey – THEY COME IN VETERAN FLAVORS TOO! YES!
Clay Mathews Auto Jersey White Box Special – Perfect example of what I am talking about
I bought a couple boxes of Crown Royale last year…then I stopped. I quickly realized that the set ended up being a hot mess. With 225 cards, and an average of 12 base cards per box, trying to put together the set at any kind of reasonable price is impossible. Add to that the fact that all the inserts look like they are missing an autograph. I didn’t mind the design of the base cards, and I loved the die-cut rookies (managed to pull one). But it became quickly apparent there wasn’t any value in the box. I managed to pull a Jordan Shipley die-cut auto (case hit), and it would barely have reimbursed me the pack of a pack. After all the crap jersey cards, I decided I’d buy singles out of it from then on.
This year looks just as bad. At least last year, you were guaranteed an RPS rookie. Looks like this year, that’s gone. I watched them break 2 boxes on Panini’s blog the other day, one box didn’t have an RPS rookie, and I saw plenty more of $2 jersey cards as ‘hits’ in a $25/pack product. This set is also far too expensive to have 125 rookies in it. Both the visual design and set design are lacking this year.
Now they have a “kicker” insert? I love how Panini’s blog parades everything they do as if it were some kind of genius. But all that really does is scare me even more to buy a box. Now some of my hits might be kickers? How will those sell? I guess we could be surprised, but my gut reaction is that there IS A REASON nobody puts kickers on cards. Because they don’t carry any value.
I’m a sucker for die cutting and I’ll buy my Aaron Rodgers singles out of it, but overall very disappointed.
Bad form. I clicked that Tomlinson link thinking there was an unannounced veteran set of the die-cut jersey autos, like the RCs. … somewhere in his Dark Helmet voice, Rick Moranis began yelling.. ‘fooled you!’. Piece of shit sticker ‘autos’. Dammit…
I agree with most of your criticisms of Panini, but not in this case. For the most part, I like everything about Crown Royale this year. I ‘ll give you the dreaded white box problem, but that’s a problem with all the manufacturers. We’re ALL tired of sticker autos. At least most of this set is acceptable. Whereas Absolute and the rest only have one card style/subset you can even stand.
Love the look of the Rookie, signed on die-cut cards. As for the Net Fusion inserts, although this is the first time an insert set is specifically established for ‘kickers’, this or course is not a new concept or I’m sure they would have tooted their horn on that claim to fame.
1999 Paramount insert called End Zone Net-Fusions was created using star players. A baseball version was also produced. Pacific Trading Card Company from Lynwood, WA when alive and doing well was the King of die-cut innovations… The ever popular Cramer’s Choice die cuts, pro bowl, pacific gold crown die cut (adopted by Panini), to name a few. I was never a big fan of the Christmas ornament cards though. Perhaps Panini is taking a look back in time and just tweaking a bit by using their own creativity…
Before I go into this, I want to say that this is a great blog that I enjoy reading every day…..
However…
With each post I grow more and more amazed at your homer-ism for Topps. As much as I agree with your criticisms of sets like Elite, Timeless Treasures, and Threads, your inability to tip your cap to Panini for anything is starting to resemble a smear campaign rather than well a thought out critique of each product.
Of late, let’s compare the two products most recently released: Topps Chrome and Crown Royale. During your relentless praise of everything Topps, you forgot to mention that the Chrome base cards look like something a 3rd grader designed OR that $70 is a lot of money for a box with only 1 hit. Don’t bother rehashing the high points of Chrome (refractors, Bowman Chrome, etc.) to justify its value, my point is that you gloss over or even omit any criticisms of Topps’ Products. Here’s one glaring issue Topps has in 2011 that you haven’t yet mentioned–they are quickly becoming the kings of the “crap auto card”. I’m talking about the /2199 autos of rookies who’ll never play. These autos are littered throughout multiple sets in 2011.
Now, let’s look at Crown Royale. While I do agree with Paul that the set is “over inserted”, Chrome is the same way. The bottom line is that the design of the Crown Royale set and subsets is different from any other cards out there. It has a nice checklist of veteran autos and for $100/box you’ll get at minimum 1 auto and 3 jerseys, but more than likely get 2 autos/2 jerseys. Not to mention that once Panini’s first week pricing policy expires, the market will set the value, probably slightly lower than it is now.
Love your blog and at the end of the day, it’s yours to say what you will but it would be nice to see you give some love to Panini. Crown is probably the one set I think they are getting mostly right. I really think if it had Topps written on the box, you’d be telling us what geniuses the designers are.
I mean I’m not buying anything new, or in box form granted… But if my case hit was a kicker with a piece of fake net and Hanson (7th all time point scorer) is left out and some jag off from Dallas is in I’m done with panini wax, even second hand. The die cards are sweet but the incomplete design crap has got to end. The one thing u can’t say about chrome is that it is worse design wise than any panini product all year. Now triple threads is another issue.
Saw the Tomlinson card and had the same reaction, they did veterans too! That was until I saw the checklist:
David Harris
Dallas Clark
Tony Romo
Troy Polamalu
Vincent Jackson
Frank Gore
Felix Jones
Darren McFadden
James Laurinaitis
Chris Cooley
Santana Moss
Malcom Floyd
LaDainian Tomlinson
Michael Vick
Matt Schaub
Could we swap out half of that checklist please?
I couldn’t agree more with Blevins26. I love this blog, but it DOES seem like you’re on a search and destroy mission for Panini. I haven’t liked much of their stuff this year, but there ARE some nice things they’ve done. I don’t need my cards being murals going into a museum. Topps HAS done a better job this year, but they have their issues too. Any card that has over a couple hundred autos is useless. Is Topps a sponsor? Just once I’d like to get a fair critique of all brands out there. You push Topps and bash Panini. The sportscardblog.net guy has a love affair with everything Panini, but at least he gives Topps their due…
Topps is not and never will be a sponsor. I just have very staunch opinions that I created this blog to express. I never intended this site to be anything more than my pure opinions, and I am not changing who I am to make it seem like something its not. I dont like what Panini has done, and I very much like what Topps has done. Its a matter of preference, and I have done quite a bit to showcase what I like so that it happens more often.
If you read back, you will see how much I used to bash Topps for their design, and how much I STILL bash sets like Triple Threads and Sterling. I used to get similar accusations about my love for what Upper Deck produced, but honestly, I dont put any stock into those types of people. Accuse all you want, my blog is not changing anytime soon. Its an outlet for creative writing, not my real job.
I will continue to “push” my favorites, because I want more. I will bash what I dont like because I would like it to change. If that means that Panini’s sets will continually face criticism on my site, so be it. Im not out to be objective, im out to express what I feel.
Actually, Topps Chrome’s base design looks really good this year and the on-card rookie autos are very nice. I will never buy another Panini product after last year – same hit pattern in most EVERY product – 1 auto, 3 solid white jersey cards = mostly junk. Threads, Certified, Classics, Gridiron Gear are all the same product. Limited is the only product of theirs I’ll think about.
I’d rather drop $65 on a box of Chrome with one rookie auto and a bunch of refractors than drop $100 on a box of CR with the hopes of scoring the one thing that makes that set worthwhile – the rookie auto. Solid color jersey cards are worthless.
Gellman-
Please don’t quit what you do. I read this blog explicitly for the blind pro-Topps, anti-Panini blatant rhetoric. It is great to read an extreme one-sided opinion because it challenges the readers to consider both options and note what they feel, rather that just eat up the companies story. Your perception is solidly affected by your feelings, and it shows. A similar crime by both companies gets complete condemnation if it is one side and begrudging understanding if it is another. Whatever…it is good stuff. Keep it up!