From the Pedro Binder

2001 Playoff Absolute Memorabilia

Wow.

Yup.

Just, wow.

I know I say it a lot. People keep complaining about the Topps monopoly. They use the cliche that it will stifle creativity. To which I ask, is this the creativity they're afraid will go away?

In that case, I'm all for it.

The other way to look at it that a monopoly allows a company to think things over, and only put out quality products. Walt Disney wasn't mailing it in for 40 years because he was the only animated feature out there. He spent the time to give a quality product. Contrast that with the swill Dreamworks throws out there these days. They can't compete with the quality, so they just go for low brow quantity.

That's what this card reminds me of. It's the minions of card sets. No thought in the design. Just throwing stuff out there, and hoping it sticks.

This one doesn't stick for me.

The never-ending arrows? What exactly are those? Lines and bars all over the place. Foil for no particular reason. (Is there ever a reason for foil?) All sizzle, no steak. 

But, I know they didn't have a choice. When you;re trying to make a name for yourself, you have to try everything. Tops can be content with only making quality. They have the name to fall back on. Playoff is stuck making fart jokes, and hoping that enough people laugh to make it worth their while. That thought process rarely leads to  good move. It doesn't often lead to a good card set either.

It certainly didn't in this case.