Give Group Break Hosts a Break

Picture it.

You walk into a casino; throw twenty dollars down on one hand of blackjack, and the dealer hits blackjack.  You had a nineteen.  They take your twenty dollars and you’re left with the experience, the chance, and nothing else. You walk away empty handed, having bet your twenty dollars hoping that you’d win.  You put the money down fully knowing that there was a chance you’d win, but also  a chance you’d lose.  It is a game, after all.  Sure, there are odds, but it’s all about chance.

A gamble.

Welcome to sports card group breaks.  When you buy into a break, you are taking a risk that you will get a very good card, an average card, or maybe no card at all.  I’ve been on both sides of that spectrum many times.  Ask any group breaker and they will probably say the same thing. No one gets good cards every time out. It’s never a guarantee that you will get a hit.  It’s never a guarantee that if you do get a hit it will be worth enough to cover the cost of the break.  What is guaranteed is that you will have an entertaining experience by having the chance at pulling a big card.  

That’s the gamble.

Why am I writing on this topic? So many times in the chat rooms on Ustream and other places I see people complain about not getting a hit in a break, or not getting the team they wanted in the randomizer, or even complaining about the assortment of cards coming out of the boxes—as if anyone can do anything about that.  The breakers have no control over what comes out of the boxes.  If you need to voice your complaints about collation, take to Twitter and let Topps or Panini or Leaf or Upper Deck or whoever know.  Unhappy about combo teams that a breaker has put together?  Send them an email or private message.  Newsflash: people are human and make mistakes, or errors in judgment.  Most "professional" group break hosts are honest, good people, who want to help you have a good time and pull some monster hits.  I will never understand why others feel the need to bash people on the internet. It is amazing what people will say when they are able to hide behind a computer screen and not have to face confrontation in person.

Group breaks aren’t for everyone.  Oftentimes you will pay good money to get into a break and you won’t hit something that is considered good.  Sometimes you won’t hit something at all. But rarely do you ever walk away truly empty handed.  Most group break hosts will mail out a hobby pack to teams that go hitless.  Sometimes there are contests for the teams that go hitless. 

To be guaranteed a card that you want, head over to eBay to buy a single of that card.  Don’t expect it to happen in a group break, but of course you can hope for it. The hope that it will be pulled for you is part of the gamble, the fun, the entertainment. 

The behavior I refer to is the exception rather than the rule, thankfully.  Most breakers understand that it's the luck of the draw.  It's the ones who don't that grate my last nerve, if I am being honest.  If you've made it this far thanks for indulging me.  The topic is something that has been on my mind for awhile.  

While we are on the topic of group breaks, here are a few of the hits I have gotten recently:

I was in a break of 2013-14 Panini Totally Certified basketball last week, and the team I scored were the Utah Jazz.  See what I mean about not getting the team you want?  It's all random!  Above is a Deron Williams throwback jersey card, #/199.

 Speaking of throwbacks...here is a sweet Mark Eaton on card autograph.  This one is numbered out of #/49.

Rounding out the Jazz cards is a redemption of Al Jefferson. Once this arrives I will post a picture for everyone.

Even more out of character for me, in addition to the basketball break I bought into last week I also bought into a hockey break.  This one was 2013-14 UD SP Game Used Hockey.  Every once in awhile if breaks such as the ones above are the right price (usually under $30), I will buy in and try my luck.  Low risk, high reward is always fun.  

Anyway, the team I got was the Dallas Stars.  Out of the case were two Stars hits, both pictured above, and both of Jamie Benn.  I'm not starting a Benn PC anytime soon, but these will be nice to sell in a lot on eBay. 

If anyone is interested in any of the cards above let me know...otherwise they go on eBay this weekend. 

Have a great rest of the week, all.