The Beckett Blog

Upper Deck is holding an autograph signing with Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant early next week and they want you to be in on it.

Say what?

They want you to tell Kobe what to sign.

Many collectors will remember Bryant’s cards inscribed with his nickname “Black Mamba” from Exquisite Collection and SP Authentic last year.

Those unique cards command some good money on the secondary market because they’re unique and carry an extra cool factor.

But now it’s your turn — right here — as Upper Deck and Beckett Media will select 15 readers’ suggested inscriptions and have them signed by Bryant for inclusion in packs of a future Upper Deck product.

Perhaps you liked his Nike commercials where he jumped an Aston Martin, so he should sign that. Or perhaps you remember his father’s career so he should sign a reference to “Jellybean.” Or maybe you prefer something simple like “81 points” for his career-high game?

Surely you can come up with something better. Something really, really, cool, right?

Here’s what you do…

Leave a comment right here with the cool inscription you would recommend (keep ‘em clean) — along with your name and e-mail address as Upper Deck will get you some free packs of cards if yours is one of the 15 selected.

A gallery of these cards will appear here and in an upcoming Beckett magazine. (Be sure to visit Beckett.com for more on sports cards and memorabilia, too.)

Chris Olds has collected sports cards and memorabilia since 1987. Before coming to Beckett Media, he wrote about the hobby for the Orlando Sentinel on his blog, SportsStuff, and for the San Antonio Express-News and The Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News. Do you have a comment, question or idea? Send e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com.