Too Late to Bid $25 for Signed Eric Piatkowski Game Shoes...

[shadowgrin]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketbal ... ull.column

Elgin Baylor auctioned off his memorabilia...

You want to buy his 1971-72 NBA championship ring, the only lasting memento of his only Lakers title? It will cost you at least $40,000.

How about his 1959 All-Star game co-MVP trophy...bidding starts at $10,000.

He knows you're thinking he's desperate. But Baylor says he's fine. He always says he's fine.

"You're thinking there's something financial going on here, but it's not true,'' he said. "I have no financial problems at all. None of that. Seriously."

You want his simple but powerful Hall of Fame certificate dated 1976? It's going for at least $5,000.

How about his 1958 NCAA title game ring from Seattle University, acquired during the school's last trip to the Final Four? The bidding is at $3,000.

His rookie-of-the-year trophy is for sale. His NBA 50 greatest players ring is for sale. Even his lifetime NBA pass is being sold, as if he doesn't plan on seeing many more games.

There are also items from the bottom of that closet, a bowling ball, baseball cards, a tennis certificate and, yes, in a one-time-only special, two signed Eric Piatkowski game shoes going for $25.

Auction's over but the items can still be seen here http://www.julienslive.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/95

[Andrew]

That's a shame if he actually is having financial problems and has to sell every bit of memorabilia that he has. It could just be that he's trying to distance himself from the game, especially if he's selling his lifetime pass, which is also kind of sad in a way but not quite as troubling as him having money woes.

Hopefully, it's just a case of him having too much stuff that's collecting dust and he just doesn't need that memorabilia to feel accomplished and satisfied.

[benji]

He is 78, maybe he'd like to use some of the money for his own interests now instead of getting nothing after he's dead and having no say in where the proceeds go. Might not want to have to divide it up among his kids/grandkids/etc.

He probably doesn't give a shit about that championship ring since he wasn't on the team for the 33 wins or the title run.

[Andrew]

Fair call.