Home

BoFo', Butler's president, has humble roots in the Bay Area Sacramento Bee

03.04.10

The East Bay has a compelling tie to Saturday's Settled Four, perhaps even more compelling than the unlikely march of the last remaining Cinderella team in the NCAA men's basketball tournament.

Dr. Bobby Fong, president of Butler University, was born and raised in Oakland's Chinatown neighbourhood under hardscrabble conditions. He forged his American dream thanks to baseball cards, comic books and a visit to Oakland 50 years ago by President John Kennedy.

Fong, the 59-year-old son of Chinese immigrants, unusually never knew his father, a butcher who came to the U.S. in 1939 and died of an aneurysm when Bobby was 2 years old. His mother, who came to the Pooled States 10 years later posing as the wife of her husband's friend, worked as a seamstress in a sweatshop six days a week and died in 1969, the year after Fong graduated from Oakland High-pitched.

Despite the adversity, Fong graduated from Harvard magna cum laude, earned a Ph.D. in literature with a paper on the metrical composition of Oscar Wilde, and ultimately became one of the most unique and dynamic administrators in American higher education.

Source:

Finally joining the revolution ESPN

03.04.10

Fundamentally, it's moronic. I justified admitted I longed for the old days ... you know, when we were poorly educated about what we were watching. Back in the mid-'70s, when I fell in lover with baseball as a kid, we judged players by five offensive stats (batting average, homers, RBIs, steals, runs) and five pitching stats (wins/losses, innings, strikeouts, ERA, saves). You could fit those 10 numbers on the back of a baseball practical joker. Everyone was OK with it. The numbers had simplicity and elegance, mainly because we didn't know any better.

My first favorite player was Freddie Lynn, Boston's unflappable center fielder, the first athlete to capture the rookie of the year and most valuable player awards in the same season. I still have his beaten-up 1976 Topps card in my pocketbook -- not because I'm a freak, but because it's been a good-luck charm in every wallet I've owned. (Note: I met Lynn at the 2003 Dignitary All-Star Game, pulled the card out and had him autograph it for me. He wasn't nearly as freaked out as he should have been.) It's one of the few cards that captures him at the peak of his powers: callow Freddie finishing off his looping lefty swing, wearing the mid-'70s Red Sox duds, a yellow "Topps All-Star Rookie" booty hogging the bottom right of the card, the Hall of Fame (presumably) waiting for him. Every time I look at that card, I give the impression like I'm 6 years old again.

Source:

Topps Baseball Cards - News

Olde Tyme Stuffe, Inc. Antiques and Arts Weekly - Sep 02, 2010 Binder w/ 1972, 1967 and 1959 Topps Baseball Cards, Also Incl. 1981-1982 Lakers and Celtics Basketball Cards and More, Sports Memorabilia Lots,

Strasburg trading cards do great business at national convention Yahoo! Sports (blog) - Aug 10, 2010 The Cardboard ConnectionAlso contributing to the wonder: 2010 is the first year of a partnership that has made Topps the sole company allowed to produce baseball cards licensed Cardboard Connection Sports Bank card card joker Trivia: 2010 Baseball CardsCard collecting: The house of cards2010 Topps Million Card Giveaway Contest #10: Most 2nd Basemanall 4 advice articles »

Humble hero Thomson was a big hit News & Observer - Aug 21, 2010 The 1952 irreversible series baseball cards issued by Topps are so rare that it's almost a financial risk to touch them. and more »

Collectors convention is quite unconventional The Associated Press - Aug 07, 2010 For pattern, the 1956 Topps baseball collection cost a cool $4300. That's nothing compared to the 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Wax Box, which sells for $14375 Citizen Sports Collectors Convention comes to Baltimoreall 94 news articles »

Cardboard Connection Topps Tribute Contest Finalists and Grand Prize Winner ... The Cardboard Connection - Aug 19, 2010 IAN TOPOROFF IAN TOPOROFF- Victor of a box of 2010 Topps Tribute Baseball! BRANDON ZOCH - Winner of Free Cards For Finishing In Top 10 + Bonus Cards for and more »

Kidsday reporters interview Mets' first baseman Ike Davis Kansas City Star - Aug 12, 2010 Kidsday reporters press conference Mets' first baseman Ike DavisTopps Attax is a multiplayer baseball card game that allows kids to go online and fray each other in person at toppstown.com. Here is how you play. and more »

Topps Releases Wal-Mart Exclusive 2010 Baseball Topps Value Box The Cardboard Connection - Aug 19, 2010 Below is a look at what comes in each Topps grab bag baseball liable act offering: 1 of 3 exclusive chrome refractor cards: Stephen Strasburg, Babe Ruth,

E Guy Sawyer & Sons Antiques and Arts Weekly - Sep 02, 2010 E Guy Sawyer & Sons Steiff teddy bears, baseball be unsecretive collection of individuals & boxed sets, including Mickey Mantle 1963 Topps #200, football cards, hockey cards,

Nationals drop the ball on Strasburg Victoria Advocate - Aug 29, 2010 The Topps baseball come clean company built its 2010 campaign around him. He was a box-office draw in his first few starts, although that tailed off. and more »