2024 Card-vent Calendar: December 4

December 4, 2024:

2001-02 Topps Stadium Club #85 Hakeem Olajuwon

Not a ton of fancy foil here, no serial numbering, not even an autograph on a couple square centimeters of sweat sock.  Just a great photo of two first-ballot Hall-of-Famers playing physical basketball under the rim.  Duncan was a featured card on last year's calendar, and he sneaks in this year as well, with a much more familiar haircut.

Basketball cards are kind of an unheralded haven for memorable photography.  In most other sports, it's highly unlikely that two ultra-superstars are going to appear in the same action shot.  In football you have the chance for a star linebacker pursuing an All-Pro quarterback, but those moments are rare.  How about baseball?  Cy Young pitcher versus a home run champ happens every so often, but you're probably not getting them on the same card.  And if you did, it would look like the center field camera of a typical television broadcast, not the most aesthetically pleasing image for a card.  The closeness of basketball, plus the way all players are asked to fill an offensive and defensive role during the course of play, makes such pairings more likely.

I'm only left wondering if Tim blocked the Dream's shot on this play.  Someone out there could probably figure this out.