EDICOLA NEWS: THE REVIEWS nr. 174
stickers: 500 (1-500) + 100 cards (C1-C100)
starter pack: album + 5 packets € 4.90
packets: 1 card + 5 stickers € 1.00 (box of 36 packets)
NBA basketball is much loved and followed also in Italy, perhaps even more so than the Italian championship, we believe that Panini should take this into account and therefore produce an album that matches it, the same album is sold all over Europe. Unfortunately this is not the case, meanwhile the dripping of the quality of the paper continues, it is now a year that we carry out our “complaint”, every now and then Panini encourages us with products worthy of the name of the Modenese house, then the blows arrive, immediately after.
It is unthinkable that in 2021 we cannot have an album that is beautiful to leaf through and not full of creases. At the same time this year not even the stickers are saved, the thickness recalls certain amateur productions that some friends make in South America and now they are also small. Fortunately, at least the cards are more interesting than usual, with the very valid back showing information about the players, the number of the card itself, a detail of the photo and even the flag of the country of origin. Very nice, nothing spectacular, but improved compared to the past.
The album in general is very classic. The first part is, as always, dedicated to the past season with the highlights, the great events with naturally large space at the ALL STAR GAME, the two teams Lebron and Giannis and the final part on the playoffs, snapshots of the matches up to the final between Lakers and Heat. 2020 ends with 20 drafts, potential rookies of future great champions from colleges or the international scene.
The Atlanta Hawks open the second part of the album dedicated to clubs, for each team we find 13 stickers, four of which are special. In the packets that we have opened, all the players are shown in action, not a bad choice, given how dynamic American sport is. Too bad, really too bad, that miniature stickers take away a lot of the emphasis and excitement in attacking them.
The Utah Jazz close the album, with no further additions apart from the NBA logo with 6 stickers, the initial part being richer, it is quite obvious that in the end nothing will be found, especially taking into account that in the meantime we have reached 500 stickers.
Innovation at all costs is not part of our way of seeing things, indeed the classic albums that follow tradition are always welcome in these parts, too bad that the scrap paper of the album and the stickers probably printed in Lilliput are a punch in the stomach to fully enjoy this album.
It is not our role, it is not our purpose and it is not even in our characteristics to make controversy and report many problems. We are in love with Panini and like all lovers it hurts us when it makes mistakes.
In stickers we trust? We still do, elsewhere perhaps they no longer truly believe in it.
(EN)