Auction Block: Super Bowl Duffle

Super Bowl memorabilia isn't cheap. Well, some of it.

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You wouldn't drop a couple bucks on that jersey?

This weekend's Super Bowl will be the pinnacle of the NFL season and thousands of fans will come away with a once-in-a-lifetime experience they can tell future generations about. But we know that. It's also where memorabilia collectors will likely enjoy Sunday's action as much as the next guy, but may be just as excited about Thursday, Friday and Saturday as well.

That's because Hunt Auctions will join the merchandising extravaganza known as the NFL Experience, the fan-focused event that takes place in a sprawling tent city set up next door to Raymond James Stadium. The Pennsylvania-based sports memorabilia brokers will indulge in the theoretical side of collecting with an appraisal fair that runs from 3 p.m.-midnight on Thursday, and then again from 3 p.m.-10 p.m. on Friday. Expert appraisers will convene a sort of sports-themed Antiques Roadshow on both nights. They're expecting mostly football collectibles but say that they'll be happy to review any item from any sport.

Company President David Hunt has been making the rounds of Tampa's radio and TV stations this week, performing a little impromptu valuation here and there. (When one talking head produced a Washington Generals jersey he had worn while scoring one point against the Harlem Globetrotters, Hunt pronounced it "Priceless" with a wry smile.) But he and Auctions Manager Dan Imler have also been previewing the amazing items that will go under the gavel on Saturday. For 12 hours, starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday the 31st, his company will hold a live auction of football memorabilia, including some real treasures:

• A game-worn John Elway jersey from the Orange Crush era. Expected to fetch nearly $10,000.

• Signed Mean Joe Greene jersey. Is this the one he threw to the kid in the soft-drink commercial? Probably not. But it's still worth about $4K.

• Johnny Unitas helmet. Worn by the Hall of Famer in the 1960's, when the Colts still called Baltimore home. Chipped and gouged from game action. Worth $10,000-plus.

• Jack Gallagher's 1960 Houston Oilers AFL Championship Ring. Presented to a sportswriter for his coverage of the team in their inaugural season. Don't that just beat all? $3-4 K.

• Tiger Woods match-worn polo shirt. Worn during WGC Accenture Match Play Championship on February 23, 2008. Purple. Nike (natch). Put it on and do that little fist pump. You'll feel like a champion. Should pull in between $5,000 — $7,500.

That's just the start of it all. There are official footballs from last year's Super Bowl, game-scarred gear from Brett Favre, Jim Brown, Gale Sayers and LaDainian Tomlinson, and more. Anyone not able to make it to the game to bid in person can make absentee bids online or join in by telephone, which always looks so cool and mysterious when people do it in the movies.

Is the above list a bit too rich for your blood? Ours too. Here are a few items us hoi polloi can take a crack at.

Rent a House in Tampa: That's right, some dude will let you debauch in his house for the week. 5BR, WiFi, pool table and Jacuzzi. He'll even pick you up at the airport. We can't get our college roommate to pick us up at the airport.

Cartman "Cardinals Suck" T-Shirt: The foul-mouthed South Parker is a known Broncos fan, but whatever. Buy it before Parker & Stone draft the "cease and desist" order. Hey, waitaminit! Same seller is offering the Cartman "Steelers Suck" shirt!. Screw you guys, I'm going home.

Ben Roethlisberger 5XL jersey. We know some big dudes, but 5XL?!? You could fit 3.45 Fernando Bryants in this bad boy.

Signed Matt Leinart jersey: At least the seller didn't claim it was "game worn". Even a casual fan could see through that one.

Auto'd 8 x 10 of Ken Whisenhunt: Zero bids? Whaaaat?!?

Jake Plummer Jersey: The Snake was our pick for Best Arizona Cardinal Ever. A memento of the days when Plummer wasn't synonymous with the term "mountain man beard".

Charley Trippi game-worn jersey: Completing our little jersey-triptich, here's one from the hero of the Chicago Cardinals' 1947 championship win. Yeesh, that was two whole cities ago.

Steeler Helmet Carved Wooden Sign: Every kid who ever got a woodburning kit for Christmas and then let it languish in the basement should take a page out of woodreamz1's book. Our favorite part? He's willing to ship to Asia.

Enjoy the big game, no matter where you live.

Got a unique item you're auctioning off? Let us know at collectespn@gmail.com

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