Wauconda man wins NFL draft grand prize
When Rick Brodsky, a trading card collector from Wauconda, bought a pack of officially licensed Panini NFL trading cards at Chicagoland Sports Cards in Buffalo Grove in the fall, he was hoping to get a card of one of his favorite players, a memorabilia card or possibly even an autographed card.
Little did he know his $2 card pack would lead to him "spending a day" during the 2016 NFL Draft weekend with Chicago Bears running back Jeremy Langford.
Brodsky, a 35-year-old lifelong sports fan who collects football cards of Bears players and Penn State alums, was among more than 150,000 NFL card collectors who participated in the 2016 Panini NFL Player of the Day contest at more than 600 hobby shops.
He is among the thousands who earned prizes, but as the grand prize winner, he is the only one spending the day with an NFL player.
Brodsky uncovered the Panini NFL Player of the Day in a pack of Panini NFL cards. He was randomly selected as the store's grand prize winner and entered into the national sweepstakes with other shop winners.
As part of his prize, he will host a private party at his home for Langford with up to 25 friends and family members Saturday, during draft day. All the party guests will have a personal meeting with the Bears rookie from 2015, as well as a photo, an autograph and the chance to hear his NFL Draft memories and stories from his rookie season.
The Bears selected Langford in the fourth round with the 106th overall pick of the 2015 NFL draft.
After the party, they will take a limousine ride to Chicagoland Sports Cards, 793 South Buffalo Grove Road, from 2-3 p.m., when Rick will experience a $250 shopping spree courtesy of Panini. Langford will spend an hour signing free autographs and posing for photos with up to 200 customers.
People are asked to call the store at (847) 229-2626 for a free autograph ticket in advance.