My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #948

In The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #948 from the issue of June 16, 2025, a judge hands a basketball from the bench to a man in his courtroom. There is a basket set up behind the judge. A witness is in the witness box. An angry lawyer stands on the left. The judge is speaking. My entry appears below. The drawing is by Mort Gerberg.

"Now dazzle the ABA and the NBA."

These captions were flagrant fouls:

"Sustained. Take a free throw."
"Counselor, give us your spin."

June 23, 2025 Update:  The Finalists

July 2, 2026 Update:  I voted for the caption from Torrance.

July 19, 2025 Update:  The Winner

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The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest #107

It's time to make sense of the Cartoon Collections Caption Contest #107. The drawing is by E. S. Glenn. My three captions are below. Go ahead, count 'em.

"As a rule, I disapprove of deconstructing dumpsters."
"What the hell is conceptual dining anyway?"
"Why does everyone laugh when I say I hate non sequiturs?"
"I was hoping they'd assign me lighter fare."
"I could just dribble, but I don't want to look ridiculous."
"Aren't you dying to see the mystery dish?"
"I say we should have left all this in the lost-and-found."

January 10, 2021 Update:  The Winner

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Jump Shot: Arthur Getz Original New Yorker Cover Art

The basketball season gets underway today. It's more than fifty years since Arthur Getz's New Yorker cover was published depicting a jump shot from nearly mid-court—there was no three-point line then. It's ten years since the original art was offered for sale at an Illustration House auction. No buyer was found.

Arthur Getz
Original art
The New Yorker, February 5, 1966

Illustration House
June 2, 2007
Lot 83

http://www.illustration-house.com/recent/a35/a35pages/a35_083.html

http://www.findartinfo.com/english/list-prices-by-artist/7651/arthur-kimmel-getz.html

Arthur Getz
The New Yorker, February 5, 1966

Note:  Desperately seeking original art by Arthur Getz for inclusion on the blog. And Susan.

Arthur Getz's website may be found at getzart.com.


Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives

Arthur Getz

Original New Yorker Cover Art

Basketball

Attempted Bloggery's Slam Dunk of an Index

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The New Yorker Signed by John McPhee

Remember that game of basketball played at the Tower of London? John McPhee's article "Basketball and Beefeaters" was published in the March 16, 1963 issue of the New Yorker. Here from eBay is a copy of the magazine with the author's signature.

John McPhee's signature

Ilonka Karasz, The New Yorker, March 16, 1963

The New Yorker, March 16, 1963
"Basketball and Beefeaters" signed by John McPhee

The New Yorker, March 16, 1963
"Basketball and Beefeaters" by John McPhee

EBay Listing Ended July 9, 2015

http://www.ebay.com/itm/JOHN-McPHEE-SIGNED-1963-THE-NEW-YORKER-Magazine-Article-autograph-rare-/361334147406?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item542131894e&nma=true&si=Zv4PhLp6HocGRC23iqci2JeQ2LI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

EBay Item Description

EBay Bid History. Just one early bid.

Note:  See more signed magazines in the archives.

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A Whitney Darrow, Jr. First Day Cover Sketch

Here's a quick sketch made on a first day cover by cartoonist Whitney Darrow, Jr. It shows a boy showing off his basketball skills to a girl. Darrow incorporates the postmark as the ball. The sketch is being offered on eBay for $49.

Whitney Darrow, Jr.  First day cover sketch

EBay Listing from June 2015

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Whitney-Darrow-Cartoonist-signed-w-Sketch-New-yorker-/370618572071?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item564a969d27

Note:  Sketches on first day covers play a smallish role on this blog. See covers sketched upon by Chon Day and R. Crumb

Whitney Darrow, Jr. plays a larger role here and gets star treatment.

Yes, basketball is important too. Just ask Dr. J. or Sparky.

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Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts: "For Dr. J with Friendship and Admiration"

Basketball is the sports theme of this fine 1984 example of original Peanuts comic strip artwork by Charles M. Schulz that comes from the collection of Julius "Dr. J" Erving. Snoopy and Woodstock wish to play, but the astute beagle notes a problem of mismatched proportions.

This very comic strip previously was offered for sale on June 20, 2012. The blog of Paul Fraser Collectibles reports that it sold for $20,123.

The recent eBay listing has been "ended by the seller because the item is no longer available." Nevertheless, the sale documents an impressive exchange of memorabilia between the artist and basketball star Julius Erving that seems to have included a signed basketball and original comic strip art. Now who got the better deal?

Charles M. Schulz, Original Artwork for Peanuts, October 4, 1984,
Inscribed, "For Dr. J with friendship + admiration--Charles M. Schulz (Sparky)"

Charles M. Schulz, Framed Original Artwork for Peanuts, October 4, 1984, Inscribed, "For Dr. J with friendship + admiration--Charles M. Schulz (Sparky)"

Charles M. Schulz, Matted Original Artwork for Peanuts, October 4, 1984, Inscribed, "For Dr. J with friendship + admiration--Charles M. Schulz (Sparky)"

Charles M. Schulz, Matted Original Artwork for Peanuts, October 4, 1984, Inscribed, "For Dr. J with friendship + admiration--Charles M. Schulz (Sparky)"

Photograph of Charles M. Schulz with a basketball inscribed "From a 'Peanuts' fan/Julius 'Dr. J' Erving/#6." The no. 6 jersey is now retired by the Philadelphia 76ers.

Letter of Provenance from Julius Erving

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Amazing-Charles-Schulz-Peanuts-Basketball-Snoopy-Original-Daily-Comic-Strip-Art-/151054498299?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27%26meid%3D1548856531168779525%26pid%3D100040%26prg%3D1011%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D3%26sd%3D151054498299%26&nma=true&si=UB68sj2DvLx%252F9kdb54zXrlCgzYs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

[End of eBay Listing]

Note:  Additional posts regarding Charles M. Schulz and his Peanuts strip may be found on this blog here.

Further stunning examples of original comic strip art may be seen here.

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