By Adam McFarland For the last several months I've debated whether or not I should renew my Tuff Stuff Magazine subscription. Not because there isn't good content in it, but because most of it I've read online three weeks before I get the magazine. So as I flip from page to page I don't find much worth reading. But ultimately I've always came to the conclusion that I should keep my subscription because of Jeff Clow's Figure Fan column. All that changed yesterday. Most months when I get an issue, I flip right to Jeff's column and start there, because I know it's the real reason why I have a subscription to begin with. This month I opened the magazine and before flipping to Jeff's column, the editor's note caught my eye: “Jeff Clow's Swansong – figure columnist Jeff Clow bows out with this month’s column after 16 years with Tuff Stuff.” The justification (Tuff Stuff doesn't need three figure writers, and Starting Linueps don't need a column any more) I understand. It's a business decision. But I still think it's a mistake. That's because Jeff is the LIFE of the magazine. More than any other collectibles writer, his love and passion for the hobby shines through. And that's why over the course of his 16 years he's provided such an amazing column. |
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I'm 24 years old. Jeff has been writing the column since I was 8 and I've been reading him for as long as I can remember. I am one of the few that probably still have all of Tuff Stuff's short-lived quarterly SLU magazines. Just thinking of his articles about “the thrill of the chase” gives me the chills. I remember, as a 14 year old, riding my bike to Toys R Us with my friends every Tuesday because that was the day that they received their new cases of SLU's. If we were lucky, we'd be the first ones to check the shelves and we'd get that figure that everyone wanted (we even rotated who got first choice). If the pegs had already been picked over, we hopped back on our bikes and went down the street to KB Toys in hopes that we'd be the first ones to raid their pegs. We did it every week. The thrill of the chase is one of the great memories of my childhood.
At times I've been very critical of Tuff Stuff, but don't confuse that with my feelings toward Jeff. He is and always will be one of my favorite writers, and more importantly a hell of a guy. When I launched SportsLizard.com I sent Jeff an email. I didn't expect a response, but I got one. So occasionally I emailed Jeff about the progression of the site. What I REALLY didn't expect was for Jeff to feature SportsLizard in a column back in February. As a young entrepreneur trying to grow his businesses, I'm pretty used to getting ignored by reporters that get flooded with emails (and I can hardly blame them), but I will never, ever forget Jeff's willingness to not only take the time to look at my site, but to also see enough value in it to write a column about it. I will forever be in debt to him for his kindness.
I didn't know what to title this piece, but I ultimately chose the title I did for one reason – to capture Jeff's attention. To the best of my knowledge, Jeff is a subscriber to this newsletter, and I really, really hope that he reads this. I am one of your biggest fans Jeff, and I think I speak for everyone in the SLU community when I say that I will greatly miss your monthly column.
Jeff, in your last paragraph of your column, you write “In closing, I thank all of you for reading this column and for being such a great audience for my musings. You have touched me many, many times over the course of my life – and I'm eternally grateful for that.” Jeff I can honestly say that you have touched all of us many, many times over the course of our lives, and that we are all eternally grateful for that.