WEEKLY LOOK AT THE WILD WORLD OF SPORTS >>>

Well, now we're really in the throes of it. The draft is over. The lockout has been (at least temporarily) reinstated. And it's about as officially the OFF-SEASON as it can get in the NFL. Usually the league limps us through the down periods with free agency, or mini-camps, or OTAs. But not this year. This year it's cold turkey, unless the billionaires and millionaires can figure it out. Soon there won't even be the NBA playoffs on TNT to distract you.

Luckily, we have stories like this one ... which has "kids are starving in third world countries but I don't give a s***" charm written all over it.

According to the Associated Press, Wayne Gretzky's NHL rookie card brought in a literally disgusting $94,163 during an online sports memorabilia auction Sunday, May 1. SCP Auctions, an auctioneer and private seller of sports memorabilia out of Laguna Niguel California, tells the AP that this is the highest amount ever paid for a hockey card. SP Auctions had no comment on what kind of person spends three times the yearly salary of an inner city elementary teacher on a f***ing hockey card, nor were they likely asked. In fairness to whoever laid down the chunk of change, however, the Gretzky rookie card is reported to be in flawless mint condition.

To read this week's full Cup Check column, including news on Jose Canseco's Twitter habits and more on how reality TV is ruining life as we know it, click here.