{"product_id":"the-bear-handmade-pencil-art-football-by-william-bill-gosa-not-for-sale-memorial-display-rip-brother","title":"\"The Bear\" — Handmade Pencil-Art Football by William \"Bill\" Gosa | NOT FOR SALE — Memorial Display RIP BROTHER","description":"\u003cp\u003eYou will never see another Bill Gosa ball.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBill was a craftsman unlike any other — he made many footballs from cedar, pencil-drawing each one with extraordinary attention to detail. He sold many painted balls, but this one was his Mona Lisa: a perfect pencil-rendered portrait of Coach Bear Bryant on one side, and a houndstooth-patterned script Alabama \"A\" on the other.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMr. Gosa was my best friend for many years, and it took me just as long to trade him out of it. No money ever changed hands between us — just a trade for something Bill had wanted for a long time. Two happy traders. He left with a big grin on his face, and so did I.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA month or so later, I got the call that my friend — whom I loved like a blood brother — had died in an automobile accident.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTHIS BALL IS NOT FOR SALE.\u003c\/strong\u003e I just couldn't resist pranking Bill one more time. At least I know he's not haunting my house — because if he had seen his Mona Lisa sitting here among the sale items, there would have been a disturbance. I'll put a price here just to push the listing through — but this is simply a way to get Bill's work in circulation and seen by the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis mother has some paintings that are out of this world. Maybe she'll part with them someday. I'll keep you posted.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIn memory of my friend, William \"Bill\" Gosa. RIP — I'll see you on the other side, brother.\u003c\/em\u003e 🤍\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Rustee Relic","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42851336487010,"sku":null,"price":10000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/2204\/4770\/files\/image_1ed98b58-1ada-4f18-84a0-108c46cb86c8.png?v=1777827285","url":"https:\/\/therusteerelic.com\/products\/the-bear-handmade-pencil-art-football-by-william-bill-gosa-not-for-sale-memorial-display-rip-brother","provider":"The Rustee Relic","version":"1.0","type":"link"}