NBA Playoffs Pack Rip: 2007-08 Bowman (x3)

As I'm writing this, the Spurs lead 2-0, as do the Heat.  Will that hold up?

Convenient that Bosh shows up in these packs.  His absence definitely changed the look of the Heat, and it will be interesting to see how they adapt if he comes back.

The Kirilenko parallel is #/199, and the Big Baby Davis rookie is #/2999.

The Bulls get huge points here.  The Chrome Deng gets +3, and the Joakim Noah Chrome RC #/2999 gets +4.  The Noah is actually a nice card and books for $15 (~$5 on the street)...not bad for a $1.50 pack.

The updated standings:

Bulls......15
Thunder....10
Clippers...9
Jazz.......8
Spurs......7
Celtics....7
76ers......7
Grizzlies..7
Heat.......6
Hawks......5
Mavericks..4
Nuggets....4
Lakers.....3
Knicks.....3
Magic......3
Pacers.....2

2006 Topps Allen & Ginter #34

This guy just looks like he wants to be Manny Ramirez.  

Weird-Oh Wednesday #5a (Thursday)

Weird-Ohs #5

Groupies today just aren't what they used to be.  These days, they're Kardashians.

Yes, I know it isn't wednesday.  I was feeling a bit under the weather and got a little behind.  Oh well.

2006 Topps Allen & Ginter #33

This is the thinnest I've seen CC on a card in quite some time.

NBA Playoffs Pack Rip: 1999-00 Topps Finest S1 Hobby (x2)

Last time I ripped one of these, I got the Odom RC.  Hese certainly made waves since then...

I've also enjoyed the baseball version of these.  They're very nice looking cards (except for the protective film)

Peja, I mean Predrag, sure looks young. 

That Szczerbiak RC is sweet.  I was always a big fan of him.  Not awesome would be the Odom RC.  I didn't need 1 copy, yet now I have 2.  Super.

I'm so glad Kidd finally got his ring last year.  As much as I would have liked to see LeBron win it, I thoroughly enjoyed Dirk and co. pulling it out. 

If you see anything you like, let me know.

Thunder....9
Clippers...9
Bulls......7
76ers......7
Grizzlies..6
Spurs......5
Heat.......5Celtics....5
Jazz.......5
Hawks......5
Mavericks..4
Lakers.....3
Knicks.....3
Pacers.....2
Magic......2
Nuggets....2

2006 Topps Allen & Ginter #32

Wily is playing in Japan these days.  At 6'5", ~300 lbs, I'm guessing he's slightly above average in size for the league.

Pack Rippin: 2009 UD X (x7)

I'm pretty sure I'm the only one these days that buys Upper Deck X religiously.  I prefer 2008, since I'm trying to complete the Gold Die Cut and Xponential sets.  I briefly considered chasing the relic and auto sets.  The relic wouldn't be too bad, but the auto set has Griffey, Jeter, and Longoria (RC) which get a premium.  Anyway, I can't resist when UDX shows up in the Target value bin, 2008 or 2009.  Today, I've got 7 packs of 2009 UDX:

 These 9 were needed for my base set of 2009.  Check out my want list and let me know if you have any 2009 or 2008 for me. 

I'm not as big a fan of the die cuts in 2009 as in 2008.  The offset a symmetric X just isn't as appealing, and there's no third "Gold" parallel.  The David Wright was a nice surprise, though.

As far as Xponentials go, I did well getting 4 X2s and one each of X3, X4, and X5.  It dosn't hurt that the top two are Jeter and Pujols, of course. 

Lastly, 2009 had UD 20th Anniv. inserts where 2008 had Yankee Stadium Legacy.  These will be going to Dimwit, along with a bunch of other ones I have, since he was collecting the set once upon a time.

Sunday Sketch #8 of 30

Dude looks a LOT like Shrek in this sketch.

NBA Playoffs Pack Rip: 2007-08 Stadium Club

I enjoyed the photography in the first pack of this I opened a while back. 

This pack is no different.  The Ewing is interesting since there is no one else in the picture, just shadows.  The lighting on the Roy is just strange...as though the court was lit by a single floodlight.  Of course, the Maravich takes the cake as best card.  If I had money, I would collect Maravich. 

Points to eliminated teams are all we have from this pack.

Thunder....8
Clippers...7
Bulls......7
76ers......6
Spurs......5
Heat.......5
Grizzlies..5
Jazz.......5
Celtics....4
Hawks......4
Lakers.....3
Knicks.....3
Pacers.....2
Magic......2
Nuggets....2
Mavericks..2

Saturday Sizemore

I waited quite awhile for one of these to show up on eBay.  I now have the Base, Mini, A&G Back, Black, Border, and Bazooka Back.  I'm hoping the No Number shows up sometime.  Then I'll be down to just the Silk (#/10) and the 1/1s. 

2012 Topps US Olympics Pack

I had to pick up one of these.  It's the patriotic thing to do. 



Interesting facial expressions abound.  The Parratto card feels a little wrong since it's a 17-year-old in a bathing suit on a card in my possession.  Sure, Hsing is only 16, but that card doesn't bother me.  Besides, who doesn't love table tennis. 

Bryan Clay is running.  Based on his facial expression, I can only assume he is running to the nearest port-o-potty.  Hope Solo, however, appears to have just left the port-o-potty.  Tell me that doesn't make you look at that card differently, now. 

I have to say, the Olympics fits perfectly for parallels, and I like the way Topps did them.  The Bronze are 1 per pack, and the Silver and Gold are only slightly more rare.  I like that all three levels are chaseable without breaking the bank.   I'm not collecting the set or anything, but I do want any and all cards of Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers:

Base: 24 (Todd Rogers), 45 (Phil Dalhausser)
Bronze: 45 (Phil Dalhausser)
Silver: 24 (Todd Rogers), 45 (Phil Dalhausser)
Gold: 24 (Todd Rogers), 45 (Phil Dalhausser)
Any other Rogers/Dalhausser cards.

 

2006 Topps Allen & Ginter #31

I really thought his numbers were going to be better than they actually are when I checked baseball-reference.  He hasn't exactly been dominant for the Marlins this year, so far, but his ERA is lower than it has been in several seasons.  A fun thing to do is to spell his name with the H in different places.  You could probably convince most people that any of these are correct:

Buehrle
Buerhle
Buerlhe

I bet you just looked at the card, again...

NBA Playoffs Pack Rip: 2011-12 SP Authentic Hobby

This is kind of one of those packs I wish I could un-buy.  It was way too much for way too little.

The card design just doesn't do anything for me.  I like the old school players and all, but I want to see action shots or at least some kind of background.  Oh well.  The Heat pick up 2 for James and Cole. The Bulls get a point for Derrick Rose.

Leaderboard:

Thunder....8
Clippers...7
Bulls......7
76ers......6
Spurs......5
Heat.......5
Grizzlies..5
Celtics....4
Hawks......4
Lakers.....3
Jazz.......3
Pacers.....2
Magic......2
Knicks.....2
Nuggets....2
Mavericks..2

2006 Topps Allen & Ginter #30

Some dudes just don't look like professional athletes...especially when they have unusually square hats.  Green especially doesn't look like a guy with 328 career HR.  He even pulled a Josh Hamilton in 2002 by hitting 4 in one game.  If there is a Jewish baseball hall of fame, Green should be in.  It's rumored that he may play for Israel in the 2013 WBC.  By all accounts, Green seems to be a great guy.  i wonder if he'll ever come back as a coach.  There's only one card I think of when I think of Green.

One hoot of a trade...

Get it....he he...Night OWL...hoot.  Ah man. I kill me.

He claimed a Matt Kemp card I posted and sent me some cards, even though my lazy ass hasn't sent him anything yet.  I plan to send him some stuff.  I'm adding extra stuff because he guessed that Len Randle appeared twice in this puzzle. It will be mailed soon, I hope.

I don't have a Top 10 Most Wanted cards list, but if I did, this would have been on it.  Now it's mine...all mine.

Thanks Night Owl!!!

Weird-Oh Wednesday #4b

Weird-Ohs Baseball #4

ummm, Marty Cordova, anyone?

NBA Playoffs Pack Rip: 1999-00 Topps (x2)

This is a little closer to the time when I collected basketball.  For some reason, right around 1995, I stopped buying baseball and started buying basketball.  Then, around the time I hit high school, I pretty much stopped altogether until college. We're looking at 22 cards here, so hopefully some of the goose eggs will go away.

How can you not love that Kidd card where he's being guarded by Stockton?

...further evidence that Derek Fisher is 62 years old.



I'm guessing Vlade rose up a posterized Shaq. Wait, no...he was playing the suns...oh, well.

Points for team cards: Sonics (Thunder), Nuggets (x2), Lakers, Jazz, Spurs, Knicks, Heat, 76ers and Bulls.
Points for active players: Thunder (Fisher), Mavericks (x2, Kidd, Carter)
The Celtics also grab +2 for Paul Pierce.

I got one insert:

Picture Perfect insert for the Heat means +2.  The back of the card asks what is wrong with the picture on the front. My answer: Mutombo is 7'2", 'Zo is 6:10".  Mutombo should be grabbing the rebound.  I was wrong.  The actual answer is that the hashmarks on the floor have been removed.  Ooops.

All teams have points, finally!

Thunder....8
Clippers...7
76ers......6
Bulls......6
Spurs......5
Grizzlies..5
Celtics....4
Hawks......4
Lakers.....3
Heat.......3
Jazz.......3
Pacers.....2
Magic......2
Knicks.....2
Nuggets....2
Mavericks..2

2006 Topps Allen & Ginter #29

There's something just a little bit demoni about his eyes.  I don't know if it's just the scan, or what, but he looks a little snake-like (appropriate for a D-Back, I suppose).

Monday Evening Trade Bait

I recently picked up a lot of cards on eBay for right around a buck apiece.  I kept one card, and the rest is trade bait.  Feel free to claim/make an offer:

#/1000

#/250

#/200



These were sent along with the Benson.



Some foil damage to the left of the picture.



#/1000

Seriously, all that for just about $10 shipped. That's what I'm talking about.

Drop me a line if you want to trade.