Stupid Is As Stupid Does

I usually won't waste my time (and yours) with golf because after Tiger Woods, who really cares? But I just have to marvel at how stupid some folks in the media are. How could Dave Seanor, the editor of GolfWeek magazine, green-light a cover that featured a hangman's noose?? After the media brushfire caused by the idiotic comments which got Golf Channel reporter Kelly Tilghman suspended for 2 weeks, how could anyone with a functioning cerebellum judge such an offensive image as being "provocative"?? Forget that aspect of it, why, oh why wouldn't you just let the issue die down and go away? I'm not a fan of pandering (especially to someone like Al Sharpton) but the publisher of GolfWeek was totally correct in firing Seanor if for nothing more than not having the common sense of a head of cabbage.

Consistency...a bad thing??

Well, at least my Rangers are consistent. They consistently commit stupid penalties which are consistently followed up by power play goals. Maybe its too early to panic (then again, Ranger fans have been known to panic in September), but I viewed this weekend's home and home series against the Bruins as must-wins. To be fair, they did get totally screwed on a Jagr interference penalty late in OT, but overall they played as if they really didn't need their jocks.

This just in: Zdeno Chara is a monster!!!! He's a manimal...he's an android of love (ok, I went too far with that one)

I will definitely be opening some SPX hockey, Fleer Flair Showcase hockey and Bowman Sterling Baseball today so check back later for the thrilling conclusion.

Since tomorrow is Martin Luther King's birthday and since I'm a supporter of civil rights (especially when civil rights nets me a day off from work), I will be exercising those rights by trolling the aisles of Target in search of some tasty baseball and hockey packs and blasters. I'm in the mood for Topps 52 Rookies and Bowman Heritage, but with Target, you just never know how well or poorly you'll do. But doggonit, I'm coming home with something!!! I owe Dr. King that much!!!

Bonus, my local Target is near a mall and you know what that means...FOOD COURT!!!!!

Finally, I was sad to see Sid get hurt the other night and I hope he makes a quick return to the ice. I read some disturbing posts on a few of the hockey card boards I visit and I have to say that I wish some folks would just get a life. I read so many classless posts filled with utter glee over Crosby's injury, it made me ashamed to be a fan and a collector.

Hey, for those of you in the US, have a safe holiday tomorrow and oh yeah...GO GIANTS!!!!!!

Bowman- Home of the Rookie Card!

So I just finished busting my 2 baseball boxes (2005 Bowman DP&P, 2006 Bowman) I will just hit you with the highlights:

Chien-Ming Wang
Alex Gordon First Card refractor
Ryan Garko RC
Ryan Spilborghs First Card
Ross Ohlendorf FC
Joe Mauer
Alex Gordon FC
Jed Lowrie FC
Jay Bruce FC
Andrew McCutcheon Gold FC
Mr. Wang again. (Wang, its a parking lot!!)
Melky Cabrera FC
Jordan Schafer FC chrome
Jordan Schafer FC
Robinson Cano chrome
Micah Owings FC chrome
Troy Tulowitzki FC chrome
Troy Tulowitzki FC
Russ Martin FC
Hanley Ramirez
Craig Hansen RC
Justin Morneau
Justin Verlander
Ryan Garko FC
Chase Headly FC
Ryan Garko FC chrome
Delmon Young chrome
Fausto Carmona
Jordan Schafer FC Gold
Andrew McCutcheon FC

I really have high hopes for Jay Bruce if he cracks the Cincy lineup this season. Considering Cincy traded Josh Hamilton to make room for him, I'd say they have high hopes for him as well. In fact, there are 4 or 5 guys who could make the club out of spring training or join the team sometime this season (Joey Votto, Bobby Cueto, Homer Baily, Drew Stubbs, Devin Mesoraco) so things are looking up for the Reds (as long as they don't do anything stupid and trade all of their young talent for Joe Blanton or Eric Bedard. ) Speaking of stupid, how stupid does Twins GM Bill Smith (a fake name if I've ever heard one) think Omar Minaya is?? Granted Omar won't win any Mensa awards, but does Smith really think Minaya will tear apart the whole farm system for Johan Santana?? Smith or Jones or whatever alias he's living under this week should join us here in the real world and forget about getting Jose Reyes or Fernando Martinez in any deal. The Mets have already offered alot for a guy who may or may not be injured and will be a FA after the 2008 season. I mean Carlos Gomez, Kevin Mulvey, Delois Guerra, and Phil Humber aren't exactly chicken feed. What the heck else does Smith want, Aaron Heilman's well built aunt from Cleveland?? As a Met fan, as a baseball fan, as a guy who just wants this Santana nonsense OVER WITH, I implore you, please make a move Mr. Smith (if that in fact is your real name!!)

On the NHL side of the fence, I should have my 6 boxes of SPX in my hot little hands tonite (as long as UPS cooperates.) I also picked up a few boxes of 2006 Fleer Flair Showcase hockey as well. I'll post those hits over the long weekend!!! Although the design is a tad busy, I really like the SPX product line, especially in hockey. Good player selection, good inserts and you get 18 packs to a box. I don't know about you but when I have a 36 pack box staring back at me, I usually need a Snickers (clever product placement!!) and an I.V. by pack 22.

Here's to hoping I land a few Sid's for the old PC.

ITG

I just received an email from ITG announcing their forthcoming product, Between the Pipes. As an avid hockey collector, I have to say that the lack of an NHL license is really beginning to cripple ITG and their product lines. Although I've liked their products in the past, O' Canada bored me to tears. After much anticipation, I was sorely disappointed with this years edition of Heroes and Prospects. I felt the card design was poor and the player selection (besides Tavares, Kane and Toews) was terrible. Moreover, after seeing the sell-sheet to Between the Pipes, I can honestly say that I wasn't very impressed with this offering either.

There are simply too many better options competing for my my hockey-card buying dollar than what ITG is currently offering. Their top secret, ultra high end product named Superlative promises to go where no card has gone before (both in price and design), but just how much farther can ITG go without an NHL license? One more thing, with most of the hot young players now having NHL licensed cards, who is gonna be the face of the ITG franchise? I mean, who are they gonna hang their hopes on to sell their products when John Tavares finally turns pro?

2004 Bowman DP&P

I just tore into my box of 2004 Bowman DP&P Baseball and here are the highlights....

Robinson Cano
Jeff Mathis (Wonderful, Wonderful...)
Jeff Francis chrome
Huston Street
Gaby Hernandez
Dioner Navarro X-Fractor
Jeremy Reed Gold
Kevin Youkilis (The Romanian/Jewish God of Walks)
Jeff Mathis Gold (Chances Are....)
BJ Upton
Delmon Young chrome

This is probably a good time to admit that I ALWAYS confuse BJ Upton and Delmon Young.

Willy Tavares Futures GU
Jeff Francis Gold
Billy Buckner
Matt Cain chrome
Van Pope (In Nomina Patri...)
Felix Hernandez chrome
Josh Fields
Joe Blanton Gold
Curtis Thigpen chrome
Kurt Suzuki chrome
Jeff Francis
Greg Golson x-fractor (Mr. Golson was nice enough to sign the card!)
Curtis Thigpen Gold
Nathan Phillips chrome
Dioner Navarro Gold
Matt Cain
Justin Morneau
Josh Fields chrome
Felix Pie chrome
Willy Tavares Gold
Felix Pie Gold
J.A. Happ
Humberto Quintero Gold
Yusmeiro Petit
Jonathan Tierce Gold
Colin Balester (not to be confused with Brian Bannister)
Kurt Suzuki
Alex Rios chrome
Chad Tracy chrome
Adam Lind Gold

Not too bad...no Phil Hughes but some decent hits. I'll try to get to the other boxes sometime tonite. I will also be getting one of those all-in-one printer/scanner/fax/copier/cuisinart/iron lung devices in order to post pictures to the blog.

Surprise, Surprise

I just received a few older Bowman Baseball boxes as a late birthday gift from my sister. I guess 30+ years of psychological torture at her hand has finally paid off. I now have:

(1) 2004 Bowman DP&P
(1) 2005 Bowman DP&P
(1) 2006 Bowman
(1) 2006 Bowman DP&P

I'll open some later and post the highlights. I was just watching Selig and Fehr do their full-o-crap two step in front of Congress. I think I need a bath.

Shameless Plug Department...If you're going to be a regular reader of this blog you'd better get used to Shameless Plugs. From time to time I will plug stuff that I dig and hope like-minded emotionally damaged individuals feel the same way. Today's shameless plug is for:

The Boomer and Carton radio show.

These guys (QB Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton) do a morning sports/humor/chicks/guy stuff show on WFAN every morning here in the Big Apple. They are hilarious and I think they deserve a listen. Check out some of their antics at here.

Mixed Emotions

I guess this is one of those bad news/good news situations you hear about on the tv. The Rangers, my Rangers, got slapped around by the Pens last night 4-1. Malkin notched a hat trick and the Blueshirts played like they were coached by someone named Isiah. The good news part of the story is that Sid got 2 nice assists and now leads the entire Solar System in helpers. I collect Sid so naturally I'm happy when he adds to his already-lofty numbers. I also managed to grab a few packs of 2007 UD Black Diamond Hockey cards this weekend and I busted them during the Ranger game. The only decent card for the PC was a quad diamond Messier. Honestly, I never understood the allure of Black Diamond, I don't care for it much as a product (Ok, I did pull a Malkin rc and a ruby Ovechkin out of last year's edition but I was much younger and impressionable back then) and I still don't get the whole single, double, triple and quad diamond nonsense. I got 6 boxes of SPX coming from my pal Chris at (yes kids, this is a plug) : Cardsinfinity. Chris is a great guy, has competitive prices and does some of the best box breaks on Youtube. I've always been a fan of SPX and I hope my luck with it continues. I also took a rather expensive shot on a box of 07 Bowman Sterling Baseball since the checklist didn't suck too bad.