Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thorzul Rules Thanksgiving, or something like that

I received my take from the Thorzul break of Topps Finest.  I selected the Indians (of course) and was paired up with Diamondbacks:

 First up is Rich Rundles. 

Next up is a Blue Stephen Drew serially numbered 039/399!

Oh, yeah! Homegrown Cliff Lee!  He and his wife just donated a cool million bucks to the Arkansas Children's Hospital the other day.

How about some Grady Sizemore? Nice!

And lastly, Justin Upton.

I hope everyone out there has a WONDERFUL holiday season! 

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Turfdiggers Tuesday - D.U.S.T.E.D. I got Dusted

For a brief moment, that is at sometime late on Sunday, it looked like the Turfdiggers had a chance.  That completely disappeared when Phillip Rivers dominated on Monday night, scoring 29.96 fantasy points alone. The Turfdiggers never saw what hit them as they fell 106.66 to 75.61 against the Red Grange Halls.

The managing problems continue for the team.  Shiancoe scored just .30 points.  Brandon Marshall had 2.05 points.  Felix Jones, just 2.30.  On the bench, Woodhead scored 10.50 and Cooley had 4.55 points.  As it turns out, none of that mattered, really, in the loss due to the Grange Halls' incredible performance.  As NFL head coaches are getting fired for bad performance, all I can say is that I'm lucky this is Fantasy Football!

There were some highlights on the Turfdiggers (at least as far as the team is concerned), such as Michael Vick's 12.86, Santana Moss' 11.30 and Mike Williams' 8.70 points.  The shakeup that helped pull of a victory last week just wasn't enough again the league-leading team this week. 

The Turfdiggers and the Foxhounds are now both 4-7-0.  Next week, the team faces the second place Florida Vikings.  With only 6 games left in the regular fantasy season, the guys could theoretically still pull off a first place finish.  I wouldn't bet on that one.  What could actually happen, though?  Well, we could at least make the playoffs.  Here's hoping, but not holding my breath.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

2010 Bowman Chrome Break Take

A little while ago, "A Cardboard Problem" held a case break (or maybe it was a box break, I can't remember)  and these are the cards I received:

First up, we have thre checklist cards.  When I was a kid, my friends and I would trade based on the names on the checklist.  If the checklist had star players, it was 'worth' more in a trade.  Looking back, it was a rather idiotic way to trade for cards, but it worked for us.  We were kids, remember, and back then we had no real perception of 'value' other than by the fame of the player listed. 

Now, here we have two great Tribers and one that could become a great Triber (assuming he's still with the club), even though he was involved with the Lee deal to Philly.  I'm not saying he had anything to do with it, just saying he was involved.

Jordan Brown has the unfortunate situation in that he shares his name with a 12-year old boy who was arrested for killing his father's finacee'. Aside from that, he played in 88 games last year and finished with a .230 average.  The card is a serially numbered Topps 100 and is oh so shiny!

There were a LOT of duplicates of these guys in the break.  That's good news for fellow Tribecards fans that will be getting a little something extra in their stockings this year from yours truly.

Everyone that took part in the break got one of the USA cards (er, so I believe).  I also managed to snag a REDEMPTION card!  I cashed it in and should be receiving my auto'd card in... 12-to-15 weeks.  Wow.  That puts it arriving roughly... February 2011.  I hope I remember where I got it when it comes then!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Turfdiggers Tuesday

The Turfdiggers received a much-needed win this week, thanks to the acquisition of one Michael Vick! He single-handedly brought 46.66 points to the team. The Steelers defense were so bad this past week, they actually netted a -1.00. Yes, there is a MINUS sign there.

So, How did the team do?

QB Michael Vick (Phi - QB) - 46.66
WR Mike Williams (TB - WR) - 3.40
WR Brandon Marshall (Mia - WR) - 1.70
RB Danny Woodhead (NE - WR,RB) - 1.65
RB LeGarrette Blount (TB - RB) - 10.55
TE Visanthe Shiancoe (Min - TE) - 1.45
W/R Santana Moss (Was - WR) - 1.40
K Matt Bryant (Atl - K) - 10.00
DEF Pittsburgh (Pit - DEF) - -1.00
Total - 75.81

The biggest mistake I made this week was benching Felix Jones. That was more than 12 points I would have had. Steve Smith also had the best WR score on my team, and he was sitting on the bench. As I mentioned, Vick's record-setting game helped save my team and bring the Turfdiggers a MUCH-desired win for the week.

With the win, the team sits in 6th place with a record of 4-6-0, just 50 points ahead of the Fighting Foxhounds.

Next week, the Turfdiggers face the first-place Red Grange Halls. Well, at least I managed to get a win in before that. I don't hold out much hope, but you never know!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

In Honor of Those Who Serve

I had a bunch of 1991 ProSet Desert Storm cards still in unopened packs, so I thought I would bust them open and post the cards that feature personnel serving in the military.  My father, grandfathers, and uncle served in the military during various times in their lives.  The last photo is honor of those that have fallen, remembered sometimes simply by the tags left behind.  I believe we should always remember those who serve and have served our country.  Thank You, Veterans!






Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Turfdiggers Tuesday - The Shake-up

After the literal flip of the coin for each player in the Turfdiggers roster, here is what happened:

Heads-Stays, Tails-Wails

Peyton Manning = TAILS = Michael Vick
Hines Ward = TAILS = Brandon Marshall
Steve Smith = HEADS
Rashard Mendenhall = TAILS = Danny Woodhead
Felix Jones = HEADS
Tony Gonzalez = TAILS = Visanthe Shiancoe
Darren McFadden = TAILS = Mike Williams
Santana Moss = HEADS
Chris Cooley = HEADS
Joseph Addai = HEADS
Kyle Orton = TAILS = Jay Cutler
Dexter McCluster = TAILS = LaGarrett Blount
Mason Crosby = HEADS
San Diego - Def = TAILS = Matt Bryant (K)

Yes, you read that correctly.  If the coin came up TAILS, the player was unceremoniously let go.  The replacement player was chosen based on % owned, injury report, and "gut feeling."  That's right, I played the draft card when the season started and for a while things looked pretty good.  Then the wheels fell off and it was time to do something.  Oh sure, I could have been more selective in my choices, but instead, I decided to let the "fantasy football fates fall" instead.

How will the shake-up affect things in the Super Secret League?  That's hard to say.  I imagine there will be a mad dash for the player list to snag up some of the guys I let go.  I mean, really, how does one NOT snag up Peyton Manning??

Now, I just wait and see how things go for the rest of the season with my newly assembled team - most players of whom I have never even heard.  Let the wild rumpus start!

Turfdiggers Tuesday - Oh, I'm Freeeee, Free Falling

I didn't even bother to post an update last week, that's how bad things are in the world of the Super Secret League.  The Turfdiggers are looking more like the Cowboys than the Steelers these days.  This week, we lost to the last-place team in the league. 

Like the Cowboys, the time has come for a Turfdiggers change.  I haven't made up my mind which players will find themselves on the chopping block, but no one on the team is safe.  Oh, I know, you're asking yourself which mathematical formulation contraption I'll be using to make the most well-informed selection for the team going forward, right?  Well, have no doubt!  I plan to use the most scientific formula ever used when deciding which direction to take.  Yeah, that's right. I'm flippin coins, people!

Sure, that might mean I drop Peyton (assuming I am allowed to - I can't remember which players I have that are on the 'cannot cut' list, if any).  No one on my team will be safe except for the Steelers defense.

The Turfdiggers are on a 6-game losing streak and stand with a record of 3-6-0, putting them in a 3-way tie for LAST PLACE.  In line with my recent Duke Nukem (computer game) obsession, it's like my team turned the jet pack off from the top of an open-area map.  SPLAT!

Once the new team is assembled, I'll update you with the roster.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Mojo Monday


Some time ago, Jonathan A. and I inked a deal to swap Nationals for Indians.  I received his cards some time ago, but have yet to post the great stuff he sent my way.  I'll get on that soon, I hope!  In the meantime, the featured card of the swap is the one above.  It's a 2009 UD Game Materials Jake Westbrook Jersey!  It's a great-looking card, and you can't tell from the pic, but the "M" is where the jersey swatch is located.

Awesome MOJO!  Thanks, Jonathan!