When 2016 Topps was released a few short weeks ago I said I was just going to buy a team set and be done with it. Well I did follow through on that...
...and how depressing it is. This reminds me of no more Cameron Maybin. No more Andrelton Simmons. No more Shelby Miller. Dang. Well hopefully Matt Wisler's arm will continue to improve, Freddie can come back to his old form, Nick's neck should be healthier now so I expect good things out of right field and maybe, just maybe Grilli will be able to bounce back from his season ending injury from last year.
I'm really not sure what to expect from the Braves in 2016, but at least I've got a great looking 2016 Topps base set to keep me occupied.
During my break from baseball, I took the time to get some of the sets I'm still actively building organized, want lists updated and cards finally put in a binder. It was also during this time that I made a few small trades, which was fun. I really would like to do more of that again as I love helping others with their collection needs. I've got some ideas, but I'll save those for another post.
One of the trades I made was with Jeff of 2x3 Heroes. Surprisingly enough I didn't have his great blog on my blogroll originally. I believe he found my blog through someone else's, anyhow after the trade was completed I've come home to two small packages from Jeff!
I've been able to knock off several base cards from my 2015 Topps Gypsy Queen want list and a few off my 2015 Topps Allen & Ginter want list as well. Good thing too as the 2016 baseball card season is finally underway. In addition to a few cards from my want lists, Jeff also slid in a few Braves cards I didn't have!
Any day I get a new John Smoltz card is a good day in my book! I can't think Jeff from 2x3 Heroes enough for his generosity and for helping fill in a few holes in those sets. I owe you one big time!
It's been a wild ride this season, that is for sure! When the Panthers lost their #1 WR, Kelvin Benjamin in the pre-season many fans and critics alike discounted the Panthers chance at doing anything this season. Who was Cam Newton going to pass the ball to? Was the team going to rush out and sign a big name wide receiver?
Earlier this week Cam's father, Cecil, joined the local sports talk show set up on radio row out in San Jose, CA. Cecil told the guys that when Kelvin went down, Cam calmly told his father as well as his coach (Ron Rivera) and the front office staff (GM Dave Gettleman) that their answer was already there in the locker room.
Thanks in part to the team playing like a team, Cam was able to have his best season as a pro in the NFL. In his 5th year out of Auburn, Cam went on to rack up 35 passing TDs and added 10 more rushing TDs. He threw for 3,837 years with 10 interceptions. His Quarterback rating for the season was an impressive 99.4%.
However it's not all about stats and it's not all about an individual award. Cam knows he is only successful when the team is successful. Cam has grown up a lot in front of my eyes since joining the team five years ago. He carries himself in a way that I envy. What I mean by that is that he catches a lot of flak. He is a very polarizing player. I have much sports hate for Tom Brady...but that's because the guy is a good QB. A lot of people just seem to have hate for Cam Newton. I don't know what it is and why people seem to be so hateful towards him, but Cam just brushes it off and continues about his business...winning football games.
It's been a great year for Cam and the rest of the Carolina Panthers. I'm so excited about him winning the MVP award, but of course the season isn't over. There is still one game yet to be played. Until then however let's let Neil Diamond take us home...
It's been over a week and a half since the Carolina Panthers knocked off the Arizona Cardinals to win the NFC Championship game...and I still have a hard time believing my team is playing in the Super Bowl this weekend.
Man, where do I even start? It's been a fun and wild ride through the 2015 NFL season. To think back to how our season began, losing WR Kelvin Benjamin before the 1st game, no one thought this team would be this good. I believe however one of the things that sets this team apart from other NFL teams is their heart and their teamwork. I know it sounds cliche to say "let's win this for the team", but all season long these guys have been there for one another. The next man up mentality has never been truer, especially with the late season injuries to Charles "Peanut" Tillman, Bene Benwikere, Jaren Allen and a host of other guys.
Even the rookies have stepped up and added something to this team. The image above is the 2015 Topps Chrome team set, but this really doesn't do this team justice. Where's Thomas Davis?! Roman Harper, Kurt Coleman, Ted Ginn Jr., Jericho Cotchery, Jared Allen?
All long this Panthers fan has had to listen to the critics and the media downplay this team. Even though the team kept winning all I heard is "who have they played?". When they beat Seattle and Green Bay, it was "oh, those teams were going through a slump" or "those teams aren't that good this year". With the exception of the one game in Atlanta against the dirty birds, this team has overcome all odds and come out with the victory.
Needless to say I'm on cloud 9 and I can't wait for this weekend. It ought be a good game and my prediction for the night will be by the time the game is over, this song will be played all through out the Carolinas...
It's been awhile since I've played the redemption waiting game w/ Topps, but here I stand on the threshold of entering a new code. I've held true (for the most part) about staying away from baseball posts during this off season, so this redemption isn't for the latest Braves auto or relic...nope it's for my first WWE auto in quite some time.
While I'm not the biggest WWE fan or collector in the world, professional wrasslin' has been a guilty pleasure of mine since I was a little. I have many fond memories of going to my grandfather's house for the annual WCW StarCade PPV. This Neville kid reminds me of the older style wrestlers in some ways so it's pretty cool that this redemption card turned up to be for a card of his.
So let the waiting commence! Code has been entered as of this evening. How long will it take? Will I even get the card I'm supposed to? Perhaps I should put up the little "Redemption Card Watch" gadget on the sidebar?
