Focus Rally America is the Pre-Kick show sponser. Whatever the hell that is.
OK the Super Bowl is getting pretty full of itself when it has Michael Douglas narrate a brief history of America and comparing err...JFK and MLK to the two QBS today? OK he didn't do that, but just about...
Deion got the most cheers in Dallas when the HOF 2011 class is announced. Big shock.
Coin toss goes to Green Bay who defers. OK, I guess it's that important now.
BTW Deion tossed it, Pittsburgh called Tails.
Kick off next
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Superbowl Pre-Kick Show - 10 minutes and counting
The Packers have won 12 league championships - 9 pre-Superbowl in 1929, 1930, 1931, 1936, 1939, 1944, 1961, 1962, 1965 and three Superbowls I, II and XXXI
The Steelers have won 6 league championships, all Superbowls in IX, X, XIII, XIV, XL, XLIII.
In 1943 the Steelers merged with the Philadelphia Eagles for a season during the height of WWII. They were known as the "Steagles".
The NFL trophy is named for the Packers legendary coach Vince Lombardi.
The Packers trace thier history back to 1919 (also coincidentally the year of founding of my Alma Mater UCLA)
The Steelers were founded in 1933 and are still owned by the same family.
The Packers are owned by the citizens of Green Bay Wisconsin. The cannot sell their shares for a profit, or something like that. The team will never move from Green Bay. They are the only publicly owned sports team in North America, and the only non-profit as well. Packers tickets are notoriously difficult to come by.
The Steelers have the fifth most members of the NFL Hall of Fame with 18, the Packers have the second most with 21.
Game times is a few minutes away.
The Steelers have won 6 league championships, all Superbowls in IX, X, XIII, XIV, XL, XLIII.
In 1943 the Steelers merged with the Philadelphia Eagles for a season during the height of WWII. They were known as the "Steagles".
The NFL trophy is named for the Packers legendary coach Vince Lombardi.
The Packers trace thier history back to 1919 (also coincidentally the year of founding of my Alma Mater UCLA)
The Steelers were founded in 1933 and are still owned by the same family.
The Packers are owned by the citizens of Green Bay Wisconsin. The cannot sell their shares for a profit, or something like that. The team will never move from Green Bay. They are the only publicly owned sports team in North America, and the only non-profit as well. Packers tickets are notoriously difficult to come by.
The Steelers have the fifth most members of the NFL Hall of Fame with 18, the Packers have the second most with 21.
Game times is a few minutes away.
Superbowl Pre-Kick Show
Wait, it's the what now Pre-Kick Show? Of course, Joe Buck and Troy Aikman are announcing, they are Fox's A-Team after all. I happen to really like Aikman, loved him as a Bruin, loved him as a Cowboy. Back when I was collecting FB cards I was proud to own Aikman's most expensive rookie card, his 1988 Score.
Joe Buck on the other hand annoys me to no end. When he does Baseball all he can talk about is the Yankees. When he does Football he has a rampant streak of homerism for whomever is the more popular team. I guarantee you that he'll be supporting whomever is in the lead, whereas Aikman will actually call the game.
Still they're better than Madden and Summerall. OK Aikman's better than Madden. Honestly, I'd rather hear Al Michaels today.
Oh yeah, Glee is on after the game. And of course, new Animation Domination shows. Since I have a buddy working on "The Cleveland Show" (Hi Doug!) I give it a shot every time. The new "Bob's Burgers" is just gawd awful though. Looking forward to Simpsons and the rest.
20 minutes until Kickoff.
Joe Buck on the other hand annoys me to no end. When he does Baseball all he can talk about is the Yankees. When he does Football he has a rampant streak of homerism for whomever is the more popular team. I guarantee you that he'll be supporting whomever is in the lead, whereas Aikman will actually call the game.
Still they're better than Madden and Summerall. OK Aikman's better than Madden. Honestly, I'd rather hear Al Michaels today.
Oh yeah, Glee is on after the game. And of course, new Animation Domination shows. Since I have a buddy working on "The Cleveland Show" (Hi Doug!) I give it a shot every time. The new "Bob's Burgers" is just gawd awful though. Looking forward to Simpsons and the rest.
20 minutes until Kickoff.
Superbowl Pre-Game Countdown: 30 minutes & counting
So I think perhaps the talking heads are done with their expert commentary. I thought Jimmie Johnson had the best analysis, as I often do. I like Strahan, but he doesn't have the same type of experience that Jimmie does.
I think it's really interesting that the NFL is doing the tribute to America thing, reading the Declaration of Independence with Americans from all over. I think it's rather salient at this time to remember why we are the country we are, especially with revolution ripe in other parts of the world. We as a people should remember those words, and those in Congress and in political power should also re-read the Constitution to remind them of what's important.
I believe in this country and I believe in the Constitution of these United States. I often find myself at odds with it's current leadership, whether it be Republican or Democrat. Still, I truly believe that we have the best form of Government world-wide, because we as individuals have a voice.
Sorry, enough prostelytizing. Damn, never could spell that word.
Nice montage though. I'll try to link it later, I'm sure the NFL will post it somewhere.
I think it's really interesting that the NFL is doing the tribute to America thing, reading the Declaration of Independence with Americans from all over. I think it's rather salient at this time to remember why we are the country we are, especially with revolution ripe in other parts of the world. We as a people should remember those words, and those in Congress and in political power should also re-read the Constitution to remind them of what's important.
I believe in this country and I believe in the Constitution of these United States. I often find myself at odds with it's current leadership, whether it be Republican or Democrat. Still, I truly believe that we have the best form of Government world-wide, because we as individuals have a voice.
Sorry, enough prostelytizing. Damn, never could spell that word.
Nice montage though. I'll try to link it later, I'm sure the NFL will post it somewhere.
Superbowl Pre-Game Countdown: 60 minutes & counting
Good Afternoon Football Fans - welcome to my annual Live-Blog of the big game. If you'd like to spend your time reviewing previous year's live-blogs by yours truly, just click the "Superbowl" link on the right side of the screen, that will show you the 2010 and 2009 iterations.
This year's matchup features the Packers versus the Steelers, which for all intents and purposes should be a good matchup. To me it's boring. I don't care about either team, and there's no compelling reason on either side for me to root for them. I can root against Pittsburgh because I frankly don't like the team. I respect them being an original member of the NFL, and I think the Rooneys are great owners, but I just don't like 'em. In 1995 I happened to be in Rochester New York for the AFC Championship game between my then-home town San Diego Chargers and the Steelers. We watched the game in a sports-bar we found, and I had brought some Chargers gear to wear. I was the only one wearing Chargers gear, the entire bar was against me, and while they were cordial, it was a rough day. Until the final play that is.
I also don't particularly care for Ben Rothelisberger. His off-field exploits far overshadow his actual playing ability, and I think he's just a system QB, rather than having any innate talent - other than not getting sacked. Put him on the Lions and they go nowhere. The fact that if he wins this year he'll have three rings and be a sure lock for the HOF is kind of annoying in the same way that it's annoying that Tom Brady with his three rings is a lock already. Yet another reason why having SB rings shouldn't really be that much of a consideration when it comes to HOF voting.
Speaking of which, while I'm happy for Marshall Faulk and ambivalent about Deion Sanders, I'm kind of pissed that Tim Brown hasn't gotten any more love from the HOF voters. Shannon Sharpe certainly deserves to be in as well, but since he played a majority of his career for the Broncos, who I hate with a passion, means I can't actually enjoy his entry.
I'm not going to really comment on the innanity of the talking-heads on the pre-game show, other than it's the same old BS that you get every Sunday in the morning before the games. I used to watch and care about these guys, especially since most of them are former players that I watched play. But sadly, I think that the actual level of intellectual commentary on the upcoming games has declined dramatically in the Fox Superbowl era. Yeah, I said it. Fox for all it's technological advancement is still trotting out the same old tired pre-game nonsense that hasn't flied for years. Having Terry Bradshaw interview Ben Rothelisberger is not a big innovation, it's a foregone conclusion. Let's see if he actually owns up to his behavior or if he just wants to discuss the game. Bradshaw isn't a hard-hitting interviewer either.
Hey that Priest movie looks good in a B-movie kind of way
This year's matchup features the Packers versus the Steelers, which for all intents and purposes should be a good matchup. To me it's boring. I don't care about either team, and there's no compelling reason on either side for me to root for them. I can root against Pittsburgh because I frankly don't like the team. I respect them being an original member of the NFL, and I think the Rooneys are great owners, but I just don't like 'em. In 1995 I happened to be in Rochester New York for the AFC Championship game between my then-home town San Diego Chargers and the Steelers. We watched the game in a sports-bar we found, and I had brought some Chargers gear to wear. I was the only one wearing Chargers gear, the entire bar was against me, and while they were cordial, it was a rough day. Until the final play that is.
I also don't particularly care for Ben Rothelisberger. His off-field exploits far overshadow his actual playing ability, and I think he's just a system QB, rather than having any innate talent - other than not getting sacked. Put him on the Lions and they go nowhere. The fact that if he wins this year he'll have three rings and be a sure lock for the HOF is kind of annoying in the same way that it's annoying that Tom Brady with his three rings is a lock already. Yet another reason why having SB rings shouldn't really be that much of a consideration when it comes to HOF voting.
Speaking of which, while I'm happy for Marshall Faulk and ambivalent about Deion Sanders, I'm kind of pissed that Tim Brown hasn't gotten any more love from the HOF voters. Shannon Sharpe certainly deserves to be in as well, but since he played a majority of his career for the Broncos, who I hate with a passion, means I can't actually enjoy his entry.
I'm not going to really comment on the innanity of the talking-heads on the pre-game show, other than it's the same old BS that you get every Sunday in the morning before the games. I used to watch and care about these guys, especially since most of them are former players that I watched play. But sadly, I think that the actual level of intellectual commentary on the upcoming games has declined dramatically in the Fox Superbowl era. Yeah, I said it. Fox for all it's technological advancement is still trotting out the same old tired pre-game nonsense that hasn't flied for years. Having Terry Bradshaw interview Ben Rothelisberger is not a big innovation, it's a foregone conclusion. Let's see if he actually owns up to his behavior or if he just wants to discuss the game. Bradshaw isn't a hard-hitting interviewer either.
Hey that Priest movie looks good in a B-movie kind of way
Superbowl Live-Blogging & Centsports Betting
Shall commence sometime between 2 pm and 3 pm PST. I'm not watching the marathon of pre-game show because, let's face it, it's pretty darn boring.
But I'll probably break down after the 2 o'clock hour and turn it on.
No party for me, I'm not involved in either team enough to care. I'm staying home, in fact I'll be retiring to the bedroom to watch the game on my 46" Plasma that was a gift from a departed neighbor.
In the mean time, I can tell you that my Centsports is up to over $2 thanks to some nice bets I made recently. I managed to hit a 2 game parlay on Thursday betting on the Heat as 1 point favorites over the Magic, and taking 3 on the Spurs over the Lakers. Whenever the line is that weird, I'm taking it.
As for my Cent bets on the big game today, I've got 1.40 on the Steelers on the money line (for a $2.50 win!) and a 90 cent 2 line parlay with on the Steelers at +3 and the Under of 45. If I win the second bet I stand to get about $3.00. I have no idea why or how the Packers are the favorite, but I'm going to ride the Steelers because let's face it, the Steelers are the glamour pick.
I LOST my two Cent bets on MMA last night, proving I have NO IDEA what I'm doing over there. I bet Vitor over Anderson Silva. That was a HUGE mistake. Have you SEEN that kick? No?
Here:
It's at 6:50 of that video. Never seen ANYTHING like that before.
I also lost a few cents on Rich Franklin vs. Forest Griffin. Big deal. Good card though.
OK catch you all in a little while.
But I'll probably break down after the 2 o'clock hour and turn it on.
No party for me, I'm not involved in either team enough to care. I'm staying home, in fact I'll be retiring to the bedroom to watch the game on my 46" Plasma that was a gift from a departed neighbor.
In the mean time, I can tell you that my Centsports is up to over $2 thanks to some nice bets I made recently. I managed to hit a 2 game parlay on Thursday betting on the Heat as 1 point favorites over the Magic, and taking 3 on the Spurs over the Lakers. Whenever the line is that weird, I'm taking it.
As for my Cent bets on the big game today, I've got 1.40 on the Steelers on the money line (for a $2.50 win!) and a 90 cent 2 line parlay with on the Steelers at +3 and the Under of 45. If I win the second bet I stand to get about $3.00. I have no idea why or how the Packers are the favorite, but I'm going to ride the Steelers because let's face it, the Steelers are the glamour pick.
I LOST my two Cent bets on MMA last night, proving I have NO IDEA what I'm doing over there. I bet Vitor over Anderson Silva. That was a HUGE mistake. Have you SEEN that kick? No?
Here:
It's at 6:50 of that video. Never seen ANYTHING like that before.
I also lost a few cents on Rich Franklin vs. Forest Griffin. Big deal. Good card though.
OK catch you all in a little while.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Topps 2011 Part 3 - Hobby vs. Retail
HOBBY Reflections
Being that I titled this blog "The Budget Collector" perhaps I should include some budget or economic based posts? Yes, I think I should.
Yesterday I picked up my first 2011 Topps cards at Target, as you may recall I bought a single rack and a single retail pack, a total of 48 cards or the equivalent to 4 retail packs of 12 cards each. For that I paid $7.66 or just under 16 cents a card. Today I checked out my friendly local hobby store, Beverly Hills Sports Cards and bought 4 packs of Hobby from a brand new box. The cost was $13.17 after tax for 40 cards or 32 cents a card. Obviously right off the top you're paying double per card, and that's not a smart thing at all.
So if I'm paying twice as much per card, shouldn't I get some good cards? Well, yes and no. See what you're really paying for is the CHANCE to get better cards. When you look at the odds listed on the pack though, you find something very, very interesting: unless you're a big sucker for long-odds high end pulls, retail is actually a better buy. Certainly there are cards in Hobby that don't exist at Retail, specifically Silk, Black and Press-Plate parallels, the manufactured gloves and most of the autos and relics are only found in Hobby. However, the easiest of those to pull are the black paralles at 1:100 packs!
The odds on the standard non relic/auto inserts are virtually identical in hobby and retail. Gold parallels are half as easy to pull at 1:8 in hobby vs. 1:17 at retail. Something really odd happens though to the remainder of the auto/relic sets, they are actually EASIER to pull at retail rather than hobby. That's awfully strange, but true. Example: A Diamond Duos relic is 1:12,500 at hobby and 1:10,500 at retail. The 60th Anniversary Reprint Auto set falls at 1:13,200 retail and a whopping 1:14.750 at retail. The 60 for 60 redempions are 1:150,000 at retail and 1:167,000 at hobby. Again, long odds, but significantly less at retail.
Bottom line here, if you're looking to build the set and want most of the low end inserts, go with retail. If you're actually try to get hits, well, I think you should really look for a different set, other than the flagship.
So let's take a look at exactly what I got for my $20+ "investment" in 2011 Topps shall we?
Hobby/Retail
Base 28/37
Topps town 4/ 2
Topps 60 2 / 2
Gold 2 / 1
60 Years of Topps 1 / 2
Diamond Ann 1 / 1
Diamond Duos 1 / 1
History of Topps 1 / 0
Kimball Champions 0 / 1
Vintage Repro 0 / 1
Total Inserts: 12 / 11
OVERALL:
Total Cards 88
Base 65
Total Inserts: 23
--------------------
Topps Town 6
Topps 60 4
Gold 3
60 Years of Topps 3
Diamond Ann 2
Diamond Duos 2
History of Topps 1
Kimball Champions 1
Vintage Repro 1
So far the best two cards I've pulled were the Jeter Mini and the Topps History with Eisner. Yuck. Honestly, I'd just as soon pull more of these:
Honestly, I'm paying a bit more than 25 cents a card here, and besides putting together a set, which I attempt and fail at every year, I'd be better off buying singles rather than packs, but I'm just so addicted to opening packs. It's a problem I tells ya.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)