2015 Topps Valor Football Cards

Grabbed some of the 2015 Topps Valor Football cards earlier this month.  I always enjoy the Valor brand of football cards and this year is no different.  Each card has a prominent photo of the player against a smoky colored background in team colors.  The photos have an "art style" look to them.  I can't explain any better but hopefully by looking at them you'll get it.  There is also a nice prominent team logo at the bottom of the fronts.  There are plenty of subsets and I grabbed a Gridiron Warriors and Honor card.  These are very similar to the base cards.  The backs have a nice write-up as well the team logo, player information and some basic stats.  The photos and layout do it for me.   They are just good looking combined with the team colors.  Price point on these are a bit high which has always bummed me out but I guess that is what you get with a "higher end" set.  Again great looking cards which I highly recommend.   

Star Wars: The Force Awakens **Spoilers Included**

**MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD**I've seen it.  Twice.  Like many Star Wars fan boys and girls I've been waiting for this movie for a very long time and I loved it.  This movie had the look and feel of the original trilogy and I thought the storyline was very good even if it did parallel the Star Wars: A New Hope a bit too closely.  Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a great movie.  Many if not all of the major plot points were talked about or written about prior to the movie but nothing was ever known for certain which was great in itself. 

The movie really was Han Solo's movie.  We all knew he was in it but given Harrison Ford's lack of love for the franchise I really expected his part to be a somewhat smaller than what we actually see.  I was pleasantly surprised to see he was featured so prominently  Rey, the female lead and scavenger links up with Finn, an ex-stormtrooper, who while abandoning his life in the First Order saved the best pilot of the Rebellion.  Rey has also has the droid, BB-8, with the map to Luke Skywalker who has gone into seclusion after one of his padawans goes to the dark side.   They must deliver the droid to the Rebellion.  As they escape the First Order they link up with Han and Chewie. 

Han and Chewie decide to drop Rey and Fin somewhere they can make it back to the rebellion.  After being attacked by the First Order and Sith bad guy Kylo Ren, Han talks to Leia when the rebellion saves the day.  During the attack Rey is taken by Ren and the First Order.  Here it is also revealed that Kylo Ren is Han and Leia's son.  From there the rebellion makes plans to destroy the First Orders planet destroying weapon the Starkiller Base which is built into a planet.

Han, Chewy,  and Finn head off to the Starkiller Base to make sure the shields are down to allow the rebellion fighters to destroy the weapon.  Finn's main goal was actually to save Rey who has already escaped as she figures out she has force powers.  They are able to lower the shields and now altogether look at helping blow up the weapon.  As they are setting charges to do the job Han sees his son Kylo Ren.  Leia had asked Han to bring their son home and Han talks to Kylo Ren hoping to do just that.  Han uses Ren's real name, Ben, when he speaks to him.  It looks as though Kylo Ren might just turn away from the dark side when he ignites his light saber, which he had been handing to Han, and kills Han Solo.  Chewy then shoots Ren which injures him but does not kill him.

Chewy blows the charges and Ren and Finn escape.  A confrontation with Ren happens in the forrest.  Ren takes down Finn and Rey is able to get the lightsaber setting up the big fight.  Due to the planet falling apart neither Finn nor Kylo Ren die and Chewy saves the day rescuing Finn and Rey.  They return to the rebel base after Starkiller Base is destroyed.  BB-8 teams up with R2-D2 who has been in self imposed power down mode until now to combine maps to show the location of Luke Skywalker.  Rey, Chewy and R2 then go to find Luke which they do.  The final scene is Rey holding his lightsaber out to Luke atop a rocky island.  And there the movie ends.

I have definitely left out key plot points or scenes but that is the gist of the movie.  One big one is Supreme Leader Snoke.  He is the mysterious leader of the new order and apparent mentor to Kylo Ren.  He is only shown in holographic images as he speaks to Ren and First Order leadership.  There is still much to be explored.  Will Luke return and what will his role be?  Will he mentor Rey?  Will he actually be seen in fights?  Who is Rey's parents?  Many, many ways the next movie can go  I'm very curious where they take it.

Bottom line is I loved this movie.  Again it has the feel of what we grew up loving.  I'm not an Episodes I-III hater but this movie is what we all expected years ago but didn't get.  Lots of good things with movie with very few negatives.  You have to see this movie.  It is a great jumping on for Star Wars as we move forward and there are plenty of great characters (many of which I haven't mentioned).  The fact that J.J. Abrams won't be directing the next film worries me a little but this is a great foundation so hopefully whoever has the next movie will use this as their template.  Until then you have to go see this movie. 

Star Wars Black Series 6 Inch First Order Stormtrooper

I'm a Star Wars guy, a stormtrooper guy, and an action figure guy so the 6" Hasbro Black series of action figures are great.  That said I hadn't purchased one yet.  That was due to multiple factors but I finally had to do it no matter what havoc it reaped on my Christmas budget.  When I saw the 6" First Order Stormtrooper I couldn't say no.  I hadn't seen it anywhere before and had to have it.  I haven't been disappointed.  This is a great looking figure.  It has nice detail and articulation while the size allows it to really show well.  Again I really like stormtroopers and those from the new movie have a look I also really like.  So here are a few pictures of my figure in and out of the box.  Yes, I'm that guy who takes them out of the box but that is ok. Now I just need to pick up the original 6" stormtrooper and I'll be good. 

James Bond Spectre Movie

I've enjoyed Daniel Craig's turn as James Bond in the 007 movies.  This movie lives up to his past performances.  The movie is packed full of action which is what we've come to expect from a Daniel Craig 007.  None of the 007 movies will win an Oscar but they are entertaining.  That is never in doubt and that is normally why we go to movies.  I won't go into too much detail but will say they seem to tie up some plot points from previous movies.  Again a very enjoyable movie and if you like action movies I think you will like this one. 

Kansas City Royals World Series Champions

The Kansas City Royals defeated the New York Mets in the World Series four games to one.  I was wrong about this one.  The "little engine that could" that is the Royals offense was able to overcome what I thought would be pitching too good to beat.  KC scored 27 runs in the five games while their pitching staff had a 2.94 ERA easily bettering that of the Mets (4.21).  I thought Johnny Cueto's complete game win in game two was the key.  The 2-0 lead really made me think they wouldn't lose this series as I couldn't see the Mets winning all three in New York.  The comeback in game six to tie the game in the ninth before winning the series in the twelfth can't be overlooked as well.  The hitters for Kansas City just never stopped and had timely hits that the New York offense couldn't match.  I love that the Royals won.  They are a small market team whose fan base has had to suffer for a very long time.  Great win for the team and their fans. 

2015-2016 Atlanta Hawks Preview

The Atlanta Hawks won 60 games last year which is a great season by any standard.  Still they slowed some down the stretch (Milsap's injury didn't help) and were vulnerable in the playoffs (even before the Korver and Carroll injuries).  It really made me wonder if this team can make it as a true contender.  So I was excited to see what the team would do going into the off season.  And I left truly disappointed.  DeMarre Carroll left via free agency and the major acquisitions were Tim Hardaway Jr., Justin Holiday, and Tiago Splitter.  While they may be nice additions they aren't game changers.  And much of them being nice additions depends on how they hopefully get better this year while fitting into the Hawks' scheme. 

Jeff Teague once again anchors the team at point guard.  He is steady and one of the better point guards who can give you points when you need it.  Dennis Schroder is a good backup who shows flashes of brilliance but his jump shot is iffy.  Kyle Korver will return as the three-point shooter who helps set it all up.  I'd still like to see his output increase (12.1 PPG last season) but there is some truth that he helps the system by making teams guard him close why making them pay with his outside shot when they don't.  Kent Bazemore is a decent backup but don't expect anything fancy from him. 

Thabo Sefolosha will try to replace Carroll which will be near impossible to do.  He is very good defensively but isn't as good a scorer.   Hardaway Jr. and Holiday will also get minutes at small forward.  Atlanta is really hoping a change of scenery does Hardaway some good and he can up his shooting from the three point line.  Milsap should be good for 16 points and 7.8 boards a game again this year.  His passing in coach Mike Budenholzer's system is almost as important as the other stats he puts up.  I've never been a huge Milsap guy but I have to admit he works in this system well.

Al Horford is back to be the big man.  Like we say every year he is an undersized guy playing center but does a great job of doing just that.  He can be as good as any on his best nights.  I know it is too early to be thinking about this but I worry about whether or not Atlanta will be able to resign him at the end of this year.  I'd hate to see him go. Tiago Splitter will spell Horford and will also log minutes at power forward.  Coming from the Spurs one would hope he can adjust quickly to his new team. 

This is a good team but Atlanta really didn't make any impact moves leaving the Carroll departure as the biggest thing to affect the lineup.  Can Sefolosha or someone else step up and fill that whole?  I'm not sure.  I think Atlanta is good when firing on all cylinders.  Last year worked but now that Carroll is gone how big a deal will that be?  Budenholzer will have to figure that out moving forward. I think 50 wins is doable for the Hawks and maybe, just maybe they can get back to the conference finals.  Believe me I am hoping. 

These new Hawks uniforms are horrible!

2015-2016 Portland Trail Blazers Preview

I think the picture of Damian Lillard is appropriate for this since he is about all they have left from the 51 win season of last year.  Gone are starters LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, Wes Matthews and Robin Lopez.  Wow.  Replacing them are miscellaneous players the front office has been able to gather up.  Lillard will anchor the point guard spot and with all the departures I think he can increase his scoring output.  After that it gets shaky. CJ McCollum has the edge over new guy Gerald Henderson at shooting guard.  McCollum actually has upside but isn't the shooter that Matthews was.  Keeping that theme, we'll see Al Farouq-Aminu and Alan Crabbe compete for minutes at the small forward sort.  Neither is proven and will be hard pressed to fill Batum's shoes.  At power forward Ed Davis looks to be the guy and I think he can develop into a nice player but I'm not sure how effective a scorer he'll become.  Mason Plumlee, Myers Leonard and Chris Kaman will be the centers.  Again many questions at a position that will have to be answered once the season starts.  I hope Plumlee can be the guy many think he will.  We haven't seen it yet but who knows what can happen once he is actually starting.  Way too many question marks to make me think this team is a playoff contender.  I am thinking 35 wins.  I sure hope I am wrong but only time will tell.