2017 Panini Classics Football Cards

Picked up some of the 2017 Panini Classics football cards.  There were 10 cards in the pack and these aren't that expensive.  I always love retro but I have to admit other than the retired players that are featured there hasn't been much to this brand that really thrills me.  I do think they have a decent design but there is something about these cards that just don't do it for me.  My pull wasn't bad, highlighted by Ezekiel Elliott.  I do like the Super Bowl Heroes insert and wouldn't mind chasing that set.  Again the legends, which number 100 of the 300 card base set, are the attraction for me.  Good chance I'll grab more of these for that fact alone.  Otherwise I'd probably hold off.  This is definitely a personal choice and I think most folks might enjoy them more than me.   

 

2017 Topps Star Wars 40th Anniversary Trading Cards Hobby Box Plus Some

I love these cards!  I'd been looking forward to the Topps 40th Anniversary Trading Cards and they are great.  I used some birthday money some months back and grabbed a hobby box, a blaster, and single packs.  I was in heaven. 

 

This set covers it all - the movies, cartoons, video games, action figures, art, comic books, books, DVD/Blu-Ray releases, movie posters from around the world, toys.  What didn't they include? 

 

There are buybacks, medallions, autographs, film cells, stickers, parallels and more as inserts.

I pulled a Mike Quinn (Sy Snootles) autograph.  Not the sexiest of all the different autos you can grab but I'm not complaining. 

My favorites were movie poster cards.  There were posters from all the movies from around the world.  Most I'd never seen and really thought these were too cool. 

Having this set cover so many different aspects of the Star World universe is wonderful.  They all bring back so many memories and just make me geek out all over again.

These are some of my favorite card scenes.  The Darth Maul fight scene in Episode I is still my all-time favorite from the movies involving the Sith and Jedi.  The classic "I know" scene on Cloud City always bring a smile even if it wasn't under the best of circumstances.  I thought it had great visuals and was of course a pivotal part of the movie.  The arena fight on Geonosis was great in that it showed so many Jedi at one time fighting.  I still like going back and looking at this scene and researching the different Jedi who were featured. 

To be honest I can live without medallions...

The set was even able to inlclude scenes from The Force Awakens.

I'll definitely be working to collect the entire set.  This is by far my favorite card set from the Star Wars movies.  I'm already a huge fan and these are exactly what I've been waiting for - though I didn't really even know it.

 

 

2017 Topps Stadium Club

Picked up a few packs of the 2017 Topps Stadium Club baseball cards.  As always you get a little higher price tag, heavier stock, nice design, colorful back of the card, and great photography.  These came 12 to a pack priced at $5.98.  Again a little expensive for my taste but I'm rarely disappointed by this brand.  I enjoyed my pull as well grabbing a few Braves and Red Sox players to include Chipper Jones.  Randy Johnson and Andres Galarraga were the other retired players I grabbed.

  The inserts/parallels in the two packs I opened were a Scoreless Streak and Buster Posey Chrome Gold Minted parallel.  Not sure how many are made of each of the Chrome Gold Parallel but it is a nice looking card.  Overall I like the simple, unobtrusive design and great photographs.  The backs are also nice and colorful with a second photo different from the front.  I'll definitely look for singles from this set and I don't doubt I'll also pick up a few more packs in the coming months as these are some nice cards. 

 

War Machine Movie

War Machine is the 2017 Netflix movie that centers on General Glen McMahon who takes over the war in Afghanistan.  This is a satirical look at General Stanley McChrystal who took charge of the Afghan war in 2009.  Pitt’s character, while sincere in his belief that the war can be won, doesn’t always utilize great judgement.  McMahon and his staff try their best but it is a losing cause that is ultimately doomed when Rolling Stone is allowed to follow them for a story.  Laying out the details of their private conversations leads to McMahon’s firing.  This movie lays out all the issues leaders must deal with in the political and military minefields when navigating the different arenas .  Brad Pitt, Ben Kingsley (Afghanistan President) and the rest of the cast do a very good job.  The movie is enjoyable and while it is maybe not as based in comedy as you might be led to believe it still delivers an entertaining movie. 

Dunkirk Movie

Me and my pop watched Dunkirk last night.  Very good movie.  Based on real-world events, it follows efforts to evacuate 300,000 British Army personnel from France after it fell to the Germans.  The three phases of the operation, air, naval and ground, are followed giving you a good feel for what went into making it happen.  The plot and action are pretty straightforward in their presentation laying out the issues the British had in attempting to retrieve their soldiers while also looking at the real possibility that England itself could suffer the same fate as France. 

I am not sure how to describe it properly but this movie isn’t over acted.  They do act but the dialogue doesn’t get in the way of the story.  The action and actual situations are allowed to play out keeping up the suspense that seems to grow as the movie goes along.  Dunkirk has a different feel than most movies in a good way.  I think if the premise is something you think you might like you definitely go see this movie. 

2011 Topps Opening Day Baseball Hobby Box Break

I didn't reconnect with card collecting until late 2011 so I missed out on the 2011 Topps Baseball Opening Day Cards.  I did however get into the 2011 Topps Football cards, and those in fact were my first post on trading cards.  Over time I've come to like this design even more.  The photos on the cards are also first rate, a trait I've seen consistently with Topps cards.  This all led me to grab a hobby box for some fun.  The box had 36 packs with seven cards per pack.   

 I like the Opening Day cards due to the reduced checklist size as well as a good price point.  I know some don't care for them due to the lack of real hits but I like them. The memories are also a big part of boxes like this.  Seeing what players that were once big as compared to today or seeing players on different teams.  All part of the fun.  

There were plenty of inserts.  My favorites were the Superstar Celebrations and Presidential First Pitch cards.  These add a nice variety to the set as a whole.  I really enjoyed these cards and given the chance to get more I'll definitely do it.  It was fun to grab a box from the past that I've never been able to experience before.  Great stuff.

BREAKDOWN:
252 - Total Cards
9 - Superstar Celebrations
7 - Blue Parallels
6 - Topps Town
6 - Presidential First Pitch
6 - Spot the Error
5 - Opening Day Date Stamped
4 - Under the Lights
3 - Opening Day Stars (3D)

   

Paul George Traded to Oklahoma City Thunder

Paul George was traded this weekend to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis.  What a steal for the Thunder.  While it is doubtful George resigns with the Thunder, they didn’t really give up anything.  I like Oladipo but was surprised that he couldn’t average more than 15.9 points per game in an offense that lost Kevin Durant.  This was a perfect opportunity for him to step up and it didn’t happen.  Sabonis was a rookie last year who didn’t put up very good numbers (5.9 PPG/3.6 RPG 39% FG%) but is still young at 20 years old.  The Indiana Pacers were in a horrible spot and it was getting worse by the day.  Still, you had to think there was a better trade out there somewhere.  Hopefully Oladipo and Sabonis thrive in Indiana and it is a moot point. 

What does OKC get out of the deal?  Three things.  They show Russell Westbrook, a free agent after this season, they are working to make the team more competitive.  They have a better chance of resigning Paul George where they had a very slim chance of landing him in 2018 free agency before the trade.  And the Thunder mustbe viewed as the possible number two team in the Western Conference.  The Spurs have not done anything to get better, Houston did Chris Paul but Clippers are not expected to be as good next year.  You have to think a team with basically just Russel Westbrook that won 47 teams last year has a shot with George.  Are they are a threat to the Warriors?  No.  But if they could make it to the Conference Finals this would be a huge win.  A lot of basketball games between now and then and then they have to hope they can keep one or two of their superstars.  Still this was a very good trade for the Thunder.