Random Wax: 2018-2019 Donruss Basketball

2018-2019 Donruss Basketball:  A set I enjoy this is always an easy one pack to pick up when I see them.  This one is headlined by LeBron James who has another super weapon next to him this year in Anthony Davis.  I'm definitely curious to see how the Lakers look this year.

The Beard and Dwyane Wade are two more big names from the pack while Og Anunoby was a part of the the Champion Toronto Raptors.

Inserts are a nice part of this set.  Here I find my lone Atlanta Hawk and KAT on an insert card.  The Rookie Kings design isn't my favorite I'll admit but it is an orange parallel #/125.

More big names here help this pack.  Joel Embiid is one of the premier big men in the league while Marc Gasol won a championship in Toronto last year after being traded by the Grizzlies.  Blake Griffin is a beast.  He is so athletic and is now shooting threes like nobodies business.  On seven attempts per game last year he hit 36% of his shots from behind the arc.  I really hope he can stay healthy which has always been the big concern with him.

Another fun pack of this brand.  Plenty of star power and a fun design.  I will rarely hesitate to pick these up when the opportunity arises.

BREAKDOWN:

30 – Total Cards
6 – Rated Rookie
1 – Court Kings
1 – Fantasy Stars
1 – Rookie Kings Press Proof Orange #/125

The Babysitter Movie Review

The Babysitter (2017):  The Babysitter is movie in the slasher/horror genre and deserves a look as we get closer to Halloween.  Originally planned for a theater release Netflix picked this up and released it in 2017.  I really like this movie.  I've seen it a few times and it does a great job of not taking itself too seriously, making you smile and cringe all within the same minute.  Samara Weaving plays a babysitter who has some ghoulish secrets unbeknownst to Cole who she is babysitting.  If you are looking for something along these lines this month give it a try.  The trailer is here and gives you a good idea of what to expect.  And man do I wish I had had a babysitter like her growing up...just saying...

2019 Bowman Platinum

2019 Bowman Platinum Baseball:  Shiny cards don't do much for me.  These aren't like the Chrome brand which is why I grabbed a pack.  Not over the top shiny.  Overall the design is OK but no logo is a mistake.  This is a a Wal-Mart exclusive sold in stores and online.  Just a bit boring honestly.  The design is a big departure from last year's and you do get more cards per pack. 

There's a mix of veterans, young players and prospects.  Many of the prospects are still hit and miss at this point in their career but that's what Bowman is about.

The backs are fine though not special.  RC cards are a part of these as well as inserts though this Prismatic Prodigies is the only insert I pulled.

These are Top Prospect cards.  They have different numbering than the base cards but some have mentioned them as an extension of the base set.  I won't pick up more of these cards but I'm sure they will appeal to others.

BREAKDOWN:

12 – Total Cards
4 – Top Prospects
2 - RC
1 – Prismatic Prodigies

2019 Absolute Football

2019 Absolute Football:  This is my first look at these cards and I think I like them.  I will say I'm not a fan of the price point - you only get 20 cards in these packs.  Still the unique football strings incorporated into the design is a nice touch and I like how the logos are placed.  The photos are also pretty good.  Tom "Terrific" is a great way to lead this pack off.  

 Barry Sanders!  Nice appearance of one of the true all-time greats.  Wish the photo took up a little more of that card but I'm still digging it.  I like the photos on the Julio and JuJu photos.  

The backs are fine though the fine print is small.  This is the first Absolute set that shows the background in photos as opposed to some type of decorated background.  I could be wrong as my experience with this brand only goes back to 2014.  

I'm normally not a fan of backgrounds being muted but it does make these rookie cards stand out from the veteran base cards.  Their names are also displayed normally as opposed to veteran cards - first last.  How about the new NFL hotness Gardner Minshew II?

There are other inserts I didn't pull so there is more to this set.  Overall I do like these cards but wish there were more per pack.  I'll probably revisit this set again at some point though.

BREAKDOWN:

20 – Total Cards

9 – RC
3 – Green Parallel
1 – NFL Icons
1 – Team Trios

2019-2020 Upper Deck MVP Hockey

This 2019-2020 Upper Deck MVP Hockey pack seems a good way to start the weekend with hockey now in full swing.  As with all hockey posts I caveat this with the fact that I'm not the biggest hockey fan but I do like the game and just don't have the time in my sports fandom.  That said I watched quite a bit of the playoffs as the local team, the St. Louis Blues, made their magical run to their first NHL title.  I count the Flames and Bruins as the teams I follow.  The Colton Parayko card seems a fitting way to kick off the post. 

 The Boston Bruins were well represented with four cards including the only Rookie card in the pack.

I'm disappointed by the lack of a team logo on the fronts which are OK but not overly special.  The MVP logo takes up a bit too much space for my liking.  So I'm OK with the design and cards but nothing more.  The backs are fine but it seems like the stats could have taken up more of the card with a larger font or format.  The Dylan Larkin card is a puzzle card parallel with part of a puzzle being on the back of the card.  Each puzzle parallel is part of a nine-piece player puzzle with there being many different puzzles of NHL players.

Some goalie love.

The photos don't stand out like they normally do in Upper Deck's flagship hockey sets.  I feel like I'm basically looking at the same photo with only the player changing on each card.

I won't search out any more packs from this set but I am looking forward to the flagship release which will come the first week of November. 

BREAKDOWN:

34 – Total Cards
1 - Rookie
1 – Puzzle Back Parallel

The Game by Ken Dryden

The Game by Ken Dryden is widely considered the best hockey book of all-time as well as one of the greatest sports books of all time.  I'd seen the book come up over and over on those lists and when the 30th anniversary edition was released I jumped on it.  First and foremost it really is a good book.  I get why it's at the top or near the top of all those lists.  That said Ken Dryden is a mega smart dude and it shows in his writing.  For me while it was a fun read it was a tough read.  He puts a lot of thought into the different situations and those thoughts are put on paper.  I think hockey fans would really enjoy this book but the more casual fan like myself may would like the book but maybe not get the same enjoyment out of it.  Again this book is very well written and I think it deserves all the accolades it gets.  

By the way Ken Dryden is a six-time Stanley Cup Champion as a goaltender for the Montreal Canadians.  He's a member of the Hall of Fame as well as multiple NHL award winner.  His off the ice accomplishments are too numerous to go into but he was just as accomplished in his non-sporting life.  Tonight the 2019-2020 NHL season kicks off what better way to kick off the season that revisiting Brett Hull's rendition of Gloria at the St. Louis Blues' championship parade. 

   

Random Wax: 2018 Topps Update Blaster - The Chase for Acuna

Happy baseball playoff day!  This 2018 Topps Update blaster didn't yield a Ronald Acuna Jr. card but it was still fun.  These boxes are going for $50+ on eBay so I wrestled with what to do with this blaster when I found it for $20.  Well as one who loves the chase it wasn't a hard decision to bust this one.  I didn't score the big one but a Mike Trout and some other cool cards definitely help.

  I love me some All-Star Game cards and this one had plenty including Ozzie Albies who was really good last year had an even better year this year to help the Braves when the division for a second year in a row.

These are pretty cool cards.  While these showcase Hall of Famers there are current players including Buster Posey, who I also pulled, on these.

A couple of guys who debuted last year and have had great years for their respective teams this year.

Guys in their new unis are always big part of this set.

I'm a big Legends in the Making insert fan.  Gerrit Cole really seems to personify this set.  I think this is my first look at the Don't Blink inserts.

More youngsters with Shane Bieber having a really good year this year.  

These are the Rookie Combos and Veteran Combos cards.

That A-Rod card is a Topps Salute insert.  I like seeing him in a Rangers uni though I know Rangers fans probably aren't fond of his time there.

Rainbow Foil, Storybook Endings and Gold Parallel (#/2018).

I'm a Billy Hamilton guy and I was happy to see him picked up by the Braves after his release by the Royals.  He has played well for them as they navigated some outfield injuries late in the year.  Fun box even if I didn't get the big fish and a fun way to kick off the playoffs.

BREAKDOWN:

101 – Total Cards
24 – RC
14 – All-Star Game
6 – Postseason Preeminence
5 – Legends in the Making
4 – Rookie Combos
3 – Topps Salute
3 – Rookie Debut
3 – Veteran Combos
2 – Homerun Derby
1 – Don’t Blink
1 – Rainbow Foil
1 – Storybook Endings
1 – Gold Parallel #/2018
1 – An International Affair
1 – 1983 Topps Baseball 35th Set