Spenser Confidential Movie Review

Spenser Confidential is a Netflix original that has been out just over a month now.  It is a fun action flick.  Cop goes to prison for beating up superior, gets out, gets nosy when a cop is charged with killing another officer.   The movie stars Mark Wahlberg and he and his costars are all good in this movie.  This is an easy watch.  The movie while and action flick has plenty of comedy undertones to everything going on.  Bottom line is it was a fun easy watch.

Random Wax: 2019-2020 Donruss Basketball

2019-2020 Donruss Basketball:  Not sure who watched any of the NBA2K Player's Tournament this weekend but it was fun.  It doesn't equate quite as well as the iRacing NASCAR does weekly but I do like hearing the players talk.  They aren't on the court and are talking only to the other player so conversations can be all over the place but it is fun.  Some players talk more that others so it can be quite a bit different game to game.  Kevin Durant was pretty talkative but was ousted in the first round.  Back to this pack and Zion Williamson.  Always a win this year when you can pull this dude.

Lots of yellow...and lots of excellent players.  Can't wait to see these guys on the court again assuming we might.  I've heard they've considered quarantining all 16 playoff teams in Las Vegas and playing in empty arenas.  I could get behind that.  Everyone involved would be quarantined and checked.  Not saying this should start tomorrow but after some time it could be doable.   

That Jae Crowder is a green holo parallel.  The Great X-Pectations insert doesn't do it for me.  Seems like the colors could be a bit better.  It has an 80's vibe but I'm not feeling it.  Nice Embiid card.  

 Plenty more star power in this pack and we finish this pack off with Kevin Durant.  Brooklyn will be even more fun to watch with him on the court next season.  Basketball cards are a hard find nowadays but if I come across any of these I'd definitely pick up more given the opportunity

BREAKDOWN:

30 – Total Cards
5 – Rated Rookie
1 – Franchise Features
1 – Great X-Pectations
1 – Green Holo Parallel

Random Wax: 2017 Score Football

2017 Score Football:  The 2017 Score base card design really isn't one of Panini's best efforts but Score does do pretty well with inserts.  These packs are great as Patrick Mahomes rookie cards can be found.  None in this pack but there is a Deshaun Watson insert.  Also was this sweet Warren Moon card.  Love seeing him in those Oilers unis.  Nice card and that photo seems to really fill up the card top to bottom.

There are always plenty of rookies in these packs.  While these three weren't hard to figure out I have to look up quite a few just to see who drafted them.  Some of course never really amounted anything or even played in a game.  These three are all names we know though.

Mitch Trubisky will be in a struggle for his job this season but was once thought of as the quarterback ready to take the Bears to the next level.

A couple of parallels as well as Cam Newton who is looking for a new team after getting released by the Panthers.  Assuming he is healthy I think he'll be a really good pickup for someone.

Trent Williams probably on his way out of D.C.  Michael Thomas is maybe the premier receiver in the league right now.  And Sammy Watkins...Super Bowl Champion.

Reflections and Drive Team inserts give us a chance to see retired greats so I'm all for them.  Again inserts reign supreme in this brand.  A fun pack.  Will always look for more of these.

    BREAKDOWN:

40 – Total Cards
6 – RC
4 – Retired Greats
3 – Red Parallel
2 – Reflections
2 – Drive Team
2 – Sack Attack
1 – Hype
1 – Color Rush
1 – Fantasy Stars
1 – Standout Numbers
1 – Scorecard Parallel
1 – Signal Callers
1 – 2017 NFL Draft
1 – Big Man On Campus

2020 Topps Gypsy Queen Blaster

2020 Topps Gypsy Queen:  Gypsy Queen is always a good retro look for cards.  This year's design is one I really like.  There's some color and the overall aesthetic does appeal to me.  There is a base 300 card set as well as an extended base set that has 20 retired greats.  I'll definitely chase some of those.  Pulled this Mike Trout right off the bat which made for a fun start.  And I really like the retro jersey he is wearing.  

Plenty of star power.  I like the photo on that Harper card. 

  The backs have a simple write-up but I'm OK with that with this brand.

That is a missing nameplate Ryan McMahon parallel and the Springer is one of the five green parallels that come in a blaster.  

Didn't seem to be a lot of great pitchers in the box but these two are definitely worth showing off here.

A The World insert as well as a Fernando Tatis Jr. mini Fortune Teller insert.  I'm not a fan of the minis but pulling a Tatis lessens the sting a bit.  It is not a parallel as orange is the base color.  This was a fun box.  I like the design and think it delivered pretty well.  I'm sure I'll grab more over the summer at some point.  Stay safe and be positive.  

BREAKDOWN:

47 – Total Cards
5 – Green Parallel
4 – RC
1 – The World
1 – Mini Fortune Teller
1 – Missing Nameplate Variation

Random Wax: 2019-2020 Hoops Basketball

2019-2020 Hoops Basketball:  My small town Wal-Mart finally had someone come through and buy out all the basketball cards.  We had quite bit of the Prizm Draft Picks and some other random basketball on the shelves.  Gone.  Someone must have bought all of them at once.  All good.  I still have some packs I've been waiting to post so here we go.  Hoops put out some good cards this year and with Zion a part of the chase they, like all basketball cards, are a hot commodity.  This pack had a pretty good pull and finding Sir Charles is always a fun thing.  But no Zion this time but I've already pulled a few of his Hoops cards this year.

This is one of two Kawhi Leonard cards in this pack.  He's my favorite player in the league today so that is great.  It seems like this forced break in the season could help players like he and Paul George who have their playing time managed quite a bit.

Rudy Gobert of course is the face of kicking off the cancellation of sports.  It was only a matter of time no matter what but his antics put him front and center of the virus conversation in relation to sports.  Lonzo Ball is having a nice bounce back year with the Pelicans.  Stephen Adams is having another solid year for the surprising OKC Thunder.

I pulled a second Hoops Tribute insert.  Andrew Wiggins is now a Golden State Warrior after being traded for De'Angelo Russell.  I like Wiggins and think/hope he can be a great fit there.  This was a fun pack.  If they can be found I'll definitely pick up more of these.  Be safe and stay positive my friends.

BREAKDOWN:

30 – Total Cards
5 – RC
2 - Hoops Tribute
2 – Retired Greats
2 – Frequent Flyers
1 – Purple  Parallel

Random Wax: 2019 Absolute Football

2020 Absolute Football:   I like the looks of these cards so I will always pick some up when I get the chance.  It was such a letdown when Andrew Luck retired.  Hate to see that with a quarterback, or any player, with his talent.  But good on him for going out on his terms.    

Mike Evans has to be licking his chops at the thought of playing with Tom Brady.  Winston definitely put out some volume as the Buc's quarterback but Brady should be provide some leadership and swagger Winston really never could.

That's an orange mosaic parallel #/75.  While the card isn't that rare, seeing Antonio Brown in a Raiders jersey is.  A few of the inserts in Absolute give us retired greats which is always great.

Plenty of rookies which make up almost half the pack.

Love Todd Gurley and those throwback Rams jerseys.  I'm very excited to have him join the Falcons this year.  Hopefully he can get back to something close to the great years he has with L.A.

BREAKDOWN:

20 – Total Cards
9 – RC
3 – Green Parallel
1 – Red Zone
1 – Gridiron Force
1 – Orange Mosaic Parallel #/75

2020 Topps Women of Star Wars Hobby Box

2020 Topps Women of Star Wars:  I liked the concept of this set so I jumped on a hobby box which is pretty affordable.  I pulled the guaranteed auto and also two numbered cards (#/25 and #/99).  This Shaak Ti is probably my favorite card.  I like the blue and that photo.  Darker than most which makes it stand out.

   My auto is from The Clone Wars animated series.  I'm a big fan of series so this is a nice pull.  Leia was in some of the later season's episodes if I remember right.  Not sure yet what I'll do with the card.  It may end up on eBay to bolster my hobby funds.  We'll see.

The base cards have movie promo photos or screen shots as well as game and animated screen grabs.  The base design is pretty simple but I like it.  A bit more color could have made it nicer like the parallels.

It's fun seeing the animated shows getting some love.  I didn't share a copy of the backs.  They do have a nice write-up.  Nothing to wow you but interesting enough to be pertinent.

A Weapon of Choice insert, purple parallel #/24 and an orange parallel.  Again just that small addition of color makes these look a bit more appealing in my opinion.

A powerful pairs insert. I always liked Liminara Unduli and Barriss Offee whether it be their appearances in the legacy Star Wars books or The Clone Wars.  That's a green parallel #/99.  Rogue One is one of my favorite Star Wars movies of all-time.

Two of the iconic ladies of the Star Wars universe though I know Padme' doesn't get near as much love due to the majority feeling the prequels were a big letdown.  That is a The Journey of Leia Organa insert.  

This was definitely a fun box and I'm really glad I picked it up.  I definitely like the set.  There are some huge autos to be had in these boxes but obviously the odds for hitting those are long.  Doesn't mean there aren't other good ones.  I think mine was a decent one given Leia and The Clone Wars are pretty popular.  

BREAKDOWN:

56 – Total Cards
4 – Orange Parallel
3 – Powerful Pairs
2 – Iconic Moments
2 – Blue Parallel
2 – Weapons of Choice
1 – Purple Parallel #/25
1 – Green Parallel #/99
1 – The Journey of Leia Organa
1 - Topps Women of Star Wars Autograph