What's your take on "group breaks"?

We all know that busting wax similar to playing the lottery. Every now and then you pull something decent... or maybe something for your PC... or worse case scenario... something you can give to your students.

These days, I'm not much of a gambler... and I don't play the lottery... which means that I don't open wax on a regular basis.

The last packs I opened were over two months ago... and they were 80's rack packs of all things.

But last month, I had the opportunity to get in on a group break of 2007 & 2008 Bowman Chrome football, and a box of 2011 Topps Inception football for $13.

I typically don't jump at these offers, but I wanted a shot at some AP or Megatron rookie cards.

Well... I ended up with the 49ers and the Chiefs. Here are the three cards worth mentioning:

2007 Bowman Chrome #BC93 Patrick Willis RC

2008 Bowman Chrome "Refractor" #BC78 Jamaal Charles RC

2008 Bowman Chrome "Bronze" #BC78 Jamaal Charles RC (304/329)

It wasn't a complete wash... but I didn't make my money back either. But... how often do collectors truly make their money back?

I'll probably sell the Willis rookie card at the flea market along with the other 49er singles I received... and end up keeping the two Jamaal Charles parallels.

If anything... it's a nice reminder of why I typically don't bust packs... and why I should stay away from group breaks too. Instead... I'll stick to picking up singles I want off of COMC.

I'm interested in hearing your opinion on "group breaks"...

Do you join them?

Why or why not?

Happy Saturday everyone... and sayonara!

P.S. Thanks Schwang17 for putting this group break together and allowing me to join.

NaBlo WriMo Daily Total: 283 Words

November Total: 4,729 Words

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly #6: Johnny Jolly

My world has been turned upside-down this week with parent-teacher conferences, so I'm going to mix things up today.

Typically in this series of posts, I'd start with The Good (like teachers usually do @ conference time) and end with The Ugly. But today... I'm going to flip the script.

The Ugly:

Today, Judge Denise Bradley sentenced Green Bay Packers defensive lineman, Johnny Jolly to six years in prison for violating the terms of his probation on a previous drug conviction. He is currently under contract with the Packers, but has been serving a suspension since the start of the 2010 season.

Prior to the suspension, he signed a contract that would have paid him 2.5 million dollars during the 2010 season... a season in which his teammates and coaches carried the Lombardi Trophy back to Titletown.

The Bad:

Sadly... Mr. Jolly is far from being "jolly". He suffers from an addiction to codeine. An addiction that cost him between $600 to $800 a day. Earlier this year, he pleaded guilty to possessing codeine and the plea was part of a deal that spared him any prison time.

Then last month, he was pulled over and charged again with possession of a compound containing codeine. In addition to that charge, there was a tampering with evidence charge that led to Judge Bradley's decision.

The Good:

Life wasn't always so terrible for Mr. Jolly. The Green Bay Packers drafted him in the 6th round of the 2006 NFL Draft. By his third season in the NFL, he was a full time starter. He started all 16 games in 2008 and 2009.

And thankfully, Jolly has come to terms with his addiction and is doing his best to battle it. He speaks to kids about it in hopes of preventing people from following into his footsteps.

Hopefully this story will end on a positive note and Jolly will receive the help he needs in prison.

Meanwhile... it's up to Ryan Pickett and B.J. Raji to hold down the fort as they begin positioning themselves for the post season.

And as each week passes by, the Packers continue to add notches in their goal posts. So I ask you all...

Do you think the Packers will go 16-0?

If not, who will they lose to?

I'm confident they'll go 13-3 or 14-2, which is hopefully enough to secure home field advantage. I think they'll probably lose on Thanksgiving to the Lions and then lose again in Kansas City (something about Arrowhead that makes me nervous... although they just got blown out by Miami... then lost to Tebow and his two completions).

Plus... you can never underestimate their biggest rivalry against Da Bears... so watch out for that game as well. Realistically... any of the remaining teams can pull out a win against the Pack.

Any Given Sunday... right?

The thing is... whoever takes down the Packers will need to slow down Rodgers... and that won't be an easy task. First up... Tampa Bay.

Happy Thursday everyone... and only six more hours until I can finally say... TGIF. Sayonara!

NaBlo WriMo Daily Total: 503 Words

November Total: 4,446 Words

Does anyone really watch the LPGA?

Anyone interested in LPGA? Me neither... but I figured I'd ask.

My existence on this planet is closing in on four decades, yet I've never watched an LPGA event in my lifetime. The fact is... I love to golf... but watching it has never been high on my priority list. And watching women's golf is even lower on the totem poll.

But today is special day. It's Lorena Ochoa's birthday.

If you're not familiar with her, she was once the top female golfer in the world. In fact, she is considered by some to be the greatest golfer to come out of Mexico and was the first one to be ranked #1.

Her list of achievements on the LPGA tour is long and impressive (lol... that's what she said).

Futures Tour Rookie of the Year: 2002

Futures Tour Player of the Year: 2002

LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year: 2003

LPGA Tour Rolex Player of the Year: 2006, 2007, 2008, & 2009

LPGA Vare Trophy Winner (Lowest Scoring Average): 2006, 2007, 2008

LPGA Tour Money Winner: 2006, 2007, 2008

I'm so out of touch, when it comes to women's professional golf, that I just found out she retired in May 2010. According to ESPN, she'll be eligible for the LGPA Tour Hall of Fame next year in 2012.

I pulled the 2004 SP Signature 8x10 autograph of Ochoa a few years ago, when I was trying to track down a Tiger. Anyways... you have to admit... Upper Deck sure knew how to make cards. That photograph is absolutely amazing. The only downside was their choice to use sticker autographs.

Happy 30th Birthday Senora Ochoa!

What about all of you...

Do you golf?

Do you watch golf on TV?

Do you watch women's golf on TV?

Hasta luego! Have a great week everyone.

NaBlo WriMo Daily Total: 284 Words

November Total: 3,943 Words

Call me the Soothsayer...

1989 Topps #59

Yesterday, I posted about how there's not much to cheer for when it comes to my favorite football team... the Seattle Seahawks. I also "jokingly" predicted that the Hawks would beat the Ravens.

What happened later that day? They end up beating the Baltimore Ravens, who came into the game leading one of the NFL's toughest divisions... the AFC North.

Which in some magical way means that either I can predict the future or I'm some kind of good luck charm... right?

So today, I figured I'd target another one of my favorite teams (in hopes of bring them some good fortune in the near future)... who have also struggled in recent years: The San Diego Padres.

Fact #1: The Padres have missed the playoffs five years in a row.

Fact #2: Ryan Ludwick led the team with 11 home runs last season.

Fact #3: The Padres hit 91 home runs, which is only 14 more than Matt Kemp (led the NL with 39) and Prince Fielder (2nd in NL with 38) hit combined this past season.

Fact #4: Only two players hit over .300 on the team: 1B Jesus Guzman (.312 w/271 plate appearances) & SP Wade LeBlanc (.364 w/26 plate appearances).

Fact #5: As a team, the Padres ranked in the bottom three in these categories: runs, hits, doubles, home runs, rbi's, and total bases.

Thankfully... their pitching staff kept them in games. They were in the top 4 in each of these pitching categories: ERA, runs allowed, and home runs allowed.

Speaking of pitching... let's flashback twenty-two years. On November 14th, 1989... Mark Davis won the 2nd Cy Young Award in franchise history (Gaylord Perry was the first... and since then Jake Peavy has also won it while sporting a Padres uniform).

That season, Davis led the MLB in saves and finished with an amazing 1.85 ERA. At the time, he was only the fourth closer to take home the prestigious award. So here's a "hip, hip, hooray" for Mr. Davis and his memorable accomplishment.

Okay... I've done my end of the deal. Now it's time for some serious MOJO (damn, I really dislike that word... but in this case, I need to use it).

Oh, c'mon... I'm not expecting much. How about signing Prince Fielder, Albert Pujols, Jose Reyes, Roy Oswalt, and Mark Buehrle?

Alright... I won't be that greedy. Just give me Pujols, Reyes, and Fielder. So do we have a deal? If so... I promise, I'll post about the A's tomorrow night.

What? It's 10 o'clock already? Time for sleepy time. Goodnight everyone. Sayonara!

NaBlo WriMo Daily Total: 412 Words

November Total: 3,659 Words

John Carlson is the Man!

At 2-6, we... Seattle Seahawks fans... don't have much to cheer for... especially since the team is on pace to record their fourth consecutive losing season in a row. But eventually... things will turn around for the Hawks... right?

Until then... it's important that we embrace the little things in life. For example...

Leon Washington leads the league in kick/punt return yards. Okay... so he hasn't returned anything for a touchdown this season, but his two against the Chargers last season make up for it.

Oh... and Hawks punter, Jon Ryan... has the 2nd most punting yards and is tied with Oakland's Shane Lechler with the longest punt this season (77 yards).

And finally... this past Friday, the Seahawks announced John Carlson as their Man of the Year for his hard work in the community.

Carlson has been on IR since September and is out for the season. His absence has definitely been felt by the 29th ranked offense. However, it's nice to know that the injury hasn't stopped Carlson from contributing in other ways. Kudos Mr. Carlson. Here's to a speedy recovery... and see you in 2012.

Today, the Seahawks face the Baltimore Ravens.

I love my Hawks, but I'm a realist too. So I don't expect them to blowout the Ravens... I just think we'll take them down on a last second flea flicker ;-)

Are you surprised by my prediction? Lol... I am too. But seriously... this NFL season has been full of surprises.

What/Who do you thing has been the biggest surprise so far?

Time to get ready for some football. Happy Sunday everyone... and sayonara!

NaBlo WriMo Daily Total: 247 Words

November Total: 3,494 Words