Question: Your own personal Joe Shlabotnik

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My sister clipped this comic from the newspaper and gave it to me. I think we all can relate to Charlie Brown here. I know I can.

Ironically, it was my sister who always got the one card I wanted-needed-had-to-have when we were kids. Whoever was my personal “Joe Shlabotnik” at the time. Looking back is a bit fuzzy, but I remember two occurrences of this phenomenon: 

#1 – 1989-90 Topps Pittsburgh Penguin sticker

In my freshman year of high school, I bought a box of 1989-90 Topps (36 packs), got the complete 198-card set but was 1 sticker shy of completing the 33-sticker set.

My sister bought 4 packs and got the one sticker I was missing: #16 – Pittsburgh Penguins. 

I probably traded 20 or so various 1980s Penguins cards for this logo sticker. Negotiation was not my strong suit when I was a kid. Fortunately, I was in honors algebra that year, because 2 years later…

#2 – 1991-92 Upper Deck Eric Lindros Canada Cup

Bad luck struck again in fall of 1991. Now a Junior in high school, I bought 2 boxes (72 packs) of 1991-92 Upper Deck hockey cards. The one card I did not get was this short-printed card of Eric Lindros, which had a high Beckett value of $15 at the time. 

My sister bought one pack and got this card. I am not exaggerating.

Both my sister and I were in honors math classes, but I’m 2 years older. I saved all my honors Algebra homework from my freshmen year, and ended up trading a semester’s worth for this card.  I got to complete my set, and my sister got all the answers. 

My sister and I talked during the Sharks-Canucks game last night. She could not remember any specific times when she got a card that I needed–she just remembered that this was a regular occurrence when we were kids.

Question: What card was your “Joe Shlabotnik” when you were young? Did you have to overpay–or trade too much–to get it?

Question: Do you collect graded cards?

Some guy with no wife or girlfriend spent $94,000 on this card.

Graded cards are the pissing match of collecting.

Think about it. Suppose I have a Wayne Gretzky rookie card–not graded like the one above, which sold for $94,000 earlier this month–but a nice, ungraded one. Or maybe I pulled it from a pack 30 years ago and kept it safely tucked away.

Then you get a Gretzky rookie.  Continue reading “Question: Do you collect graded cards?”

2011 Playoffs – Round 3 Predictions

The Final Four of Hockey. No Blackhawks. No Penguins. No Capitals. And those pesky Canucks are still around.

The number 1 seed versus the number 2 seed. It’s actually refreshing to see the top two teams in the conference finals.

Series: Vancouver Canucks (1) vs. San Jose Sharks (2).

My Prediction: Sharks UPSET in 6 games.

Comments: If you haven’t guessed by now, I really don’t want the Canucks to win. Because let’s face it: if a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup, every man, woman and child in the United States would forget that hockey ever existed. The consequences are dire.

Besides, the Sharks are long overdue for a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Fancy seeing you here, Bruins and Lightning.

Series: Boston Bruins (3) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (5).

My Prediction: Bruins win in 5 games.

Comments: Like the Sharks, the Bruins seem long overdue for a shot at The Cup, too.

And you know what would be the most awesomest thing ever? A Sharks-Bruins Stanley Cup Final where Joe Thornton is named the series MVP.

2011 Playoffs – Round 2 Recap

Ouch! I didn’t do too well in my predictions for Round 2…

Things played out pretty much as expected in the Western Conference.

Series: Vancouver Canucks (1) vs. Nashville Predators (5)

My Prediction: Predators UPSET in 6 games.

What Actually Happened: Canucks won in 6 game.

Comments: I really wanted to see the Canucks get stomped on. Unfortunately, the Predators were not the team to do it. Well, there’s always the next round.

Series: San Jose Sharks (2) vs. Detroit Red Wings (3)

My Prediction: Sharks win in 6 games.

What Actually Happened: Sharks won in 7 games.

Comments: This was a fun series. Best of all, I was in a sports bar for game 7, and people were cheering for the Sharks–not because of former ‘Hawk Antti Niemi, but because no one in Chicago wants to see Detroit win. Ever.

Upsets du jour in the Eastern Conference.

Series: Washington Capitals (1) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (5).

My Prediction: Capitals win in 4 games.

What Actually Happened: Lighting UPSET in 4 games.

Comments: Wow. Can I get a WTF? please? I guess Lightning coach Guy Boucher is due for a raise at the end of the season…and that Capitals coach Bruce Bodreau is due for his walking papers. But seriously, Caps…WTF?

Series: Philadelphia Flyers (2) vs. Boston Bruins (3).

My Prediction: Flyers in 7 games.

What Actually Happened: Bruins UPSET in 4 games.

Comments: I think we all kind of half-suspect the Capitals to sabotage themselves sooner or later. But the Flyers? They were a much improved squad over last year’s team that made it to the Finals. I was actually expecting them to make it to the Finals again this year…not roll over and die.

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OK, that didn’t go as I expected, so I guess I’ll stick to my day job. On to the next round.

2010-11 Pinnacle Box Break #1

I was iffy on buying any boxes of Pinnacle until I saw a box break over on DFG’s blog. That convinced me enough to pick up two boxes of the stuff. Maybe I’ll get a whole base set, some decent rookies and a few jersey cards that I can trade away.

For this box break, I decided to scan ALL of the insets, as well as some of my favorite base cards. Each box has 24 packs, and each pack has 8 cards.

Here’s what I got: Continue reading “2010-11 Pinnacle Box Break #1”

2011 Playoffs – Round 2 Predictions

Yes, I know. Round 2 has already started. What’s up with that, NHL? Maybe some of us teach class on Thursday nights.

Anyway, here are my predictions–solely done for my own amusement (and most likely not yours).

Will we see another upset? I sure hope so.

Series: Vancouver Canucks (1) vs. Nashville Predators (5)

My Prediction: Predators UPSET in 6 games. .

Comments: Sure the Canucks beat the Blackhawks. No one likes losing, but it is sometimes perceived that it is OK to lose to the eventual winner.

I disagree. I want to see the Canucks get stomped on.

Series: San Jose Sharks (2) vs. Detroit Red Wings (3)

My Prediction: Sharks win in 6 games.

Comments: It is against my mortal being to cheer for the Red Wings. Besides, the Sharks really are long overdue for a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.Go Sharkies!

I don’t predict an upset here in the East–the top seeds are just too good.

Series: Washington Capitals (1) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (5).

My Prediction: Capitals win in 4 games.

Comments: Winning in 7 games against the Crosby-and-Malkin-less-Penguins is not that admirable of a feat. I doubt that the Lightning (I refuse to call them the “Bolts”) will fare well against the Capitals. Besides, the Caps are long overdue to finally amount to something in the playoffs.

Series: Philadelphia Flyers (2) vs. Boston Bruins (3).

My Prediction: Flyers in 7 games.

Comments: Both of these teams needed 7 games to knock off their lower-seeded opponents in the first round. I think they’ll need 7 games to sort this one out too. Let’s hope for a good, physical (but clean) series.

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In summary, the Final Four I’d like to see are:

  • San Jose Sharks – my prediction for Cup winner this year
  • Nashville Predators – because they are unexpected as contenders
  • Washington Capitals – long overdue for a shot
  • Philadelphia Flyers – prove that last year wasn’t a fluke

I’ll admit, it’s a bit hard to focus on the playoffs now that the ‘Hawks are eliminated. So I guess I’ll start cheering for the Sharks.

2011 Playoffs – Round 1 Recap

Well, not everything turned out as expected. But that is the beauty of the first round.

Here are my predictions again, and the actual results. :

Considering how tight the Western Conference standings were, you’d think there would have been a few upsets, right?

Series: Vancouver Canucks (1) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (8)

My Prediction: Blackhawks win in 6 games.

What Actually Happened: Canucks won in 7 games.

Comments: Call me an idealist, but I really though the ‘Hawks could pull off an upset. And they almost did. But almost doesn’t count in hockey. At least the Blackhawks gave us a series.

So far, 0 for 1.

Series: San Jose Sharks (2) vs. Los Angeles Kings (7)

My Prediction: Sharks win in 5 games.

What Actually Happened: Sharks won in 6 games.

Comments: We all knew that the Kings wouldn’t go far without Anze Kopitar. Hah…that rhymed. Imagine what they could have done if that kid was in the lineup.

This puts me at 1 for 2 now.

Series: Detroit Red Wings (3) vs. Phoenix Coytoes

My Prediction: Red Wings win in 7 games.

What Actually Happened: Red Wings SWEEP in 4 games.

Comments: Sure, we knew the Wings would win. But I’m disappointed in Ilya Bryzgalov. I thought the Coytoes goaltender would steal at least ONE game in the series.

Now, I’m 2 for 3. Moving on…

Series: Anaheim Mighty Ducks (4)  vs. Nashville Predators (5)


My Prediction: Ducks win in 5 games.

What Actually Happened: Nashville won in 6 games.

Comments:  Well, here’s our Western Conference upset. Mad props to the Predators for winning their first playoff series in franchise history.

2 for 4 now. 50%.

Over in the East, things were a lot closer. At least in 3 of the series.

Series: Washington Capitals (1) vs. New York Rangers (8)

My Prediction: Captials sweep in 4.

What Actually Happened: Washington won in 5 games.

Comments: I think we all knew the Caps would power their way to Round 2.

3 for 5.

Series: Philadelphia Flyers (2) vs. Buffalo Sabres (7)

My Prediction: Flyers win in 6 games.

What Actually Happened: Flyers won in 7 games.

Comments: Tomas Vanek–the highest-paid Buffalo Sabre–was ineffectual in this series (just like he was in my fantasy hockey pool). Flyers have improved since their Stanley Cup run from last year, so I’m not surprised by the outcome.

4 for 6.

Series: Boston Bruins (3) vs. Montreal Canadiens (6)

My Prediction: Bruins win in 6 games.

What Actually Happened: Boston won in 7 games.

Comments: Wow! Another Game 7. This series was tight, but it’s good to see the Bs get to the next round. Though I’m not a big follower of the Eastern Conference, I’ll always pull for Tim Thomas.

5 for 7.

Series: Pittsburgh Penguins (4) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (5) 

My Prediction: Penguins win in 7.

What Actually Happened: Lightning win in 7.

Comments: No Crosby and no Malkin make Penguins go something something…

A shame we won’t get a Caps-Pens matchup in Round 2.

That puts me at 5 for 8.

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OK, let’s see if I can get my Round 2 predictions up before Round 2 is over…