2011-12 Upper Deck Series 1 Cards for your viewing pleasure!

Upper Deck Series 1, 2011-12

I really like the UD Game Jersey Cards this year.  A better design and use of space in my opinion.  I must not have recieved the memo, but there must be a reason that Beckett valued this card at $100.  I’m sure everyone else on the planet knows why … but like I said, “I didn’t get the memo”!

I’m a big fan of the Canvas parallel that UD put out this year.  They seem to be a hit with collectors too!

 

 

 

 

Cody Hodgson Young Gun Canvas Vancouver has a hot rookie on their hands with Cody Hodgson!  Currently Hodgson is tied for 2nd in goals scored (13)  and 4th in total points (29).

  

Hardcore Bruins Fans will love this sub-set!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rookie Matt Read of the Philadelphia Flyers currently leads the NHL Rookies in Goals (15) and 3rd in total points with 31.

All 4 of these cards have been listed on our eBay Store.

Pete

 

Tim Thomas Skips Out on the White House

Tim Thomas released the following statement on Monday (1-23-12) regarding his decision to skip his teams visit to the White House in celebration of last season’s Stanley Cup win:

“I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and Property of the People.

This is being done at the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial level. This is in direct opposition to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers vision for the Federal government.

Because I believe this, today I exercised my right as a Free Citizen, and did not visit the White House. This was not about politics or party, as in my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country. This was about a choice I had to make as an INDIVIDUAL.

This is the only public statement I will be making on this topic. TT”

To the surprise of most people that know me, I respect Tim Thomas’s decision, but I have to disagree with his reasoning.  Here is the problem … it WAS MADE political by his actions.  The trip to the White House was not a political or party associated event.  He made it political by abstaining for the reasons he stated.

Now, regarding his statement, I’m am in 100% agreement with what he said.  The Government is out of control.  Our rights and liberties have been trampled on and systematically dismantled over the past several years by both parties;  spanning multiple Administrations.  Both parties are to blame and in the end, the American Public for playing the role of  “sheep-eople” .

Regardless of my political opinion, willingness to dissent, or level of anger about what our government has done and continues to do, we must maintain “respect” for the Office of the Presidency.  We don’t have to agree with the person we call “President”, Congressional Representatives, or members of the Judicial Branch.  Maintaining our respect for the Constitutionally established Offices is the basis of our Republic.

I believe Tim Thomas, wishing to make his political views public, (arguing he did not want to do this  is futile, that is exactly what he did) could have conveyed his message much more effectively.  Show the respect for the Constitutionally established office, and exercise your God given, constitutionally protected right to free speech.

Pete

Worst 2011-12 Upper Deck Series 1 Card

Ok, … I’ve been sitting on this post for a bit now.  But I can’t take it anymore.  Is this the best photo of Anton Babchuk of the Calgary Flames UD had?  I mean … it looks like Babchuk is trying to take a dump on the ice.  Could Upper Deck not have put another picture of him besides one that looks like he’s trying to push a painful grumbler out of his breezers.

No disrepect at all to Babchuk or the Flames!  In fact, I’d be a little disturbed if I were him.  You’ve worked to hard to have a hockey card making it look like your squeezing your colon through a pin hole!  Upper Deck did not do this man justice!!!

Let me know what you think …

The Pistol

Top 10 Things to Do With a Backyard Ice Rink in a Warm Winter

Global Warming?  Na … I prefer the easier and more likely answer that God is pissed that I built a backyard ice rink this winter.  So as atonement for my sin against nature, I offer the top 10 Things One Can Do With a Backyard Ice Rink in a Unusually Warm Winter …

10.  Start a Neighborhood Polar Swim Club

9.  Contact the local religous sect that you have a birthing pool; can handle large numbers of pregant women

8.  Add ice and show off your new redneck beer cooler to all your redneck friends

7.  Improve your marksmanship skills: target shoot the multitude of birds taking baths in it

6.  Have Fish & Game plant Rainbow Trout in your rink/pond and practice your fly casting

5.  Take a swim … NAKED!

4.  Can you say, “Slip & Slide”

3.  Take pictures and send to Al Gore with attached apology letter for your naive lack of faith

2.  Complain relentlessly until your wife is sorry she ever suggested you build it

And the top thing to do with a bank yard ice rink in an unusually warm winter ….

1.  [reply with your suggestions: I’ll post some of the funnier ones!]

 

The Pistol

 

Post New Years Resolutions AKA … (Lies to self)

I’m not one for going with the flow but reading all my fellow bloggers New Years Resolutions did get me to thinking a bit.  Reaching the ripe age of 40 seems to get a person thinking about “stuff” anyways.

I gave up “losing weight” for lent a couple of years ago, so that one is out.  I’d go with the cliche, “spend more time with family”, but I have two kids in hockey … we spend A LOT of time together.  So that’s out.

Give up tobacco? … why?  That’s out!

Drink less Beer?  Umm … no …

Ease up on the swearing in the professional setting? …  That would be F*#% stupid … why in the F*#& would I do that????  Nope!

Increase my knowledge of the Sports Card & Collectible Industry

How about some card collection goals.  I’ve been collecting sports cards since I was a young’n.  Back in 70’s and 80’s I was a cardboard nut!  Then came playing college football, getting married, starting a career, and having kids.  Collecting went by the wayside.  Over the last couple of years, the cardboard addiction came-a-roaring back.  Lots of things have changed since I was “knee-deep” in it.  Hell, I let up on collecting before Al Gore invented the internet, before you could download free music, before eBay, Bill Clinton had not yet reinvented cigar use, and Bill Gates was still just a Geek!   So I guess focusing this year on educating myself about the industry, all the different manufacturer’s, and the plethora of cards out there. (I always love using the word, “plethora” in sentences!  Makes me look at a lot smarter than I am and super popular at parties).

Focus on my primary player collections

I tend to get a little ADHD with my player collections.  The “maybe I should’s” and “oh, that would be good’s” get me everytime. So this year, I’m going to concentrate on attacking my primary Player Collections:

Hockey

P.K. Subban

Taylor Hall

Jordan Eberle

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Football

Von Miller

As you can see, 1) I’m an Oiler Fan, and 2) I gravitated towards the less expensive Players!  (sarcasm intended!)

Learn about making custom cards

I had no idea that people were making custom cards out there.  A couple of my fellow bloggers are doing some really neat work.  BadWax ,  Jaybarkerfan’s Junk and Card Boarded have made some really amazing cards!  I want to learn how they do it!  Hell, maybe even go as far as attempting to create my own.

Well, I think that is enough as far as goals go.  Good luck to everyone out there still under a New Years Resolution Delusion of weight loss, exercise, and anything else good for you!  My next beer, chew and F-bomb is in your honor!

Sincerely,

The Pistol

Life Ranting: First Home Ice Sheet .. DONE!

Somewhere in the last month or so, my wife decided that we should build a home ice rink.  For all you youngsters out there … this translated into man-speak means: You build a hockey rink.  We are a hockey family.  From the months of November thru March, we live at the hockey rink.  We have an 11 year old (pee-wee) and a 5 year old (mite) playing.  They love it … we love it!

As luck would have it, we are experiencing one of the warmest winters on record … global warming???  No chance Gore baby … I’m driving the diesel till I die!  This carbon footprint is a WAFFLE-STOMP!  But I digress…

It has actually been kind of fun putting this thing together.  Had some great opportunities for, “notes to self” for next year: the slope of the ground is something that should be considered before hand, blue tarp retains a little bit of heat, wood can get expensive, by a lot more nails than you think you need.

I’ll throw a couple pictures up when I get home from this weekend’s …. HOCKEY TOURNAMENT!

NHL Releases All-Star Roster

NHL names remainder of All-Star Game roster

Thursday, 01.12.2012 / 12:46 PM / 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game

By Adam Kimelman – NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor

The Vancouver Canucks, who started the day with the best record in the Western Conference, also lead in another category — most players added to the All-Star festivities.

Four members of the Canucks were among the 36 veterans and 12 rookies announced by the NHL for participation in All-Star Weekend, headlined by the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game, to be played Jan. 29 in Ottawa.

Players from all 30 teams will be represented in Ottawa, with four members of the Canucks added to the pool of players Thursday — forwards Henrik and Daniel Sedin, defenseman Alexander Edler and forward Cody Hodgson, who was one of the dozen rookies selected to participate along with the veterans in the 2012 Molson Canadian NHL All-Star Skills Competition, to be held Jan. 28.

(read the rest of the story)

Panini America’s Pre-Autographed Peek at 2011 Preferred Basketball

Panini America Provides Pre-Autographed Peek at 2011

Preferred Basketball (Gallery)

In just a matter of days, Panini America NBA acquisitions maven Ivory Tabb will embark on a whirlwind tour around the league to acquire on-card signatures for 2011 Panini Preferred Basketball, the company’s highly anticipated …

(read more)

Smashing Collection Idea

Sometimes putting some spice into our player collections can be an interesting twist.  For example, I collect P.K. Subban.

P.K. Subban

I was sorting through some 2011-12 Upper Deck Series 1 Cards from a box break, and I noticed this card …

P.K. getting pounded

Marc Staal pounding Subban!  Kind of cool … let’s see if there are more.  Another player I collect is Jeff Skinner of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Jeff Skinner

Now I’m paying attention to the pictures on all the cards I was sorting … and what do you know, I came across this …

Skinner getting smashed!

Braydon Coburn absolutely smashing Skinner!  You have to love that!

Star players get ton’s of attention from fans, media, and us.  They make a lot of money and get lot’s of glory.  But they earn it!  They are not always making big plays and scoring goals.  They work at it … and sometimes the camera catches them making a mistake.  I like that … its real.  No poses, no glory shots … it’s what they do, in the raw.

It’s not Subban’s or Skinner’s “card”, but they are on it.  And for me … it’s real and it provides a unique piece of the story about what these guys do day-in and day-out!  I’ll be adding these into my player collection and keeping a look out for more!

 

Catch’n the Card Board Addiction!

Hello, my name is Pete …. and I’m a cardboard addict.

Odds are … you are to!  Why else would you click on a blog like this?

To all of you collectors out there … set builders, team collectors, pack crackers, player collectors, whale hunters, and the occasional card dabbler .. WELCOME!

With this blog, we hope to provide some insight, humor, random thoughts, product reviews and occasional information that you probably already know!

Since you stumbled across our little piece of the cyber universe … go ahead and let us know your there!  Click on “comment” and say “Hello”!

In the mean time, check out some of our cardboard peddling by visiting our ebay store at Pete’s Sports Cards

Thanks for checking in and check back soon!

P