Tarantula Touching

Watching:  Warriors vs Raptors on ABC

I took our daughter up to the Bell Museum in the Cities today.  She did something I have never done and will never do; she touched a freaking tarantula!



UM introduced Juwan Howard today as its new hoops coach.  Refreshing to see the genuine emotion from Juwan during the presser.  I've got a gut feeling he can succeed.  This first year could be bumpy as there are a number of open scholarships and he has to implement his system, but once he gets his guys playing his system this could turn into something.

Today's lone package is a single card eBay purchase.  Another one of those that had a low starting bid and mine remained the only bid.  It's a Webber addition for the Michigan collection that carries a MEM, SN199:

Finally... some mail!

Holy cow.  It’s been a full week since I lasted posted.  The major contributor to the dry spell is that I have not received anything in the mail.  I send cards out nearly every day, but they are coming back at a slow rate.  I did pick up two hanger boxes late last week, one Status and one Threads, but aside from one Giannis insert the boxes yielded nothing of note.

Thursday my daughter and I hiked up one of the area bluffs overlooking the river.  Trying to make a point to get out and "do stuff" now that the weather has improved.

Basketball season is over… for me at least.  The Bucks bumbled and stumbled their way through the Raptors series.  Toronto simply out-adjusted the Bucks.  They took advantage of the Bucks switching defense creating and exploiting favorable matchups, and their shooters knocked down open looks.  Toronto collapsed on Giannis and dared “the others” to beat them.  Giannis found open shooters, but the shots often missed the mark.  With so many key free agents (Middleton, Brogdon, Lopez, Hill, Mirotic) it will be interesting to see next year’s roster.  They surely have to pay the luxury tax if they resign all of them; is ownership willing to make that commitment?  Hopefully, this wasn’t just a one-time playoff push.

I stopped by the post office this morning before work, and before they were open, to drop a handful of PWEs in the mail.  While there I checked my PO box and found three packages; all TCDB trades.  First up, my third trade with Lugnut80.  Three cards closer to completing the 2018-19 Hoops set (90%):

I add nine to the 1991 Ultra set (45%):

Four football additions for the Michigan collection:

And a pair of Tim Beckham’s for Owen’s collection rounds out the Lugnut80 trade:

Today’s second package is my first trade with LO212257.  Football set builders include 1989 Topps Traded (92%), 1990 Fleer (97%), 1990 Topps Traded (57%), 1991 Fleer (84%), 1991 Pro Set (78%), and 1991 Ultra (45%):

27 really nice football additions for the Michigan collection:

 

What might be my single largest Bama haul to date (14 cards):

And the trade concludes with four 2019 Opening Day additions for Owen’s collection:

My fifth trade with jdmason02 concludes today’s review and is comprised almost exclusively of late 90s basketball set builders, which includes:

·         1997-98 Upper Deck
·         1998 UD Hardcourt
·         1998-99 Fleer Tradition
·         1998-99 Hoops
·         1998-99 SB Premium
·         1998-99 SB Thunder
·         1998-99 Topps
·         1998-99 UD Choice
·         1998-99 UD
·         1998-99 UD Black Diamond
·         1999-00 Hoops Decade
·         1999-00 SB Dominion
·         1999-00 SB Premium
·         1999-00 SP Authentic
·         1999-00 Topps Tipoff

Three Michigan additions, one basketball and two football, complete this trade:

The Bucks Played like a D-League Team Last Night

Listening:  Depeche Mode Violator

Just sat through a lecture on CBME presented by a candidate for an open position.  Oh my.  Nothing against the presenter, but I could take a nap.  They probably should not schedule these right after lunch.

The Bucks sure laid an egg last night.  The bench performance was poor.  Bledsoe continues to frustrate me.  The Raptors are going to collapse on Giannis when he touches the ball.  The other 11 guys are going to have to step up.  They get plenty of open looks - just got to knock them down.  The Bucks better win Game 5 if they want to win this series.  If they lose tomorrow night I fear it will be over in six.

Yesterday's lone package is my third trade with TCDB member Classicshowcar.  A block of 20 cards for the 1992-93 Ultra hockey set:

There’s only music so that there’s new ringtones

Listening:  Arctic Monkeys Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

My biggest frustration with blogging has been my inability to access the site from work.  We have to sign into our network with our campus ID and this does not allow access to the site.  This morning I finally found a work-around.  I logged onto a classroom computer using a generic student login and Viola!  

So the Bucks lost Game 3 on Sunday night.  I was actually surprised/shocked they forced two OTs.  They played so poorly.  So many turnovers.  Toronto defended Giannis well essentially sending a second defender at him as soon as he touched the ball.  Toronto got great performances from Gasol, Siakam, and Powell and still needed two OTs.  And Leonard played 52 minutes.  I actually pretty good going into Game 4.  If the Bucks lose tonight though things get very interesting.

The Dubs are back in the Finals.  Remember the old CBA days where teams received standing points for winning quarters?  The Blazers would have done ok in that format considered they led for significant portions of the four games.

I checked my PO Box after work yesterday and received four packages; all trades with TCDB members.  My first trade with michwolv95 leads us off.  An assortment of 2019 baseball cards for Owen's collection.  I have set a goal of collecting at least one card for all Players of the Week and Players of the Month beginning with the 2019 season.

Up next, my first trade with Dtd500.  Three Brady's and a Wheatley for the Michigan collection:

And a poorly photographed Ingram RC for the Bama collection:

My first trade with Shaw Racing is the third package.  A few 1990-91 hockey set builders to start:

And the trade concludes with ten nice Belfour additions for the Hawks collection:

Monday's fourth and final trade comes via MattnMiller.  A stack of almost 100 1990 Upper Deck baseball set builders:

Your haircut is atrocious, been the same since '83

Listening:  As Good As Dead by Local H

One package in the mail; an eBay purchase.  I add a 1999-00 Stadium Club insert to the Chris Webber collection; a 3x3 Luminescent:

 

My wife had me pick up a few items at Target this morning.  Of course, that means a stop at the card section.  I picked up a Big League fat pack for Owen's collection, as well as his first football packs (2019 Score):



I also picked up two Score fat packs for myself; my first of 2019:



Just finished opening the two packs.  Love the design as it is clearly based off the 1989 set.  Today's two packs were a total dud though.  Nothing of note in either pack so why even bother with pictures?

Ersan Ilyasova... MVP?

Watching:  Inside the NBA on TNT

Game 2 just concluded and the Bucks are up 2-0 on the Raptors.  Well-rounded effort tonight.  Contributions from Brogdon, Ilyasova, and Mirotic helped create a big first half lead that proved insurmountable.  Let's see what happens when the scene shifts to Toronto.  I'd be thrilled if the Bucks could split in Toronto thus giving them a chance to clinch at home in Game 5. 

Kawhi Leonard is an immense talent.  He does so much on the court and he makes it look so effortless.

My daughter and I attended Game 1 in Milwaukee on Wednesday night.  We spent a little time with Nana on Thursday and stopped at the zoo in Madison on the way home. 

Four packages to cover tonight.  Leading off, my first trade with TCDB member obxyankeefan. A very simple and straightforward trade here - nothing but a stack of 1984 Topps football set builders.  I only ten or so cards away now from completing this set:



My seventh trade with TCDB member tenlbpain follows.  This trade begins with a few football set builders.  The 1990 Topps set is almost complete:



A nice batch of Michigan additions:



And a Bolland to add to the Hawks collection:



Tonight's third package comes courtesy of my first trade with TCDB member mrdonnee.  Another fairly straightforward trade as this includes nothing but Michigan basketball additions.  I even managed to obtain a Chris Webber:



The night's final package is my "monthly" trade with TCDB member and Raptor fan karsal.  A nice assortment of mid to late 90s basketball set builders:



And a pair of Michigan additions:



Boy, that's an awful photo.  It's late though and I lack the motivation to retake the photo.

Harper's First Basketball Game - Eastern Conference Finals Game 1

Monday morning I got the itch.  I poked around the Internet over Mother's Day weekend researching Eastern Conference Finals tickets.  Minimum prices were around $200.  A tad unjustifiable at this particular stage.  Monday morning I noticed two new rows of tickets up in the corners for a reasonable price; compared to $200.  I sent my wife a quick message asking permission to go to the game, she said "yes", and I bought tickets for Wednesday's Game 1.

It's roughly a three hour drive from La Crosse, on the Mississippi River, to Milwaukee, on Lake Michigan.  It took much longer yesterday.  Two stretches along the interstate where we merged down to a single lane created serious gridlock.  We were literally in the middle of nowhere, yet barely moving.  Frustrating.  When we reached the State Fair Park area we hit real gridlock; evening commute traffic city-style.  While crawling along Harper tells me she has to go potty.  Stuck in traffic with a four year old who needs to go potty - a real parenting challenge.  We exited by Miller Park, where I happened to work before moving to La Crosse, and hit the surface streets.  Fortunately, we found a McDonald's by The Rave, a place I used to attend concerts, and all was well.  A few more turns and we were parking the car near the MSOE campus for only $20.  In the end, road construction and traffic turned a three hour trip into a nearly four trip.

I had hoped to arrive at the arena when gates opened at 6:00.  Given all of the delays we didn't arrive at the gates until 6:45ish.  TNT was broadcasting live outside and eliciting hoots from the crowd.  Once inside we found our seats and settled in.

Heck of a game.  Bucks started slow.  Giannis was finding open guys outside but the shots were not falling.  In the second half the shots finally started to fall.  Splash Mountain in particular got hot and the Bucks pulled away for the win.  Harper was great throughout and we made it all the way until the final buzzer.  Not bad for your first game; a win in the conference finals.

Following the game this little girl slept pretty hard as we drove to Nana's house to spend the night.

NBA Draft Lottery Drama

Watching:  NBA Draft Lottery on ESPN

Playing catch up yet again.  Who'd have thought having a newborn at home would impact my trading and collecting?  The trading itself has not been too taxing.   Logging and tracking my collection has been cumbersome.  Maintaining the blog has fallen to the bottom of the priority list.

Who will win the right to draft Zion?  If the Lakers win, then the fix is in.  If the Knicks win, they'll mess it up.  It would be cool to see the Bulls crack the Top 3, but GarPax would muck it up.

I was poking around TCDB today and caught my first glimpse of the 2019 Score football cards.  Love them!  Clearly drawing inspiration from one of my all-time favorite sets - the 1989 Score set.  I need to make a point to run to Target and pick some up in the coming days.

Received a single card eBay purchase on Monday; a 2016-17 Gold Standard Chris Webber parallel.  For a SN79 card I feel like I got a good deal:



My fourth trade with TCDB member craziejoe was built primarily around Michigan additions that included basketball, football, and hockey:

  

Also included a couple of Hawks:



And three DeMeco Ryan's for the Bama collection:



Next up, my third trade with TCDB member FiresNBeers.  This is the first package I received via my new PO Box at the post office downtown.  My wife has been giving me grief for some time now about all of the trades arriving at our door.  In order to keep up my trading, and maintain a happy home, I finally pulled the trigger and rented the box.  Officially, this trade included nothing but basketball set builders from the 1990s:



However, Brian included an abundance of extras, including more basketball set builders:



The Optic RCs are really nice additions.  Also included among the extras were three Kane's for the Hawks collection:



And the last extra is for Owen's budding collection:



Today I received my first package from TCDB member greywolves777.  The second package I've received via my new PO Box.  The single baseball set builder is a 1984 Topps (96%):



An assortment of Topps basketball set builders from the latter half of the 1990s:



Some early 1990s football set builders include 1990 Fleer (97%), 1991 Fleer (76%), and 1991 Score (1 card away):



And finally, four Michigan football additions:



Holy cats!  The Lakers, Grizzlies, and Pelicans all moved up!  So the Lakers and Knicks are both in the Top 4.  Conspiracy theorists might find that a touch interesting.  Imagine if the Pelicans win.  What does that mean in regards to Anthony Davis?  Try and keep him and build around AD and Zion?  Holy cow!  New Orleans wins!  The NBA is truly a never-ending soap opera.  What was already going to be a crazy, drama filled summer just got crazier.

Kawhi with the Ridiculous Buzzer Beater

Watching:  Inside the NBA on TNT

Kawhi just hit an insane shot to clinch the series vs the Sixers setting up a Bucks-Raptors matchup in the East Finals.

Due to a busy weekend, and some nice weather, I have fallen slightly behind.  Saturday morning we attended our daughter's annual dance show and then later in the afternoon she and I hiked up one of the surrounding bluffs.  Her first hike up the bluff on her way.  In previous years she had been strapped to my back.  Today was Mother's Day, of course, so cards had to go on the back burner.

Received a single card eBay purchase yesterday I think; my second copy of this 2018-19 National Treasures Webber:



The lone trade I received, maybe Thursday or Friday, is from TCDB member Shaggy69.  A pair of 1991 Pro Set:



And some football additions for the Michigan collection: