Good Luck Ducks: Rose Bowl Edition

Happy 2012, everyone! The Ducks are off to Pasadena to take on Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. The prolonged bowl season makes it really weird to start thinking (and writing) about college football again after a month off. I really wish they would do something about the whole BCS and bowl situation, but it doesn't seem likely that any major changes are going to happen anytime soon, especially with ESPN just getting started with a new BCS TV contract this year.

I was hoping Michigan State would end up winning the Big 10 because Wisconsin's size scares me as a Duck fan. Much has been made of Chip Kelly failing to win big games and games in which the opponent has extra time to prepare. The blame probably doesn't begin and end with Kelly and it's still a pretty small trend, but until the Ducks can win a game like this we will keep hearing about it. That being said, I am usually optimistic about Oregon's chances in games like this because they are so talented and explosive, but I am going to go in a different direction here. I think the Ducks will lose.

How can the Ducks avoid another big game loss? They simply cannot turn the ball over or play conservatively. Mistakes plagued them against LSU and that game still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth even with LSU's so-far undefeated season on the books. I am still convinced the Ducks beat themselves more than LSU beat them. As far as conservative play goes, I think the coaches need to practice what they preach and truly treat this game as if it were any other game. This isn't the Washington State Cougars that they're preparing for, but it may as well be. If Oregon plays the way Oregon can play, they should at least have a shot at reversing their fortunes. I still expect a loss. Prove me wrong, Ducks!

Above footage from Oregon's last meeting with Wisconsin in 2001 at Autzen, where they won 31-28.

Game time is 2:00 PST with national coverage on ESPN. Go Ducks!

Hook 'Em

I received a few sports card-related gifts for Christmas, all of which were ready made for posting on the internet about. Hooray, internet! I already posted one of the gifts over at APTBNL. Here is, for some reason, a little write-up on the 2008 Texas Longhorns baseball set.

Brandon Belt gets front of the set billing, and of course his card is the only one that shows any wear at all. I didn't know that he also had a role on his college team as a pitcher. I think Giants fans are still hoping this guy becomes one of the centerpieces of their lineup, but it seems like it's probably tough to develop power while playing half your games at Phone Company Park.

Here's the other major leaguer in the bunch, Chance Ruffin. Ruffin was a Tigers draft pick and had already reached the majors when he was part of the trade that brought Doug Fister to Detroit.

Cameron Rupp is a Phillies draft pick and he's topped out at A-ball so far.

Austin Wood is famous for one 13-inning relief appearance with UT, the first 12 of which yielded no hits. 169 pitches later, nearly everyone agrees that what he did was colossally stupid. He eventually got injured, obviously, but has so far played as high as AA with the Tigers organization.

In the Everybody Gets a Card Dept., here is your volunteer assistant coach. Sorry, I mean, volunteer assistant to the coach. Weird.

Airbrushed Fridays: 2007 Topps Updates & Highlights #UH294

How can you just leave me standing alone in a world that's so cold? Maybe I'm just too demanding. Maybe I'm just like my father: too bold. Maybe you're just like my mother (she's never satisfied.) Why do we scream at each other? This is what it sounds like when doves cry.

Todd Wellemeyer was a right-handed reliever that the Cardinals scooped up off the scrapheap (er, Royals system) and tried to perform the Dave Duncan Conversion Project magic on him. He had some success, especially in 2008, but was mostly a league average (if not below) pitcher as a starter in St. Louis. He's also a Colonel, however.

Why did Topps airbrush Todd's photo? As mentioned, Wellemeyer was an early season waiver claim from Kansas City. That being said, this card is from the Updates & Highlights set and he had been on the team since May, so there's really no excuse.

What's wrong with this picture, anyway? This is just an awful example of Photoshop work. You can barely even see what are supposed to be the Cardinals cap and jersey logos.

If you are interested in obtaining a card featured here, please send me an e-mail. If you have a card you would like to nominate for Airbrushed Fridays, please get in touch as well. I will require that I am able to see the card in person, either on loan or as a donation, so that I can examine the card and experience it in all its cruddiness.

The NBA Is Back, But Where Are The Cards?

Actual factual NBA basketball is back now, which means I can resume posting the occasional basketball card here on the blog. I'm sure this thrills my reader base to no end. In any case, I'm kind of excited to at least see the Portland Trail Blazers play again, and they've gotten off to a reasonable 2-0 start. Here's a few cards that I didn't post before because I was bitter.

These are all from the 2010-11 Donruss set, one that I really should have bought more of before that whole lockout thing happened. Especially annoying is the fact that there has been virtually no sign of new NBA cards (no doubt lockout related) for quite some time. There was talk of an NBA Hoops revival, but it seems that those plans were scrapped or at least put on the shelf indefinitely. The only thing I've read about any imminent releases came from this article posted a few days ago. In the wake of the lockout, the shoddy economy and the whole Occupy thing, does Panini really think that a set that contains nothing but autographs and multi-swatch booklets is a great idea for the average collector?

Until an actually affordable set is released, I will at least consider restarting my attempt to collect the 2010-11 Donruss set. This idea never really got off the ground before, but I do still like the way this set works.

Also... go Blazers!

Just Another Group Break

Pardon the dust around here. I fully acknowledge that things have been really, really slow at this blog. I think that things will turn around to near-normalcy sometime soon after the New Year. Yes, yes, they will. In the meantime, let's take a look at a few cards from a group break hosted by Cardboard Collections at some point in the past. In the future!

1996 Pinnacle Aficionado (better known as Aficionado by Pinnacle, apparently) is an interesting set. I would venture to say that it's a great looking set if it wasn't for the shiny pixelated face close-up on the left edge of each card. The other, normal looking player photos are either in full color or sepia tone, but I'm not sure what the criteria is for choosing either style. Among others, I got another Ozzie Smith card for the collection and one of new assistant hitting coach John Mabry.

This here is a Men of Summer parallel of young Matt Morris from the 1997 Pinnacle XPress set. This wasn't his rookie year in baseball card terms, but it sure looks like it nonetheless.

I think I've mentioned this card on this blog before, but I still am fascinated with the wrong-logoed Terry Bradshaw card. He never played for the Brewers as far as I know. Also, isn't the mid-'90s Brewers look the worst?

Ahh, the old medicine ball look. Does this still exist? Does anyone use these anymore? Maybe I should be a medicine ball supercollector.

Airbrushed Fridays: 1974 Topps Traded #319T

Two updates here on a Christmas Eve before the Eve. First off, for those of you who weren't on the email, check out this cool thing that is going on at Crackin Wax. It all ends up going for charity, and I've always considered myself a charitable guy. Secondly, in looking at some early results for the Bowl Pick 'Em Contest, The Lost Collector has jumped out in front of the pack. He leads both the group standings and the total possible points. It's that latter point that is the most crucial, especially if all your heavily weighted games are still to come.

Randy Hundley was a former All-Star and Gold Glove winning catcher who logged 14 seasons in the Majors, spending most of his time with the Chicago Cubs. And if you're my age, when you think of catching Hundleys, Randy's son Todd comes to mind. Todd Hundley spent 15 seasons in the bigs himself.

Why did Topps airbrush Randy's photo? Hundley was dealt to the Twins by Chicago in the offseason for one George Mitterwald. After a season with the Padres, Hundley would eventually return to the Cubs to finish out his career.

What's wrong with this picture, anyway? Well, it's a '70s Topps Traded card. Do you have to ask? I've seen worse, of course, but Hundley's cap has that dark/blotchy/glassy look that is evident on a lot of doctored card photos in this era. Of course, that TRADED banner conveniently blocks out a good portion of the photo that might also have needed some dressing up.

If you are interested in obtaining a card featured here, please send me an e-mail. If you have a card you would like to nominate for Airbrushed Fridays, please get in touch as well. I will require that I am able to see the card in person, either on loan or as a donation, so that I can examine the card and experience it in all its cruddiness.

Pick 'Em Contest: Still Time Left

There's less than 24 hours left to sign up for the College Bowl Pick 'Em Contest (win free baseball cards!) Technically, you could sign up after tomorrow morning's deadline and still be eligible for some of the prizes, but not locking in your picks for the first games will certainly hinder your chances at winning.

Good luck to all of the participants! We already have more involved this year than ever before.

No "Airbrushed Fridays" post today because I feel like giving Topps a break. I'll make up for it later or something.