This Week on MSO-Wolverines

It’s Sunday, time to recap the pictures that I post on My Sports Obsession – Wolverines blog.

After clinching at least a tie for the Big Ten Championship yesterday, it worked out that this post is basketball heavy.  Now let’s cheer for 2 more wins to clinch an outright championship instead of a shared one.  Not to mention, who the hell wants to lose.

Michigan takes down little brother again.

Vintage T-shirt

Trey Burke – Skills champ

Tim Hardaway jr.

Gerald Ford (1934)

Highlights from Michigan’s loss to Wisconsin

Meryl Davis and Charlie White

Trey Burke

Olympic Sprinter Ed Tolan (1929)

Trey Burke

Alley-Oop to Glen Robinson III

Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose and Chris Webber

Glenn Robinson III portrait designed with the lyrics to Hail to the Victors

If you had trouble loading all these pics, you can also view them at My Sports Obsession – Wolverines, be sure to follow us on Facebook as well so you can share your love for the Wolverines with all your friends.  I’ll be back next Sunday.

Putting the "M" in the NHL: hockey alumni on active rosters

Today's TV lineup features the NFL's conference championships, which dictate which two teams will square off in the Super Bowl in a couple weeks.  Naturally, then, today's post is about hockey.  I figure there will be enough time to talk about the Big Game before then, but now that the NHL is back, today seemed like a good day to have a look at which former Michigan icers are in the pros--specifically those on the big clubs, not minor league affiliates.  I'm then hoping I remember to take another look at how these guys are doing a bit later in the season.

I used MGoBlue.com's Wolverines in the National Hockey League page as a starting point, then verified those players and found a few more using ESPN.com and NHL.com.  Also, all non-PC images are courtesy of COMC.com.

Anaheim:

Andrew Cogliano (F)

Calgary:

Mike Cammalleri (F)

Colorado:

Matt Hunwick (D)

Kevin Porter (F)

Columbus:

Jack Johnson (D)

Dallas:

Eric Nystrom (F)

Minnesota:

Steve Kampfer (D)

Montreal:

Max Pacioretty (F)

Aaron Palushaj (F)

New York Rangers:

Carl Hagelin (F)

Chad Kolarik (F)

Phoenix:

David Moss (F)

St. Louis:

T.J. Hensick (F)

Toronto:

Mike Brown (F)

Mike Komisarek (D)

Vancouver:

Andrew Ebbett (F)

Winnepeg:

Al Montoya (G)

There's not a whole lot of teams up there that I root for, but hopefully the Red Wings will make the list soon as F Mike Knuble rejoined the team on a minor league contract.  GO BLUE in the NHL!

Sometimes "PC" stands for "Pretty Cool" instead

While doing some research for a post I was gonna write up today about how Michigan's baseball alumni in MLB did over the course of the season, I started entering the minor leaguers' names into COMC to see if anything came up.  Most of the names were fairly familiar to me, but I wasn't surprised when very few of them turned up anything--I'm lucky to have the likes of Matt Miller, Ryan LaMarre, Zach Putnam and Bobby Scales, really.

However, I took a shot at a recent, but unfamiliar, name, and was pleasantly surprised by the two pages of results I got back.  I headed over to Beckett to see what his print run looked like and discovered that it wasn't bad at all.  And thus, today was born my hitherto unknown Jason Christian PC!

Album (Picasa Web Albums)

Spreadsheet (Google Docs)

There's a few cool things at work here.  First of all, I already have a pair of his cards thanks to my pursuit of 2010 Bowman/Prospects and Chrome Prospects--I have his base regular (above) and Chrome cards:

Second, this might get me back into actually paying attention to the backs of cards since this one actually does briefly highlight his Michigan career:

(I think Topps missed a great opportunity to say "Followed Barry Larkin's career closely while growing up in Cincinnati, then followed his career path to Michigan.")

Next, it gives me another Michigan player to learn about:  Christian was a SS for the Wolverines, then was drafted by Oakland in the 5th round back in 2008 (one of four Michigan players selected that year).  He's now a 3B in the Braves' system after coming over in a trade from the Reds in 2012.

Finally, he created a streak of which I was previously unaware:  thanks to his appearance in 2009 Donruss Elite Extra Edition.  Michigan was represented in EEE for three straight years--2008-2010.  '08 included TMM favorite Zach Putnam, and 2010 featured fellow PCees Ryan LaMarre and Matt Miller.  And of course EEE cards are the best and feature players in college (or high school) unis, which means here you'll see  great shots of Christian playing for Michigan.  I gotta have 'em all!

Beckett tells me he's got a total of 30 cards, including 11 1/1s, which means I really have 19 I'm going to seriously pursue.  Thanks to a little digging, I already have two of those, and lots more are available on COMC (if not elsewhere) for the next time I decide to go hog wild there (unless you guys would like to buy them for me?).  Really, just a couple parallels #d /5 will make this pursuit any kind of challenge, but it'll be fun working on it all the same.

So welcome to the PC, Jason Christian, and thanks for helping me realize that collection (and card backs) can be Pretty Cool!

Couple of cards with Hart

Hello all, I realize I haven’t been around too much lately but I’m trying to get back into the swing of things.  I’ve been following our basketball team fairly closely.  Last night’s loss to Purdue didn’t help us much.  But at least it’s nice going into the last few games and not talking about our team being on the bubble.  We are definitely in the NCAA Tourney this year.  And if this team can get rolling at the right time, we have an outside chance of winning it all.

I’ve also been following “spring training” for our baseball team.  This is the first year I’ve actually paid attention to the games, it would be nice if I could watch more.  I don’t know how many games make it to the Big Ten Network but I’m hoping some of them do.

But that’s not really what this post is about.  I picked up a couple of hits for my Mike Hart PC.  I actually got them awhile back but just haven’t been around to post too much.

• Mike Hart – 2008 Upper Deck SPx Super Scripts autograph ($1.22/shipped)
• Mike Hart - 2008 Topps Finest rookie auto ($2.06/shipped)

The SPx auto came in a lot of 13 cards that I paid $3 to ship.  Always check out the sellers other cards before paying, discounted shipping is the best way to save money on ebay.  Dennis got a few of those cards in our last trade, as well as some for my other baseball collections.  The Topps Finest was a single, so I was really shocked to get it at just over $2.

As always, be true to the Maize and Blue.

Next year for some, this year for others

Well, that was clearly another classic Super Bowl, and while I'm crushed that Brady and the pats came up JUST SHORT (and actually narrowly cost me a few bucks), I do have a few things to be thankful for.  For one thing, Brady had another excellent overall game, aside from the safety and costly pick.  A couple dropped passes fall his way and we're talking about Montana and Bradshaw knocking people over to get his autograph. I still know he's ahead of any QB named Manning (while I give Eli lots of credit for beating Brady head-to-head in Super Bowls twice, Brady's body of work is much more impressive, at least for now, though he's made quite a resume for himself) and that when all is said and done, he'll be one of the top three QBs ever.

More importantly, two more Michigan Men will get rings--center David Baas and WR Mario Manningham.

Eli, whose highest completed level of education was Ole Miss, and therefore a second grade reading level, often gets easily confused when he sees Mario's jersey and thinks he's supposed to be eating ham

I'm especially happy for Mario because he made one of the greatest Super Bowl catches ever on the Giants' game-winning drive, then piled up a few more receptions on the same drive after being frustratingly ignored by slack-jawed yokel QB Eli Manning for most of the game.  Check out a video of the reception, made over-the-shoulder while dealing with two defenders right in front of the Pats' sideline.  He just manages to drag both feet in-bounds while maintaining possession on a very difficult catch (bullshit Calvin Johnson rule need not apply here) that was reviewed and ultimately upheld.  With the Giants in the shadow of their own end zone and behind late in the game, that was huge.  His total:  five of nine targets for 73 yards and a team-leading 14.6 YPC.

Who's awesome?  YOU'RE awesome!

So congrats to the Giants who, thanks to Eli Manning, executed comeback after comeback this year after falling behind often, thanks to Eli Manning, who's at least not as bad as his overrated older brother who's only won ONE Super Bowl (how lame is that?).  But they clearly couldn't have done it without Baas and my vote for Super Bowl MVP, Mario Manningham.  He's the New Math, baby!

I guess what I'm trying to say is, go Super Mario and GO BLUE!

The Manningham Difference:  the Michigan difference

Blowout/COMC/eBay Blowout 2012: Day 1

Happy Sunday, everyone!  It's been a great weekend of NFL playoffs with more action on the way this afternoon.  A quick note for those interested, these former Wolverines remain on teams alive in the playoffs (as of before Sunday's games):

• 49ers:  Jonathan Goodwin (also coached by Jim Harbaugh)
• Giants:  David Baas, Mario Manningham
• Packers:  Charles Woodson
• Patriots:  Tom Brady, Zoltan Mesko
• Ravens:  None
• Texans:  Tim Jamison

I'm pulling against the Giants because, honestly, who likes Eli Manning, or any Manning for that matter?  And obviously I hope the Ravens die a quick death for their anti-Michigan roster.  Now that Woodson picked up his ring last year, I'm 100% for the Patriots this year, and if they can't pull it off, I'd be fine with a Green Bay repeat, with a 49ers title in Harbaugh's first year a close third.  Go Blue in the NFL!

Now, onto card-related matters.  Those of you who are my more devoted readers might remember that around this time a year ago I was just finishing up a series of posts covering a plethora of cards I had picked up mainly via the Blowoutcards forums.  They were some of my most popular posts, and for some reason, day 2 remains my #4 most-read post of all time.

Well I have some good news for those of you that enjoyed last year's feature:  I've made a similar group of purchases, this time not only via Blowout, but also from COMC and eBay.  I'm happy to say that this year's haul should live up to last year's, and maybe even then some.  So over the next week or two, stay tuned for a blowout of Michigan-themed goodness courtesy of those three sites (not to mention eBay bucks and some Christmas money!).

Day 1 brought me cards from my all-time favorite Blowout seller, mdskyhawks.  This was my 6th purchase from the guy and I've been very satisfied each time.  I should even note that this order was missing one card--a Steve Hutchinson jersey--because he accidentally swapped in a Shaun Alexander relic, but he's already sent out the correct card and told me to keep the Alexander, which is excellent customer service.  He's always been easy to work with, his prices are excellent and his inventory is huge, plus his shipments always get to me quickly, so if you buy via Blowout, make sure to check him and his massive Buckets out!

So what did his latest package add to my PC?  Besides a bit of trade bait for a couple other bloggers, who should see those cards very soon, I nabbed these for myself:

Alan Branch 2007 UD Premier Premier Penmanship auto:  My 11th Alan Branch (all autos!) is this one, #ed 11/99 from one of UD's higher-end sets.  Interesting sidenote:  I have three multiplayer autos on which Branch is included.

Brandon Graham 2010 Crown Royale auto RC:  Brandon Graham #9 (8 autographs and a plate) is from the spiffy looking 2010 Crown Royale set.  I wish the sticker was more transparent, but the crown die-cut design looks great.  This is #d 150/249.

Braylon Edwards 2007 Upper Deck Artifacts Photoshoot Flashback Fabrics dual jersey:  I don't think Braylon EVER smiles for his pictures, and it's even funnier that he just has his rookie photo shoot jersey draped over his shoulder like he just doesn't care.  #d 030/350, (right in the middle, it's difficult to see, even in-person) this is my 34th Braylon, tying him for 2nd with the guy you'll see next.

Chad Henne 2008 Leaf Certified Materials Rookie Fabric of the Game jersey

Chad Henne 2008 Stadium Club Beam Team jersey:  This pair of Henne jerseys puts Chad, along with Braylon, at a very respectable 34, one behind currently leader Jake Long.  The Certified jersey is #ed 098/250 while the Stadium Club is unnumbered.  Between the two I still prefer the latter, though, because I really miss the always outstanding Stadium Club.  Topps puts out about 5,000 sets every year, yet they have to kill one of the few that's actually good....

Gabe Watson 2006 Select Inscriptions auto RC:  My fourth card of Big Gabe Watson is also my fourth auto/RC, and come to think of it, all of them are pretty shiny like this one, which is #ed 169/200.

Jake Long 2008 SPx Rookie Winning Materials triple jersey:  Yep, I always say it's not a purchase/trade package without something of Jake Long--had this one not included this very card, I'd have a three-way tie for first place in the PC!  I've never exactly been in love with some of the lesser versions of this Winning Materials set because the ones with a single relic on them end up looking pretty dumb.  A triple relic #d 03/75 is just fine in my book, though, so Long continues his death grip on first place with his 35th addition to the PC.
 

Shawn Crable 2008 Threads auto RC:  Finally, we end things today with just my 3rd Shawn Crable (all autographs in this case, too, which is cool).  #ed 265/299, this auto/RC ties in well with the Pats' victory over Tebow of Nazareth and his Broncos this weekend, even if Crable is no longer with New England.

The damage for these nine cards, plus the still-to-come Hutchinson jersey, (and the accidentally-sent Shaun Alexander, which I get to keep) plus a card that's already been shipped elsewhere, was a ridiculous $26 shipped.  That's why this seller is still my favorite on Blowout, and why I'll keep buying from him time after time.

Tune in very soon for some more blowout action!