stupid sportspicks.  What are they doing out this soon after Christmas

Pure madhouse this morning.  17 people waiting outside the doors of one Walmart.   Looked like the start to a 1500 meter Olympic championship, but it was purely a sprint  Craziness.  Ever seen a 50 year old woman swear at a 25 year old guy?  It ain't pretty.

Boy, does this sound familiar!  

Back at ya.  Should have my NHL7 case on Tuesday  I might already have a few variants

NASCAR series 2 announced  Looks moderately repetetive to me.

I saw it.  But it left me seriously wanting.  clicky-clicky

I shan't comment on the basketball or baseball lines, since I don't collect those.  Football is not too bad, but even as a big Vikings fan I'm wondering why they are redoing Moss and Culpepper.  As I've said elsewhere the only reason to redo them is to have figures with their heads hung in shame after missing the playoffs following a 6-0 start.  People complain that they are expensive and hard to come by to which I reply BS.  Both can be had for not that much more than cost and shipping.  Culpepper's reg can pretty easily be had for cost.  Some of the other football is surprising in the sense of rehashes.  Manning is deserving, but unnecessary IMO.  Still easily available.  Holmes too.  Urlacher two packs are clearanced as I understand it.  Strange thought process.  

Being more of a hockey guy I was quite dissappointed by the next two lineups.  Mostly collecting goalies and I thought the choices were horrible.  

Boucher?  9-9-7 this year.  In spite of his shutout record, he's a career backup.

Theodore?  good year - bad - bad - good year.  That's deserving of a second sportspick?

Aebischer?  Great record, but is it because of a great goalie or a lot of goals being scored by a talent laden lineup?  Selanne, Kariya, Sakic, Forsberg, Hejduk, Tanguay, etc.  I see an offense oriented team here.  Not to say Aebischer won't become a premier goalie, but this is a pick based on high sales of Avs players rather than a decent goalie.  

Brodeur2?  Best goalie in hockey now and potentially historically when he's done.  But he's just now being released in the two pack.  We have series 1 and Team Canada, both of which are difficult to get, but still....  No accurate mask, no multiple Devils jerseys.  I accept this pick, but think it's too soon, unless...

Is this a lockout lineup?  Did TMP primarily pick a lineup that could be made with relatively few new players for some reason, perhaps that these series will not be produced in the forseeable future?  I have to think so.  Hardly need a Naslund2, Jagr2 , Thornton2, Brodeur2, Theodore2, Boucher2, Sakic4.  Some great, great picks in there like Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Leetch, but overall, I won't be ordering cases for that lineup.  

I'm now dearly hoping for a lockout of significant duration followed by the release of two series of hockey Legends.  

Orr
Gretzky
Kurri
Hawerchuk
Esposito (Phil or Tony)
Dryden
Lafleur
Neely
Makita
Hull (Bobby)
Brad Park
Tim Horton
Plante
Tretiak
Henderson (in Team Canada jersey - remember 72?)
.....

Don't despair, Mikey!  There's also a 2-pack Nomar that's packaged with Jeter.

Yeah, but you can pretend that Nomar is trying to spike Jeter at second.

Nope.  But only because of the fact I already disposed of my Bertuzzi's from my case.  Good hockey player, bad decision.  Don't buy the tears but the suspension fits, IMO.  

I'm already pretty selective of who I keep with my SPs anyway but I suppose I could be influenced by the actions of an individual to make me dump a particular piece.  I don't think Bertuzzi meant it to go to that extent, but the punishment does fit.  He'll lose close to a million in salary, bonuses and possibly endorsements so he's definitely paying.  


Now, for something completley different.  Dale has been gracious enough to host a couple of pics for me and I am most pleased to present a rather rare and complete collection of Selanne figs (if they aren't here when you look, come back later).