Steve McNair Card Gallery

Here's a sample of some Steve McNair cards out of my collection spanning his career.

1995 Classic Draft

Here's Air McNair scrambling for the Alcorn State Braves. Steve passed for 5,377 yards and 47 TDs his senior season and was chosen 3rd overall by the Houston Oilers.

1995 Flair RC

The thick, glossy, foil textured Flair set was about as classy as football cards got in 1995. I like this card because is shows Steve in both his Alcorn State and Houston Oilers uniform.

1995 Fleer Metal Gold Blasters insert

Fleer Metal is just incredible, isn't it? You should see it in person. This is before blaster meant what it means today - there's an smoldering explosion on the back of the card.

1997 Playoff Absolute Beginnings

The theme behind the '97 Playoff Absolute set was the players' hometowns and high school feats. Mount Olive, Mississippi can be seen in the map behind Steve. That's where he was an All-State and All-American quarterback and free safety. Steve also got drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 1991.

1996-97 Fleer Goudey

What you thought Upper Deck was the first company to ripp off Goudey? Oh no. This card is original Goudey size and has very dark borders and back to mimic an old well worn card, which seems a bit odd on a card that is perfectly mint.

1997 Donruss Elite Promo

I though Donruss jumped the shark when Elite went from a limited insert set to a card brand. The inserts always seemed more classy and high end than the foilboard mess the set eventually became. This here is a promo card and not one of the inserts that could be pulled from packs.

1997 Marvel Metal Universe insert

I wish this card scanned better, because Captain America flying out from behind Steve is really cool. I'm with Mario on this one, Upper Deck should really just dump X or Artifacts or Spectrum or one of those worthless products they poot out and bring back Metal Universe in all its excessive gaudiness.

1998 Leaf Rookies and Stars MVP Contenders #1946/2500

Steve went from MVP Contender to MVP Winner when he shared the award with Peyton Manning in 2003 after a career season where he had a career high 24 TDs and a 100.4 QB rating.

1998 Skybox Soul of the Game insert

This card is so cheesy, but I love it. '90s die-cut cards could get really crazy, but the record coming out of the '60s style album cover is just perfect to me. The back suffers hilariously from the late '90s Skybox horribly fake "street" copywriting. Dig this crazy writeup, baby:

You definitely don't fake the funk. Not now and especially not back in the day. NCAA was your house. The one and only to ever gain 16,000 yeard in his collegiate career. Not good enough? Boom! Big Mac also set the collegiate record by averaging 400.5 total yards of offense per game. If you don't know now, you better ask someone.

HOW AWESOME IS THAT. Word to your mother's uncle.

1999 Fleer

Thankfully Fleer was a lot more sober with their late '90s offerings. This photo of McNair thowing in the snow at Lambeau is incredible.

1999 Playoff Momentum SP

This is probably my favorite football set ever. The first 100 cards were etched foilboard, the next 50 were one per pack acetate cards whole the last fifty were wtched acetate rookies. The whole set is gorgeous and this card with the holographic flaming Titalns logo behind Steve is one of his best looking base cards.

1999 Donruss Preferred Bronze, Silver and Gold base card versions

This rainbow of McNairs isn't made up of parallels, these were all base cards in the Preferred set. The Bronze cards were common, Silvers uncommon and Golds fairly tough. What do you expect from a set that came packaged inside a tin?

2000 Score

Steve jumps in the arms of a lineman during his Super Bowl year of1999.

2000 Score Team 2000 insert #1541/1995

This reprint of Steve's 1995 Score rookie card honors the fact that Score chose him as one of their top 20 rookies from their first ten years of football sets.

2000 Collector's Edge Supreme Route XXXIV insert

This insert set commemorates the Super Bowl matchup between the Rams and Titans in Atlanta. One of the greatest Super Bowls of all time - in my home city - and I had to listen to the first three quarters of the game on internet radio because the ice storm knocked out my cable.

2000 Pacific Crown Royale In the Pocket insert

Now why the heck is Steve McNair listed as a 2000 rookie?

Because there's a tiny little card of Thomas Jones stuck in the back! The Rookie logo is peeking out a clear window with a holographic Titans logo embedded in the McNair card. Pacific thought up some weird card ideas.

2000 Private Stock PS2000 New Wave #116/202

I love all tobacco card sized mini cards. Not so sure about the big serial number on the front though.

2002 Topps Heritage

Steve is on a vintage 1957 Topps football design here. I'm kind of bummed that Heritage never caught on in Football, I really like those old designs.

2002 Pacific Atomic

Whatever happened to the all die-cut base card designs? This kind of wacky idea just doesn't happen anymore now that there's only one or two manufacturers producing cards in every sport.

2006 Fleer The Franchise insert

Steve certainly was the Titans' franchise player (well, along with Eddie George) for a decade. However, 2006 was the year Steve moved on to lead the Ravens.

2007 Score

My football collection since about 2002 is pretty spotty and I don't have a lot of cool recent McNair cards to show off. After the card companies got greedy in 2001 and short printed virtually all rookies that year to cash in on Michael Vick I became somewhat disillusioned with football cards. Funny how when customers get screwed, sometimes they never come back. I was able to find this Score card of McNair from his Ravens days. After being let go from the Titans, McNair had a fantastic year with the Ravens in '06, going 13-3 before losing to eventual NFL Champs Indianapolis in the playoffs.

After looking through my Steve McNair colletion, I discovered I have quite a few doubles of McNair. If anyone out there is a fan and would like some McNair cards, shoot me an e-mail and I'll see what I can do.

I told you I went A&G crazy but you didn't believe me

WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME???

So, inspired by an offhand comment in this post, I satisfied Tunguska's request and Did a Cliff's Notes Allen & Ginter card:


Then, I sort of went off a Cliff so to speak.

Oh, I think that would be very fine behavior for a Cliff Richard fan!

For someone who actually believes the lyrics to 'Devil Woman' have got something to say!

Cliff Johnson has become my favorite card from 1982 Topps. When I went off the Cliff, this was the very first Cliffy baseball card I thought of.

This card has never been in my kitchen.

These things are good. I used to eat them all the time when I, uh, hiked up mountains and stuff. That's the ticket.

And the obvious:

Th-th-th-th-th-th-th-that's all folks!

(I'll fix this one once I have a horizontal card template)

One more just for Beardy...

Hey Sony BMG, Embedding disabled by request is a lousy way to advertise your music



Here's the extended remix anyway.

Ok, looks like I'm doing requests now. Here ya go David.


I'll get this request eventually (From Jason T. most likely) so here it is:

Aaaaaand why not? Let's see if he notices.

(this is fun)

The Cardboard Junkie 2009 Allen & Ginter Freakout has officially begun

IT'S HEEEEEERE. Live. Available to the public. You can't pre-sell a one of one, 2009 Allen & Ginter is open for business. Mario with the scoop as always. I can now officially go Allen & Ginter Crazy.

AND I SHALL

I finally got up the courage to watch the Beckett break. For all you conspiracy theorists out there, I'll have you know they only pull four of the ten possible 1/1 cut autos instead of the seven they usually are allotted. You can watch the break here if you wish (the cards pulled are actually pretty interesting), but I'm not responsible for personal items broken in a fit of rage or any cardiac-related medical conditions suffered by my more excitable readers out there. I was able to get through the break with only mild nausea caused by Chris Olds' reciting of the autograph list. Michael Phelps, Michael Phelps, Michael Phelps, Michael Phelps, Michael Phelps, Michael Phelps, Michael Phelps, Michael Phelps. MEH.

In other news, The Case Breakers are hard at work and posting on eBay. Well, there's at least a few of boxes worth of inserts up there. Since I am sadly not likely to have the time or the resources to build all the insert sets this year I will instead do what I did with the Heritage SPs and download the images off of eBay instead. No I'm not kidding, in March I did an eBay search for "2009 Heritage SP" and downloaded the best image I could find of each short printed card. There's always a way to be a collector even in the toughest of times. Expect non-stop Ginter for the next couple of weeks folks, we're off on a crazy ride...

RIP Steve McNair

This year gets worse and worse...

I lived in Nashville for a year back in the '90s and followed McNair's Oilers and Titans teams closely. The Titans sort of became my AFC team and I was a big fan of Steve. I don't even know what to say about this. I've got a pile of McNair cards filed away and I'll try to get a gallery up tonight.

Here's a quick one, I've got more coming once I get the time to scan them:

1996 Leaf American All-Star

Sadly appropriate for today.

Also, this comment from Bay Rat is worth repeating:

When I was working in Vicksburg, MS, Steve was in his last year at the NCAA Division Two level. Some guys I managed were students at Alcorn State and invited me down to shoot some hoops. After about 30 mins on the court a slightly faded, early 80's Nissan Z pulls up to the court. Out steps McNair. Crowd gathers. My friends laugh as Steve lines up opposite me. After a few minutes he goes for the lane, starts his leap, palms me in the face, pushes off and dunks. 200 people scream happily, laugh, taunt and grab crotches while saying "Damn" "Awe Shit, man" and other stuff. I walk off the court with head held low as Steve laughs and pats me on the back. Steve McNair made me the other guy on the poster.
That is my favorite Steve moment. Even after humiliating me he offered a few words of encouragement.
We'll miss you Steve.

And why not

He wrote the bloody thing after all...

2006 Topps Declaration of Independence and Constitution Wantlists

The best line from this or any other movie:



(wait for it)

This seems like a good day to post this... If anyone collects this set (or doesn't and just has some lying around) Here are the cards I need to finish off my Declaration of Independence and Signers of the Constitution insert sets from 2006 Topps.

Declaration of Independence


Abraham Clark
Caesar Rodney
George Ross (have Chrome version)
George Wythe (have Chrome version)
John Witherspoon
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Stone
William Ellery
William Floyd
William Hooper

Signers of the Constitution

Abraham Baldwin
John Blair
William Blount
William Livingston
James Madison
Thomas Mifflin
Governeur Morris
Charles Pinckney

I have these available in trade for anyone who needs 'em:

Declaration of Independence
Benjamin Harrison
James Wilson
Lewis Morris
Lyman Hall
Matthew Thornton
Richard Henry Lee
Richard Stockton
Roger Sherman
Stephen Hopkins

Signers of the Constitution
Johnathan Dayton
Thomas Fitzsimons
Nathaniel Gorham
Nicholas Gilman
Richard Dobbs Spaight

If you have/need any of these jus' let me know...

July 4th unsolicited Amazon plug + another contest

Amazon.com is giving away a free MP3 of The Star Spangled Banner to anyone in the US with an Amazon account.

My choice: MOJO

If MP3s aren't your thing, Bad Wax has a Mystery card giveaway contest up, try to figure out the card from the clues!

King George read it, so can you

In Congress, July 4, 1776.
A Declaration
By the Representatives of the
United states of America,
In general Congress assembled.

When in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation.

We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness—-That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security. Such has been the patient Sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the Necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The History of the Present King of Great-Britain is a History of repeated Injuries and Usurpations, all having in direct Object the Establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid World.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public Good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing Importance, unless suspended in their Operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the Accommodation of large Districts of People; unless those People would relinquish the Right of Representation in the Legislature, a Right inestimable to them, and formidable to Tyrants only.

He has called together Legislative Bodies at Places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the Depository of their public Records, for the sole Purpose of fatiguing them into Compliance with his Measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly Firmness his Invasions on the Rights of the People.

He has refused for a long Time, after such Dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the Dangers of Invasion from without, and Convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the Population of these States; for that Purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their Migrations hither, and raising the Conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the Tenure of their Offices, and Amount and Payment of their Salaries.

He has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their Substance.

He has kept among us, in Times of Peace, Standing Armies, without the consent of our Legislature.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a Jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution, and unacknowledged by our Laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large Bodies of Armed Troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all Parts of the World:

For imposing taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us, in many Cases, of the Benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended Offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an arbitrary Government, and enlarging its Boundaries, so as to render it at once an Example and fit Instrument for introducing the same absolute Rule in these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with Powers to legislate for us in all Cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our Seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our Towns, and destroyed the Lives of our People.

He is, at this Time, transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the Works of Death, Desolation, and Tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and Perfidy, scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous Ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized Nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the Executioners of their Friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic Insurrections among us, and has endeavoured to bring on the Inhabitants of our Frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known Rule of Warfare, is an undistinguished Destruction, of all Ages, Sexes and Conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions we have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble Terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated Injury. A Prince, whose Character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the Ruler of a free People.

Nor have we been wanting in Attentions to our British Brethren. We have warned them from Time to Time of Attempts by their Legislature to extend an unwarrantable Jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the Circumstances of our Emigration and Settlement here. We have appealed to their native Justice and Magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the Ties of our common Kindred to disavow these Usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our Connections and Correspondence. They too have been deaf to the Voice of Justice and of Consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the Necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of Mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace, Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the Rectitude of our Intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly Publish and Declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political Connection between them and the State of Great-Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of the divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

Signed by Order and in Behalf of the Congress,
John Hancock, President.

Attest.
Charles Thomson, Secretary.

Or, if you can't read, listen to some actors reading it instead.

Two more giveaways and an anniversary

It's a holiday weekend and I'm not in the mood to do anything. ESPECIALLY BLOG. My computer is acting stupid and I don't want to deal with it. So here's a giveaway and a contest to keep you busy.

Stats on the Back is having another "blow out my entire collection" thing. Go claim some stuff.

Traded Sets is holding a caption contest. Go here and figure out what Mike Fetters is writing.

If someone else is giving away something else, put a link in the comments 'cause I don't think I'm going to get back online for a while.

Finally, happy first to Cardboard Icons. Here's to many more.

D'OH ALL STAR BALLOT

I totally forgot to vote for the All-Star Game. I better do that now... Voting ends tonight at midnight.

My choices for the record: (as I make them)

American League:

1B: Kevin Youkilis
I very nearly voted for Russell Branyan just because, but I can't STAND friggin' Mark Teixeira. Go Youk!

2B: Ian Kinsler
Aaron Hill of Toronto deserves the starting nod the most, but Kinsler deserves it more than Dustin Pedroia. BoSox fans got my Youk vote, don't get greedy.

3B: Evan Longoria
This isn't even close.

SS: Jason Bartlett
There's no chance in hell he overtakes Jeter, but he's hitting FIFTY FIVE POINTS HIGHER than him. Get voting, Rays fans!

OF: Ichiro
OF: Torii Hunter
OF: Carl Crawford
The reason I left Jason Bay off my ballot is because he is very comfortably in first place in voting among outfielders and someone has to knock off Josh Hamilton after the injury-filled first half he has had. Torii and Crawford are both deserving anyway. If it came down to it, I would have chosen Torii just for his 2007 Allen & Ginter card.

C: Joe Mauer.
THREE NINETY TWO. 'nuff said.

National League:

1B: Albert Pujols
Who else? I want the NL to actually win one of these decades.

2B: Martin Prado
BECAUSE MARTIN PRADO IS AWESOME. (Utley has already won hands down anyway, hush up Phillie fans)

3B: CHIPPER JONES

SS: Hanley Ramirez
Hanley better beat out Mendoza Line J-Roll.

OF: Ryan Braun
OF: Carlos Beltran (barf)
OF: Shane Victorino
Raul Ibanez is hurt and Alfonso Soriano sucks. And screw Manny, I'd rather see Matt Kemp on the team.

C: BRIAN McCANN
Yadier Molina?? Are you F'n kidding me? BENJIE Molina has better stats than Yadier! McCann is the best catcher in baseball the National League!

Ok there's my picks, now I need to vote 24 more times...

Stuff inna mail: part 3.1: Packs from the Frozen North

I got a package covered in customs forms and Canadian stamps yesterday. It was from Ernest of Canada who offered to send me some interesting stuff. THAT IT WAS. There was a pack of complete randomness (and I mean complete randomness) and also another pouch of four unopened packs. Here are three of them, the fourth is being saved for a video rip.

2008-2009 NHL LNH Panini Hockey stickers

Since Panini is now officially selling card in the US (the first Prestige pack I saw at Target with the Panini logo unnerved me greatly) it's appropriate that I now have a packet of stickers to bust. One net thing about these is that they are pretty huge for stickers. Almost the size of 1975 Topps mini cards. Maybe this will help me sort out my hockey crisis.

2008-2009 Panini FUTEBOL stickers

Well these are obviously soccer- uh, football... uh futebol stickers. Is there futebol in Canadia? I'm clueless. Watching the FIFA Fed Cup games this past weekend I learned two things: watching real quality international footsieball is awesome, and I know bugger all about how the sport works. For example: The Pursuit of 80'sness sent me a bunch of sticker packets and I planned to save them until some big soccer thing was going on. Then I blew it and remembered them in the second half of the US-Brazil match. I'm going to get my act together and post 'em all this month.

1986 O-Pee-Chee

O-Pee-Chee is all the rage right now and I'm sort of jonesing for some '86 Topps right now so this is pretty much the perfect pack.

Plus it's got my favorite anti-drug message on back! GET HIGH ON BASEBALL!!!

Good schtuff for rippin! Thanks Ernest of Canada!

Why the heck did Greg Gross have a box bottom card anyway??

For his 125th pinch hit of his career, that's why!

The Winner's Spoils

We have a winner in the contest, here are his choices for the trophies of victory:

1991 Fleer Box Bottom Nolan Ryan cut with an Xacto knife with straight edge

And of course this one came out the worst due to ruler slippage. Eh, it's Nolan. He's tough. He can take a cockeyed edge. As you will notice, I only cut the cards away from their brethren on the panel. Jim can clean up the sides as he desires. Why deny him the joy of cutting cards?

1990 Fleer Box Bottom Robin Yount cut with an Xacto knife with no guide

This one didn't turn out too bad, although it's a little squirrelly in places. At least it's a straight squirrelly.

1989 Fleer Box Bottom George Brett cut with an Xacto knife using my left hand

At Motherscratcher's suggestion I tried one lefty. I will neither confirm nor deny if beers were inviolved. The bottom isn't great, but I think I did a good job on the side. I was pleasantly surprised by my ambidexterity with sharp objects.

1989 Fleer Box Bottom Greg Gross cut with plain ol' scissors

HE ACTUALLY PICKED GREG GROSS. I guess I got lucky that a Phillies fan won the contest, eh? The scissors actually worked out the best, probably from lots of practice when I was a kid. I stayed on the line and you can actually see black on both cards. Remember kiddos, Stay away from the skeery guillotines and use plain ol' scissors when dismantling your panels.

Play 'em off Keyboard Cat

I'm glad Chris did this 'cause if he didn't I would have had to do it.



Speaking of Epic Fail, what the hell is this blasphemy??

Jackie Robinson retires rather than become a Giant, so Topps decides to desecrate his memory and 'shop a New York Giant uni on him.

YOU SUCK TOPPS

You suck.

Contest winner and more free schtuff

JIM

You are teh winnar! e-mail me with your card preferences and I'll get 'em off to you.

Also, the Collective Troll is giving away team sets from 20071987 Donruss Opening Day. Claim yours today!

The List

Here is the contest entry list. You have until 6:00pm Eastern to review and alert me to errors or request an appeal. Ben got three bonus entries for hacking a box with a big ol' knife. Speak now or forever hold your peace.

Stormy
Stormy bonus
Joe S.
Joe S. bonus
Matt
Motherscratcher
Motherscratcher bonus 1
Motherscratcher bonus 2
Motherscratcher bonus 3
Motherscratcher bonus 4
Motherscratcher bonus 5
Greg
Greg bonus 1
Greg bonus 2
Greg bonus 3
Night Owl
Night Owl bonus
White Sox Cards
Jeffrey Wolfe
Jeffrey Wolfe Bonus
McCann Can Triple
Don
Don bonus
mmosley
mikepelfreyshouse
Jim
Jim bonus
Alec
Alec bonus
Todd Uncommon
Todd Uncommon bonus
dinged corners
dinged corners bonus 1
dinged corners bonus 2
Ben
Ben bonus
Ben machete bonus 1
Ben machete bonus 2
Ben machete bonus 3
Drew
Fuji
Tom
JD's Daddy
JD's Daddy bonus 1
JD's Daddy bonus 2
JD's Daddy bonus 3
Al K
Fan of Reds
Andy
cardboardicons
AdamE 1
AdamE 2
AdamE 3
Dan 1
Dan 2
Dan 3
Dan 4
Dan 5
Dan 6
Dan 7
Dan 8
Dan 9
Dan 10

┌─┐
┴─┴
ಠ_ರೃ
ASCII monocle guy is watching YOU

Free Stickers and bonus existential crisis

* NOTE - The box bottom card entry list has been created and will be going into the list randomizer soon. Results will be announced by 6:00pm Eastern.

Puck Junk is giving away free hockey logo stickers from Panini so go get you some sticky goodness. Since the stickers are from the '90s there is no Thrashers sticker, but it's got me thinking. Do I really even like the Thrashers anymore? They've been pathetic most of their existence. The one time they made the playoffs they were swept. They've drafted horribly and gotten rid of most of the decent players they've drafted in ill-advised trades. And I'm still hurting from the Dany Heatley thing. I didn't even watch a single Thrashers game on TV last season. Not one. I was actually a bigger hockey fan before the Thrashers existed because I followed several teams and a few favorite players like Yzerman, Chelios and Coffey. The straw that broke the camel's back on my Thrashers fandom were those awful blue alternate sweaters. BARF.

I'm seriously thinking of ditching the Thrash altogether and officially giving my allegience to another franchise just so I can enjoy hockey again. Problem is, I'm not sure which one. Let's make a contest out of it. Any Hockey Fans out there (capitalization intentional) who want to sway me to become a fan of your team, start thinking up reasons for me to switch. If a disciple of Braveheart guy wants to try to keep me in the fold, then think of some ways to talk me off the ledge. The person who can lead me to the right team to follow gets some free hockey cards. I'll post the official contest in the next week or so, I need to make any switch in the offseason so I can ramp up for '09-10. In the meantime go get your

free hockey logo stickers

from Puck Junk.

Thoughts on the game at 1AM

I just can't go to a game this year without a rain delay or extra innings, can I? Here's a little sleep derived stream of consciousness on my third game of the year.

Left field seats are great in the evening, lots of shade.

Never take Marta to a Braves game. I could have parked two cars in the most expensive lot for less than what it cost me to take the train tonight.

Nate McLouth was on the program, not in the game.

My friend and I ripped on Jeff Francoeur mercilessly before the game and then he made us look stupid with a double, single and RBI in this first three at-bats.

I like watching Derek Lowe pitch.

Chase Utley hit a bomb. Then the bottom of the inning, Martin Prado hit a bomb to counter. Attack of the second basemen!

I got a bratwurst with sauerkraut specifically to show my support for the Brewers against the Mets.

It worked!

The guy beating the giant drum tonight was either deaf, having epileptic fits, whacked on crack, or all of the above tonight.

The drum was also RIGHT BEHIND US.

When my friend went to get a coke and some ice cream in the middle of the game, the Braves immediately scored.

I ordered him to go buy more stuff the rest of the game.

I will never get tired of watching the Braves' Ryan Howard shift, especially when it works perfectly.

Why are we still singing Take Me Out To The Ballgame during the 7th inning stretch? Can we just leave that to the Cubs?

If we have to sing something, may I suggest Freebird.

With guitar solo.

The Braves' cheerleaders stood behind our seats for the last three innings and were generally vapid and tedious.

Mike Gonzalez' rocking antics is even more unsettling in person than on TV, I never knew he bent back so far.

It didn't help at all as he gave up two homers and lost the lead.

On John Mayberry's homer, a girl wearing a Phillies shirt jumped up and down for a minute and there was much jiggling.

With the Braves' offense hitting the way it is, a one run lead looks like looking up at Everest from the base camp.

Then Prado does it again with a double to score Blanco and tie the game.

Jimmy Rollins is hitting .208? Really??

Extra Innings - I'm getting sleepy - Prado is up again - WINS THE FRICKIN GAME!!!

Kelly who?

Finally, an informal survey of jerseys I saw while at the game:

Chipper - 14
Francoeur - 8
McCann - 4
Utley - 3
Howard - 2
Furcal - 1
Hanson - 1
Justice - 1
Lowe - 1
Murphy - 1
Rollins - 1
#10 jersey with "MONKEY" as the name on the back - 1