Topps Salutes The Troops (Link)



Published: November 30, 2008
Among the 440 cards that make up this year’s Topps N.F.L. card set are 11 Armed Forces Fans of the Game nominated by their home teams.

This year’s Topps N.F.L. card set includes two Tomlinsons: LaDainian, a running back with the San Diego Chargers; and Wyat, a staff sergeant based at the United States Army Recruiting Battalion in Kansas City, Mo.



“We wanted to pay tribute to our soldiers in some fashion,” said Clay Luraschi, the director of product development for Topps. “We went to the N.F.L. and they were totally on board with it, and immediately began asking teams to nominate soldiers from their respective cities.”

The other Topps trading card troops are Capt. John C. Cochrane Jr. of the Navy (nominated by the Jets); Col. Marc Hendler, New York Army National Guard (Giants); Lance Cpl. James A. Lenihan, Marine Corps Reserve (Cincinnati); Specialist Mark M. Middlebrook, Army (Jacksonville); Maj. Sean Ryan, Army (Denver); Sgt. Philip LaBonte, Michigan Army National Guard (Detroit); Cpl. Ryan M. Lenser, Marines (Green Bay); Senior Airman Gabriel Bird, Louisiana Air National Guard (New Orleans); Sgt. Christopher Ames, Marines (Arizona); and Sgt. Traci Williams, Army Reserve (Seattle).


Williams is the only woman in the group and the first Topps has featured on a professional football card.

Very cool, and much better with which to pad a set than a checklist. 

Chargers-Raiders Was Like Madden

That game last night was awful (although Bob Papa is great).   It reminded me of me beating my dopey cousin in Madden.
 
Run.
Run.
Run.
Run.
Run.
Run.
Run.
Run.
Oh crap it’s third down, I’ll run that passing play he can’t stop.  TD.
 
Defensive stop in three plays.
 
Run.
Run.
Run.
Run.
Run.
Run.
Run.
I guess I’ll run that same pass play.  TD.
 
Etc.
 
The Raiders are awful.
 
Meanwhile in the green side of the Meadowlands, let me Paul Mcguire them…they won’t win another game.
 

Taxpayer Field Hex?

As much as I hope Jerry & The Gangstas win 15 straight championships, I kinda like the idea of the Corporate Bailout Stadium Name being a hex on this team.   Not that I want them to lose, but the Wilpons sort of deserve a hex.


Click the link for the hex.

Admit it, deep down don’t you wish we could blame 2007 & 2008 on a bank?  Wouldn’t it kind of be awesome if the Mets kept meeting horrible endings until this stadium gets a new non-bailout name and then they win it all?

Daily News on Yankee Stadium $

The Daily News is doing a great job keeping an eye on what’s happening in the Bronx.

First, the jobs. The Yankees are moving across the street. Does anyone really believe that 1,000 new permanent jobs will be created?

Darn, I wish I had written that.

There wouldn’t be a need to spend hundreds of millions of tax dollars to build new parks if elected officials hadn’t secretly given Macombs Dam Park and part of Mullaly Park away to the baseball team. Contrary to the city’s claim that the project expands park space, the community is losing four acres.

During troubled economic times such as these, news that a project will bring in new tax revenue is positive. But Pinsky failed to explain the other side of the balance sheet: $180 million in breaks on property tax and other taxes; nearly $300 million in capital costs to replace the parks and demolish the old Yankee Stadium, and nearly $1 billion in tax-free financing.

All together, city taxpayers are chipping in nearly $500 million for the project, and costs are growing.

Cool Taxpayer Field Video

Thanks Star-Ledger for this cool video of Taxpayer New Shea Field. I encourage everyone not to use the official name.

Citi Field is almost done