Yellowstone 1923 (2022-2025)

1923 is another Yellowstone prequel saga pop and I watched.  Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford headline the cast and they both do a great job as matriarch and patriarch of the Duttons in this series.  It ran two seasons (15 episodes) and was very enjoyable.  As with the main Yellowstone series, this one centers around the Duttons trying to protect their land, their family and their way of life.  A little trepidation over some of the spicy scenes especially in season 2 but otherwise no complaints.  Really good characters and a good buildup that starts from the first episode and reaches a head in the final episode.

Alexandra (Alex) and Spencer are two of the main characters and have a major story arc in the series.  Hard not to like these two.

Yellowstone Television Series (2018-2024)

Pop and I finished the Yellowstone series last year.  We enjoyed it.  The series centers around the Dutton family who owns the Yellowstone ranch and have to fight external forces who want to take their land and their way of life.  It's hard not to side with them no matter how brutal they are in the defense of their land.  Wyoming is beautiful and who doesn't dream of doing something so simple as raise cattle and be left alone to enjoy life in such a setting.  

It's not a series for the faint of heart, but the western appeal and drama easily suck you in.  The characters are easy to like in spite of their ways.  They do a great job giving them each their story whether it's the extend storylines around the family, or the ranch hands or the characters from the local Reservation.  Good series have good characters and good acting and Yellowstone has both. Kevin Costner obviously stands out amongst the cast, but you'll end up invested in the majority of the characters making up this story.  And if you're a guy, you'll want to want to be Rip Wheeler by the time it's over.  And if you're a lady, you'll want your guy to be Rip Wheeler by the end of it.

The 5 seasons of Yellowstone are drama from the start.  There are so many who want their land for their own reasons, and they'll do anything to get it.  That's where it gets "fun".  I recommend Yellowstone but again there is a brutality to the show that may not be for everyone.  

The Yellowstone 1883 television series is one of my favorite series of all-time.  This one isn't as good as that one in my opinion, but again I give Yellowstone my stamp of approval.  I believe it is streaming on Peacock now.  Tomorrow, I'll take a look at Yellowstone 1923.

Random Wax: 2021-2022 Select Basketball

21-22 Select:  Boston has remained one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference without Jayson Tatum who is still out with an Achilles injury.  Tatum hasn't been ruled out for this season.  I hope they don't rush him back but it with all the changes the Celtics made last offseason and having Tatum gone for most of the season, it could be a big boost to the team going into the playoffs.  This Numbers insert isn't a bad looking card.

James Harden and the Clippers have bounced back after a horrible start to their season.  He's having an amazing year at age 38.  I like this Select design overall and the colors.

Both of these guys are solid NBA players, both averaging 9 points a game over their five seasons in the NBA.

My two Blue Prizm Parallels.  Trey Murphy is a highly coveted shooter around the league, but New Orleans hasn't shown any interest in trading the 25-year-old sharpshooter.

There are 300 cards across different levels within the set.  That Moses Moody is a Premier Level card.  That Alex Caruso is a Green/White/Purple Prizm Parallel.  The rest of the cards were Concourse designs.

Evan Mobley has become one of the better big men in the league and knows how to play defense.  Fun pack and good pull for the number of cards you get.

BREAKDOWN:

15 – Total Cards

13 – Base Concourse (1-100)

5 – RC

2 – Blue Prizm Parallel

1 - Numbers

1 – Base Premier (101-200)

1 - Green/White/Purple Prizm Parallel

Buffalo Bills Lose 33-30 In OT to the Denver Broncos - AFC Divisional Playoffs

 

Buf 30 - Den 33: Another tough loss for Buffalo yesterday.  That game was so stressful.  I'm fine with the late calls.  It really was turnovers and penalties that did them in.  And it's a shame.  The defense played so well in the second half and most of overtime.  As did the offense.  In the second half, it felt like they would win even though it was so close.  These will continue to hurt.  Year after year it feels like wasted opportunities.  The loss isn't on any one player or group really.  Just came up short.  Again.  Hopefully they can come up with some moves to help the defense and the receiving corps this offseason.  Sorry to hear about Bo Nix being out for the rest of the offseason.  They had a real shot of playing in the Super Bowl.

2025 Absolute Football

2025 Absolute:  Puka Nacua and the Los Angeles Rams play tonight in a very cold Chicago. Nacua had 129 receptions and 1715 yards receiving.  Just wow.  He's the all-time leader in yards per game with 95.3 over his first three seasons.

Trey McBride set the single-season receptions record for a tight end with 126 catches.  I like this design.  The subtle nods to the football and the nice muted logo.  This just works for me.

Rookies showed up on base cards and my two inserts, Introductions and Rookie Wave.  Some solid rookies here.  I like the Introductions card.

The backs run back the photo from the fronts.  Otherwise plenty of color and I'm good with these overall.

Malik Nabers and the New York Giants have a new coach in John Harbaugh.  Nice hire for them.

Bryce Young and the Panthers was so close to getting past the Rams in the Wild Card playoff game.

BREAKDOWN:
20 – Total Cards
5 – RC
3 – Blue Parallel
1 – Rookie Wave
1 – Introductions

Kirby Puckett Card Lot

I was always a low-key Kirby Puckett fan though the Twins victory over the Braves in the '91 World Series muted some of my fandom at the time.  But really, how can anyone not like Kirby?  Once he retired it was easier let that fandom grow. 

Puckett retired suddenly in 1995 when he lost vision in his right eye due to glaucoma.  He finished his 12-year career with 2,304 hits and a .314 batting average having led the league 4 times in hits while winning 1 batting title.  He was known for that big smile and these three ards really showcase that.

I've always liked the Triple Play cards.  Fun cards for collectors and they were just that for me.

In his career he was an 10X All-Star, 6X Silver Slugger, Clemente Award winner, and won 6 Gold Gloves.

I'm a big 1990 Donruss fan and the All-Star design is one of my favorite cards.  The American League logo makes it work so well.  That said, I've never connected with the MVP cards.  Really bland design to me.

This was a 42 card lot I purchased off eBay earlier this year.  His cards aren't too expensive overall, and it was a fun pickup.  I owned a few already but there were others I've never even seen before like the Topps Finest and Topps Ames cards.

Another All-Star card I like.  That 1990 design and the colors work for me for some reason.  Early Upper Deck usually impressed, and I like that we get to see Kirby on the base paths for a change. 

Score had some fun sets, and I like both the '88 and '90 designs.

What was happening here?  Did Kirby come in from the outfield to cover during a rundown?   Just happened to be playing in the infield?   Something else happen?  No matter why, I really like this card and photo.

Again, we see Kirby in the infield on the back of his Upper Deck card. He did play some infield but it was rare, so I assume this was just one of those occasions.  Always been a fan of the UD art cards across the sports.

One of Kirby's 1987 highlights was winning his 1st championship as the Twins took down the St. Louis Cardinals.  I really like All-Star specific cards, and the Fleer SuperStar Special cards are a nice take on them.

Nice photo on the Fleer card.  I get it's staged but I like it.

I like seeing him flex his fingers as he readies his grip in that last photo.

We get to see him getting out of the batter's box on this last Fleer card.

Great looking card.

Some different photos and a caricature.  I'm digging all these and the '88 Donruss design to finish off the post.  Really enjoy showing these off and reminiscing about Kirby Puckett.  Just an amazing player and one of the best right-handed hitters I've ever seen.

   

Random Wax: 2021 Playoff Football

2021 Playoff:  Josh Allen and the Bills didn't win the AFC East this year but it still feels like they can make a deep run in the playoffs.  It felt like and uneven year for both Buffalo and Allen, but he did set a career mark connecting on 69% of his passes.  Go Bills!

Picked this pack up 4 years ago and just now showing it off.  These three have all aged well while Myles Garrett has been a 4X All-Pro.  He truly is a beast on defense.  Joey Bosa had a solid first season in Buffalo this year.

Ernest Jones won a Super Bowl with Los Angeles and is now having a career year with the Seahawks.

Love retired greats in this set and these really are some all-time greats.

Trey Lance never figured it out and is now a backup with the Chargers.

Lots of red going on here.  Some great tight ends as well including Travis Kelce who may be hanging it up this year.

A nice Call to Arms insert.  Who knew how the last 4 years would have gone for Russell Wilson.  I certainly didn't see it coming.

Great pack of cards.  We'll end it with more all-time greats including Warren Moon and Joe Thomas, both of whom I'm big fans of.  Thomas started all 16 games in 10 straight seasons.

BREAKDOWN:

40 – Total Cards

7 – Retired Greats

6 – RC

3 – Kickoff Parallel

1 – Call to Arms

1 – Behind the Numbers