Unfinished Cup:1996-1997 Stadium Club Top Crop

*sits down with hot coffee, a card, breakfast (toaster strudel) and the laptop. now to put up the latest post on Cards Over Coffee*

Lack of mail days comes with lack of content to post on. I do have a couple of non-mail day type of posts coming up, but I need to take pictures first so I can complete those. It will be another Blog Bat Around so hopefully more than three of you will participate in that one.

For now, I present you with another Unfinished Cup (yes, I feel your disappointment through the computer and phone screens)

At least it's basketball this time (now I can feel you glaring at me)

(one or more of you just gave me an eye roll)

(some of you may have even clicked off for another post or blog to read)

*takes a sip before moving on with today's post*

Falling at 1:24 packs, Top Crop is a fun looking insert that featured All-Star calibers players from the Eastern and Western Conferences on double-sided matrix shine. The U.S. map is featured on the players background for the East Coast and West Coast featured player.

Western Conference side

 

Eastern Conference side.

There are 12 to collect in the set.

Here is what I have remaining,

1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,12

If you have any of my remaining needs, let me know below or contact me at sportcardcollectors@hotmail.com. Always up for a PWE trade!

*takes a sip before finishing up today's post*

Hopefully the next time I post, it won't be another Unfinished Cup. My other hope, is that my WiFi will actually allow me to post. It was an hour long struggle today just to push through even this short post. If I haven't mentioned it yet, don't ever use HughesNet. Overpriced and doesn't work.

*takes another sip and bite of cold breakfast*

Hope everyone has an awesome Friday and amazing weekend!

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Why Do I Consider These Things?

 

*takes a sip of coffee, sits down to type his latest installment on Cards Over Coffee*

I wanted to start off today's post by saying thanks for the well wishes in terms of the kidney stones. I have yet to pass them so still not feeling that great today but trying my best just to push through. I don't get to see my urologist until the 14th so I am praying hard they pass by then. If not I could be staring down surgery once again and I don't really want to head down that road in 2020.

So I don't know if its the pain meds talking or I am going crazy or maybe it's the cards in today's post served up by The Diamond King, but I have an itch to start up an all 90's card blog again. Tell me if you have heard this story from me before.

Picture this, a blog dedicated to cards from 1995-1999 covering all sports, all of my projects, and all of my completions and of course all of my needs. Combine that with some pop culture and 90's cartoons and it sounds like a beautiful harmony. But, once again, would I have the time to make it worth my while? Or would it be another one of my projects that I start and quit?

This is the fork in the road I am at right now with the idea. 

I don't want to start any new projects without doing it right or finding time to do so. On top of all of this craving to start a 90's blog, I really want to expand and do a NY Giants one as well focusing on the biggest collection I have. There are a lot of team blogs, not sure I have seen an NFL one, so I know it would be fun but a lot also to tackle.

Why do I even consider these things?

*takes a sip of coffee, feeling like breakfast may be a good idea soon*

Regardless of which road I take with those ideas, I thought it was finally time to show off rest of the cards that The Diamond King, sent to me. They have been sitting in my drafts for way too long now originally as a mini series but I changed my mind and did this as one post.

There really isn't too much to say about these cards as the cards themselves do the talking,

 

 

 

If those didn't make you want to start up a 90's card blog, I am surprised. The only way those don't interest you is if you aren't reading this post at all.

Thanks to The Diamond King for one epic mail day I am still working on sorting months later.

As for 90's Cards Over Coffee, sorry was feeling that out, I am not sure what I will do moving forward. I will say I am much wiser than I used to be when it comes to just starting up a blog or two knowing my time restrictions and patience on those blogs to build up. 

This blog isn't quite where I want it to be or even close to be yet, but it's like this raisin toast. It isn't quite as good as my cinnamon raisin bagel, but good enough to keep coming back for more.

Maybe those new ideas turn out to be raisin toast or maybe they will turn out to be slices of bread with what appears to be raisins. For now, I have time and patience to make that decision and in the meantime, I need to focus on getting the "raisin" out of me.

Retro Cup:Team MVP

The Diamond King sent me a box loaded with 90's basketball goodness. LOADED. So I came up with an idea to do a mini series with so many great cards to show off called, Retro Cup. Along with the card showings, I will re-live a memory I had as well when it comes to coffee. So I hope you are sitting down with a cup of steaming fresh hot coffee so we can give this series a go.

*Coffee is ready to go and so am I*

Every cup of coffee has an MVP and every person chooses their own MVP for it.

For years my MVP was milk and sugar. LOTS OF SUGAR to go in my coffee. Which is what made it stand out. But, as I have gotten older, my tastes have really changed and I have switched to a new MVP for the past 20 years.

That MVP is Nestle Coffeemate and specifically the Hazelnut flavor. A cup of coffee to me isn't the same without this MVP combo. At least at home. If I am out at a restaurant, I am fine using cream and sugar as restaurant coffee always tastes better. Don't ask me why. And it's not like my coffee doesn't taste good, it just needs it's MVP to carry it home.

These Coffemates come in a variety of flavors and I have pretty much given all of them a go. Some were okay, some are good for holiday time (I will post about those when it's time to) and some sounded good but were downright disgusting. I won't even mention how bad the non Nestle Coffeemate brand creamers taste especially the knockoffs.

So I will stick with my one MVP that works. Just like a lot of teams in leagues do. They all know that one player that helps carry that team and who to keep an eye on. That's what this creamer does.

*takes a long sip, mmmmm. Coffee. Hits the heart and soul. Sets mug down to continue his blogging*

Back in 1992-1993, Upper Deck created their own MVP's in basketball cards.

Upper Deck MVP Holograms was a 36 card set featuring Upper Deck's selection of an MVP on each of the NBA's 27 teams. Cards 1-27 in the set showcase those and the final nine, cards 28-36, are Future MVPs that  focus on player's who could become their team's MVP in the near future.

There were just 138,000 individually numbered sets produced. Can you imagine if these were made today and looking at the back of your card to see 1/138,000. Would be pretty insane for these times but being made back then makes them feel sort of a short print when you think about it.

These sets were available only through hobby dealers and select retail outlets. Or as of now, you can look for these sets on eBay and Amazon.

The front of the card features a checkerboard background with hologram and full colored player in the forefront.

The backs featured team colors and a write up about the player. There is also a watermarked Team MVP and basketball behind the write up.

The Diamond King sent along a few of the cards from the set so I am not sure if he had a full one or just a select few but I appreciate the ones I got. Don't think I have ever seen or owned any until now.

As for a set chase, I don't think it there will be one, but I am a huge hologram dork, so who knows.

Here are the others he passed along,

Alonzo Mourning. Upper Deck wasn't too far off with Future MVP for Zo. Except I don't think he really made his impact until he was with the Heat. I really don't remember him much as a Hornet.

Patrick Ewing, my boy!

Scott Skiles

Glen Rice

 

Chuck Person

This set also includes the one and only MJ. I mean how can it not? That one should be labeled League MVP though.

*takes a sip, wonders why they never made a coffee mug with holograms of coffee mugs on it since holograms were such the rave in 80s and 90s. New marketing idea? Hmm...*

Upper Deck made some great hologram cards back in the 90's, but I don't think they really upped the ante on that technology until 1994 when you could rotate the cards and see a 3D look especially with players faces.

For me personally though, hologram cards will always mean the late Spx releases. Those were the MVP's of holograms.

*takes a few more sips of coffee, before closing out today's post*

I explained above how I use the Coffeemate to go in my coffee, but I should also mention that I don't drown my coffee with the Coffeemate. I put in just enough to give it that superb flavor without taking away from the true coffee taste. If I didn't want coffee, I would just drink the creamer. That's pretty much how my wife makes hers with the Coffeemate, I took a sip of hers once and it was overpowering and left me on a sugar high.

Not me though, I want to experience the coffee though without the MVP, it's not a team.