A Failed Mystery

*sits down with a box of cards to open. goes to countertop to brew cup of coffee, while coffee is brewing, sets up laptop for today's post. coffee is ready, box is ready and laptop is open and ready. time for some cards over coffee*

*takes a sip*

I have been doing really well recently with avoiding retail products. First, don't really have the funds right now to do much, two, there isn't anything on the shelf worth buying which helps with the first part of this.

My wife and I had even avoided Walmart in general, until this past weekend when we were forced to go with needs for around the house.

I almost made it through the dreadful shopping trip (who honestly likes to go shopping for toilet paper, cleaning supplies, and be around lots of people these days? I know I don't.) and cashed out down the card aisle (yes, the self-checkout is down the card aisle) before I noticed the words mystery box. I hadn't seen those words down the card aisle in so long. I couldn't turn my head back and kept my eyes on it like Chevy Chase to Christine Brinkley in the Vacation Movies. 

I just really love a good mystery box.

I couldn't just leave it, could I? No. I went and grabbed it and spent more on it than expected. I was just hoping the results would pay off.

*takes a sip, begins to rip*

These Mystery Boxes are re-pack boxes with random packs in them across many years. I was hoping to find a Prizm pack within that would land me some big-name rookie for my collection. Each of these Mystery Boxes come with 3 packs and box price is....$30.

So $10 a pack. Ouch.

 

My first pack was this 2017-2018 Essentials pack. I thought it felt a little thick, so I ripped it first.

*takes a sip, begins to rip*

The results,

Nothing great. The Giles is cool because it's a parallel, outside of that, as my father would say, junk.

Second pack. I can't imagine spending $10 on a pack of 2018-2019 Hoops Holiday but sure, guess that's what you get in here.

*takes a sip, begins to rip*

Results,

 

Nothing to brag about. I do like how Panini added a special holiday touch to these as opposed to the Donruss Holiday football where they use the same cards as basic Donruss.

Final pack, come on...

PRIZM!!!! Come on Zion...or especially Morant that I need more.

*takes a fingers crossed sip, begins to rip*

Results,

Ouch.

That break was more painful than a kidney stone.

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

I hope I taught you guys a very valuable lesson today. If you like unraveling a mystery, don't open one of these. Stick to watching Scooby Doo like I will for now on.

Thoughts on these mystery boxes, my break welcomed in comments.

Have a great Wednesday.

*one final sip for the post, not for the day*

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Coffee Break:2021-2022 Panini Hoops Basketball Blaster Box

*these repulished posts make for a good weekend read don't they? time for another break*

You ever have one of those so-called "blonde moments"? Well, I can admit that I did recently.

And I am far from blonde unless you call dark hair and growing bald just that.

I saw a box of 2021-2022 NBA Hoops sitting on the shelf at Walmart and thought I saw it as the NBA Hoops Winter edition that comes with a Christmas Sweater so I snagged it. Everyone knows how much I love my Christmas cards.

I never noticed that I grabbed the wrong box until I opened it and saw no holiday sweater card. 

Then I read it. UGH.

Well, regardless, I still got to open some basketball cards something you couldn't do a year ago.

Let er rip!

*takes a sip, begins to rip*

In every blaster box of 2021-22 Panini NBA Hoops basketball, there are 8 packs of 11 cards. Each blaster has no guarantee other than some inserts and possible parallels and hits. Blasters currently run $27.98 each.

The base card set is Hoops like. Good photography along with an outside white border.

270 cards make up this year's Hoops checklist. There is some incredible photography used in this set such as this Zion and the main base set is built up of 200 veterans

And 70 rookies. My box was weak rookie card wise.

There are plenty of photography packed inserts as well.

You can find the following parallels in this years Hoops,Anniversary Edition, Blue, Green Ice, Hyper Blue, Neon Green, Purple, Purple Winter, Red Backs, Teal Explosion, Winter, Yellow, Silver /199, Green /99, Hyper Red /99, 75th Anniversary /75, Red /75, Blue Explosion /59, Artist Proof /25, Hyper Green /25, Orange Explosion /25, Red Explosion /15, Artist Proof Gold /10, Hyper Gold /10, and Artist Proof Black 1/1.

 

These are blue and purple.

Inserts can come with the following parallels, Holo, Hyper Red /99, Artist Proof /25, Hyper Green /25, Artist Proof Gold /10, and Hyper Gold /10.

There are 30 cards to collect in Lights Camera Action

15 cards make up the Frequent Flyers set.

Arriving Now is 25 cards deep in its checklist featuring rookies.

25 cards in the Class of 2021 insert set.

Sky View has 25 cards to collect.

The Slam inserts return featuring the basketball covers from the magazine.

My favorite card from this break was the holo version. This card looks amazing. Would make for a great set chase.

Not too much excitement in this break other than that last card. But, maybe a buddy of mine needs some more set help and I am willing to help out.

Thoughts on this break welcomed in comments.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Coffee Break:2020-2021 NBA Hoops Fat Pack

*not much sleep last night, lots of tossing and turning despite the cool sleeping temperatures. Guess I will need to hook up the coffee IV and pretend there is caffeine in my coffee*

I apologize I haven't posted in a few days. I am still working through where I want to do all of my blogging when all is said and done. I have three blogs, but, only one blog can survive and get my total focus.

For now it's been this blog, but in the end, who knows. I am up in the air on this decision still and any guidance would be appreciated.

In the meantime, enjoy another coffee break brought to you by NBA Hoops.

*takes a sip, begins to rip*

In each 2020-2021 NBA Hoops Fat pack there are 30 cards. I opened this pack up a long time ago so I am not sure what the going point was on these, but now I see they are going for about $15.

Summary: There are 270 cards in the base set with 200 veterans and 70 rookies.

There are plenty of parallel options for Hoops including, Blue, Hyper Blue, Neon Green, Purple, Purple Explosion, Purple Winter, Red Backs, Teal Explosion, Winter, Yellow, Silver #199, Green /99, Hyper Red /99, Green Explosion /89, Red /75, Teal /70, Blue Explosion /59, Artist Proof /25, Hyper Green /25, Orange /25, Orange Explosion /25, Red Explosion /15, Artist Proof Gold /10, Hyper Gold /10,  and Artist Proof Black 1/1.

Inserts are aplenty with close to 22 different ones, unless I miscounted. That is a ton!! Some of those also have parallels and numbered parallels. The Slam inserts were very popular and still are.

The hits in Hoops are a good mix of veteran and rookie content.

Let's see how my break went,

*takes a sip before closing*

Not a bad break, pulled a Slam insert, LeBron and a Knicks parallel. It was very weak again on the rookie card front but I have no luck in pulling good basketball rookies in the little bit of basketball I have broken.

I hope everyone has a great day.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Turning The Page

*takes a sip of afternoon coffee, nothing pairs better with afternoon coffee then a snack. Wonder if I have any cookies kicking around...*

I have been finding myself in a new mood with the hobby in the past two weeks. 

That craving, that needing, that wanting to open up packs of cards has suddenly started to diminish. It wasn't something I ever expected to occur, but it has.

The rising cost of hobby boxes/packs along with the retail madness has finally started getting to me. I started to look deeper within my-hobbyself , let's just say visited the inner Mr.Hobbyagi (wax sealed, wax opened) and started seeing those hankerings for a rip starting to dissipate.

How do I know this is true? Opportunities. I have had a few opportunities recently to have something to open but decided against it.

A few examples,

• On Twitter, a guy had a blaster and a hanger pack of 2019-2020 Optic basketball up for trade in exchange for Aaron Judge rookie, numbered or autograph cards. Knowing I don't collect baseball as deep as I used to, I considered giving up some decent Judge cards for them but never followed through. I decided to keep my Aaron Judges instead.

• My father found some 2021 Topps Series 1 baseball cards at Walmart and for a Patrick Mahomes card I could have opened some. Once again, I said no.

• And I was recently offered an opportunity to open a 2020 Panini Playbook Mega Box in exchange for a few Luis Robert cards and I once again politely declined.

I am not sure what has changed in me, but I didn't feel like giving up cards for packs and would rather turn those trade bait cards into Eli Manning or other cards I need for my personal collection instead of ripping.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME?!! Did someone pour something in my coffee? Slip a little something in my turnover or sprinkle something on my bagel?

I hope this never happens to me with coffee. What happens if I have an opportunity for a coffee but take an orange juice or even worse....coffee's sister.....tea?

I doubt that will ever happen unless a doctor informs me I can't have coffee and that will be a very cold day in.....well...you know....Vermont.

Does this mean if a pack heads my way from someone I won't open it? Of course I will! That would just be plain silly if I didn't. I mean, the itch won't ever completely go away but it's definitely more subtle recently.

*takes a sip, thinks about the possibility of making a list of available cards for trade to see what I could land for them on here.*

Speaking of pack rips and one that headed my way, I was able to land a pack of 2019-2020 NBA Hoops Premium roughly a month or more ago from Facebook and have kept it sitting in drafts on here. I think with today's post it is time to finally post it.

2019-2020 NBA Hoops Premium was and still is a very popular product. Its another one of those take a base flagship product and throw some chromium technology on it. It was one I really wanted to open, but knew none would be found here (which turned out true) so was able to at least acquire one to open.

So if you haven't seen any yet or you are curious how I did, you know what we must do next.

*takes a sip, begins to rip*

There are 15 cards inside a hanger pack of 2019-2020 NBA Hoops Premium.

Those 15 cards are broken down to two packs. One pack of 12 cards and one 3-card pack of Lazer parallels. As always, I will save the best pack, the parallels, for last just like the Boston Cream donut in an assorted pack from Dunkin'.

*takes a sip, begins to rip the 12 card pack*

 

Here are first 7 base cards with not a lot of star power. Leading the way is Draymond and Danny Green.

The next two cards are rookies in Cody Martin and Jaylen Nowell. In my mind I picture Zion and Morant.

Chris Paul Tribute silver prizm was the next card. Always appreciate a shiny card.

Juan Hernangomez, try saying that last name fast five times, Green Prizm

So far...Paul is the biggest name. Let's hope the rest of this break gets better.

Nassir Little We Got Next Blue Prizm is the final card in the 12 card pack. I like the look of these.

Now onto the 3-card parallel pack of Lazer Prizms.

*takes a sip, begins to rip*

First card, Eric Bledsoe. At least a name I know.

Langston Galloway. Who?

And to end...a nice PC find in a Tribute RJ Barrett!! Best card of the break.

Even though the pack wasn't very strong, unlike this cup of coffee, I still had a lot of fun and would open another if a pack ever headed my way or I actually found some here. I won't trade for any though. For now, I am satisfied with being able to open one.

*finishes up first cup of coffee and already brewing the second cup*

I sure hope my new mode in the hobby continues. I feel idiotic now for some of the trades I made just to land some packs to open. I could have landed some solid cards for my collection but instead opened some packs that mainly had no impact for my personal collection. A little too late now, but at least some lessons were learned.

All I can say is picture that stick figure meme with Don't Be Like and here is what it would say,

This is Matt.

Matt trades good cards for packs to open. 

Matt could have landed specific cards for his collection but didn't.

Don't be like Matt.

Influenced

*sits down with first cup of coffee in front of the keyboard after sleeping in til 7:15 for the first time in almost 20 years, feels great and ready to go. Let's start the day in style*

Good morning coffee lovers! Collectors, you too!

*toasting my mug to you, holds it for a second waiting to hear an invisible clang because you return toasted*

I gotta admit something to you today, I am easily influenced. Not in a bad way. If I saw you shove your hand up a bees nest because Winnie The Pooh could, I won't do that. Or if you were to lick a toilet seat to prove to the government a virus is a hoax, I won't do that either. Or if you added laxatives to your water bottle to help with your diet and exercise and get yourself to runs, sorry run, more, I won't do that either. Now I am starting to sound like Meatloaf (the singer not the scrumptious piece of meat covered in my special topping).

On the other hand, if my spouse tells me to try an un-coffee drink from Dunkin' because its what she has been drinking, I will try it because it's your spouse and there should be some trust there. Though you may question it because everything you have really ever had from Dunkin' has been in coffee form. So this could lead to trust issues later on.

Fortunately for her, she was right. This pineapple drink (I don't know the technical name for it) was delicious and made a great mid morning drink. Could I picture myself waking up to this? Nah. It was good, but I need that aroma of coffee in my house in the morning when I wake up. Then that nice first hot sip, especially in the winters here.

*takes one of those warm sips, then moves on to discuss cardboard*

One of the easier things I am influenced by is cardboard. And I mean easily influenced.

All across the card world, I spy either a card I forgot I wanted to once, a new card release I want a card or cards from or as in today's case, a card I never knew existed but knew I had to have.

I can't remember who posted it on Twitter, but someone tweeted out a  1991-1992 NBA Hoops Will Smith "rookie card" and being the 90's nostalgic loving freak I am, I sought it out.

For $1.50 each and .50 shipping total, I landed both copies in the set. This is the first card of the two and you can tell by the design, it's totally 90's and I am totally in awe. This is Bodacious!

Back of the first card

If I was to pick the true rookie between the two cards, it would be the first. The second one is more like the team photo subset.

Speaking of that second card,

This one features Will Smith joined by a group of students who had perfect attendance as apart of Stay In School promotion.

Back of the card gives more details on that.

I have been a Will Smith fan starting with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, adding these unknown made cards were solid additions to my non sport PC and I believe are my first Smith cards to my collection.

Also taking a look at these made me remember how much cards were used for promotions/ads like this and things like Don't Do Drugs, etc. It may not hurt a card company today to do something similar today with so much going on. Of course, I would put it in a kid-type product. I don't think too many would be happy to find a cards like these in National Treasures.

*takes another sip, hopes they don't ever create one that says "don't drink coffee". Then takes a bigger sip just in case*

This isn't the first time I have been easily influenced by cardboard, every day I find myself wanting something, then something else and something even more. The thing is and it's a hard realization, you simply just can't have it all. There is too much out there. Just pick and choose which ones mean more to you which once again is a battle in itself.

I have also learned that lesson the tough way with non cardboard and when I think about which coffee creamers I want to try. Just because I am influenced by something new and the word Snickers on the bottle, doesn't mean it's going to be good. Believe me, it's not. Choose wisely folks.

*another sip of non Snickers flavored coffee, now breakfast time*