Music and Hockey and Invented Sports ... Oh My

A couple weeks ago I won a couple packs of hockey cards from one of my favorite sellers on Listia.  Days went by then a couple weeks, and nothing showed up yet.  So I inquired about it and no reply.  I wasn't real worried because I wouldn't be stiffed.  Another day went by and no reply, and I checked to see if they was checking in each day.  They were, so I felt after 19 days, I had no choice but to file a complaint.  I didn't want to, but this was the third time this year that I've had to do this, and both times were new seller.  This time was a regular and I didn't want to, but since credits have skyrocketed, my credits are essentially worthless, so being out a 1000 credits means a lot.  So I filed the complaint, and it seems like minutes later, they sent a tracking number, and it was out for delivery.  I ended up getting them yesterday, the day I filed the complaint, and I apologized and told them I still will buy from them.  The only thing that made me mad was the no real communication.  I know they are a big seller and have many items to keep track of, but when I inquired the other day they could have sent the tracking then.  Even reply with saying sorry for the delay, but because of Memorial Day, packages were slow to ship.  I would have been happy, but with me spending less time on Listia lately, I tend to watch items I won more closely.  I hope to get some credits soon and get more, but for know I need to be more thrifty than ever.

So needless to say, I got the cards, and here they are.  It was a couple packs that I have been curious about for a while, but never seen much and not a high priority to actually spend money on.

Yes sir, I'm talking about 7th Inning Sketch!  I've heard about these, but never found any.  I got both packs for a total of 1000 credits, which is roughly 10 cents.  Can't beat that.  So as I waited for them to arrive (I should have done this BEFORE I bid) I looked at the checklist.  Since I'm not a hockey guy, there aren't many names I know.  But if I could just get one guy I know its worth it.  So let's look at the first pack.

I'm not familiar with the Ontario Hockey League, bit I do like these designs, especially for 1991.  I might even make a similar design for future customs.  I don't recognize the names, but HEY, I got a Royals card!  Maybe not a Kansas City Royal, but still, it was nice to see.  I wonder if Angelo Amore is related to WWE star Enzo?  YOU CAN'T TEACH THAT!  How you doing?

Alright, enough catchphrases, lets get to the rest of the pack.

10 cards in a pack, so the backs of the card are from the cards in the first scan.  Not bad for backs, they are basic but they tell all the info.  Look at that, this was a Royals hot pack!  None of these names sound familiar so I can't say it was a great pack or not, but I had enjoyment opening it, so that is good enough for me.  Not to mention it equated to a nickel, if I found these packs for sale for a nickel anywhere, I'd jump all over them.

So I have one more pack, can I get a familiar name?  Let's see.

Jason Arnott sounds like a name I heard before, but I can't say for sure.  However one name I did instantly recognize was Todd Bertuzzi.  I'm not a big fan of his, but pulling his card made it worth it.  I was worried I would get 20 cards of guys I never heard of. My favorite card though is probably the Mike Fountain card, its a nice shot of him trying to stop the puck, and the shot shows everything it needs to.

Here are the rest of the cards of the pack.  The Frontenacs logo looks similar to the Bruins, not bad.  Overall the cards were worth a dime to me and I had fun opening them, so it was worth it.  After opening these, I might look into the OHL more.  The one thing I will say is its nice to see hockey teams in Canada.  Part of my disgust of the NHL is the migration of so many teams to the south.  San Jose? Phoenix? Dallas? FLORIDA?  I let St. Louis slide since it does get cold and snowy here.  I'll even let Nashville slide too, and while I didn't like the relocation, I'm fine with the Avalanche, but anywhere south is a no go for me.  I was hoping the Coyotes would relocate to Seattle (or Kansas City) as rumored.  Anyways time to stop ranting as I've done that too much lately, and NHL migration is something I complain about too much anyways.

Before I go to the other topic tonight, my friend reminded me of something last night that I forgot about.  I have a bit of a crazy side, and a few years ago, I wanted to invent a sport.  I had two ideas, I would totally watch both, but I doubt either would get off the ground.  The first was a variation of basketball.  The court would be shaped as a triangle and 3 teams would be playing at once. Not much would vary aside from that and likely a faster pace with less fouls and violations called (its not like 3 in the key or traveling are called in the NBA anyways), and free substitutions are allowed (not sure the official name, but think like hockey where you just jump in and the other guy gets out).  I never had a name for it, but I think it would be more exciting.  It would also appeal I think to more of the And 1 type of play or street ball, which would hopefully allow for less of that showing up in the NBA making it (at least to me, more watchable).

The other sport which my friend mentioned last night would be awesome to watch, but due to higher awareness of concussions recently the sport wouldn't be allowed to catch on.  This one combines two current sports.  I call it Tackle Golf.  The basis is simple.  It is Golf, but with the added interest of being tackled.  It seems like Golf takes forever when watching it on TV, and honestly, why watch golf on TV?  This sport would be faster paced.  If you take too much time to putt or shoot, you risk being tackled, and are charged a stroke.  The challenge for the tacklers are you risk being hit with a golf ball or a club.  TALK ABOUT ACTION!!!!  So I guess, it would be more of a team sport, maybe have two golfers on each team (not really better ball play, but each shooting their own ball), and 3 tacklers per team.  5 person teams, with 3 alternatives per team which you can use however.  Whichever team has the fewest strokes at the end of 18 holes wins.

If concussions weren't as closely watched now, I think it would really catch on, but since they are worried about them more (justifiably so), no way it would catch on.  What surprises me though is that in this day and age of all sports being shown, more new sports aren't invented.  Also surprising is something like disc golf isn't shown on TV.  I've never seen it, but if it was on TV I'd try it.

So anyways, lets get back to the other thing mentioned in the title.... music!  I love music, and I have diverse tastes.  I went to Savvy Seconds this afternoon (just because), and found a couple more CD's totaling a buck.  There were others I was interested in, but I passed them up.  However, I think I did okay with what I did get.

MORE OF THE RHYTHM RUSTLERS!  Last time I showed a sealed CD of The Red Hot Rhythm Rustlers, and I guess I didn't see this one.  This one was sealed as well, and its their newest CD I think (I checked them out a bit after I bought the other CD).  This one even won them some awards.  This one has more original music, but I did notice the cover Desperado on here.  It was a dud, but there were a couple good songs on here, and my mom liked it, so it was worth the 50 cents to me.  If I found other CDs of theirs there, I'd likely get them too, but I'm not sure I'd listen a lot.  My mom will likely get more use out of these.

The other CD I got was the only reason I got that CD.  If I find one CD I usually get another just so I can hand over the buck and not get change back.  Usually a couple songs between the albums make the buck worth it.  This time, this CD alone was worth the buck.  Honestly, if this CD was 3 bucks, I would have likely got it.

I won't say I'm the World's biggest fan of Live, but whenever you find a greatest hits CD of a band you like, its a good idea to pick it up.  In all there were maybe 4 of their CD's for sale there, but looking at the track listing, I didn't need the other albums.  Of course people will notice I Alone and Lightning Crashes, but deeper down you notice Turn My Head, The Dolphin's Cry, Heaven, and even a cover of I Walk The Line.  However, when I got home and listened to this, one song came on that I totally forgot about, and that one song was worth the buck I spent for both CD's.  I never knew the name of it but Lakini's Juice started playing and I was like "THAT'S THE SONG!"  This CD came out in 2004, and for some reason in my years of downloading music, I've never got their discography or even their Greatest Hits.  I guess I don't have to now.  Here is the song in question, if you don't remember it, never heard it, or like me, forgot the name.

What a way to start the weekend!  That should wrap up this post, but it won't.  Last night I was checking my favorite wrestling site (shout out to Wrestling Inc.) I go there every day and usually post on there, but last night a story caught my eye and left me in disbelief.  I've known for 20 plus years wrestling is scripted (I didn't say fake, because the hit and chair shots and what all are real).  I also know its a form of entertainment and would never do anything to interfere with a show (aside from telling wrestlers they suck, which got me a mean stare down from Jeff Jarrett once, who I actually liked, but he was the heel).  However not all fans are like me.

Here is a the story, which I had to just shake my head at and read in horror and amazement.

A FULL GROWN ADULT WOMAN NOT ONLY BRANDISHED ONE WEAPON, BUT TWO!  I mean the knife part in some aspect is acceptable, and in the early 80s, wrestlers would have died to be able to say they drew that much heat that someone was willing to intervene.  But Paul Lee, the wrestling veteran he is (says he's wrestled since 1982 or 1992, I never heard of him, but says he competed in WCW), threw a great line at her to draw more heat and essentially make things calmer.  It was a smart move I think on his part, keep playing the heel, get the heel heat, have a story to tell.  However, then she pulled a pistol and holy s***, SHE PULLED A GUN IN FRONT OF A CROWD WITH KIDS IN ATTENDANCE!  That is simply amazing.  Luckily Lee got the gun, and restrained her until police arrived.  I've been to indie wrestling shows, so the lax security is understandable, but how much protection did this woman need? A KNIFE AND A GUN?  I'm not commenting on gun laws and weather she had a permit or not.  At no point should a fan pull a gun on somebody at a wrestling event, that common knowledge 101.  What bothers me the most isn't even all that.  Luckily nobody got hurt, but she bonded out at FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS!!!!!

I think 40,000 would have been light to be honest.  I mean she pulled two weapons out, even if the knife was not meant to inflict harm on anyone, I'm sure weapons were prohibited at the event.  But pulling the pistol out in front of a crowd of ANY size is reason enough for a high bail or no bail.  Especially with kids present.

I found their website, and the event had a wrestling legend there in Paul Orndorff, aka Mr. Wonderful.  Even if security was lax, they really should have had better security at their events.  A couple weeks earlier, they had a plethora of former WWE and WCW stars like Kevin Nash, Teddy Long, Buff Bagwell, and more.  After this event, I could see a lot of wrestlers opting out of these shows.  The other interesting thing though is this was a DVD TAPING!  I'm not sure if they'll be allowed to show this incident on the DVD, but if they could, they should promote this big time.  For no other reason then because you know it would sell out, and with the extra money, they could get better security.  Wrestling is big in the Carolinas and Georgia area, so something like this could elevate their promotion a bit, but if it does they should make sure they take better precautions.  It looks like they will, but since nobody got hurt, I think they should capitalize on it.  It will get them some looks.

About the woman, for her sake, I hope she was drunk, or sadly, had some kind of mental problems.  I'm not saying I want her to have issues per se, but if she was sane and did this, then well, sadly nothing anybody can do to help her will help.

So that will wrap it up for tonight.  This weekend is shaping up to be hot, and because of that I will either be busy working on stuff indoors, or bored out of my mind, so I can't guarantee new blogs, but its possible.  Thanks for reading and have a great weekend.

EDITOR'S NOTE:  I just starting watching the video for the Live song.... I'm not sure what is going on in that video, my focus was on the song itself, not so much the video.  I just picked that video because it was the official Live Vevo page.