Justin's World

Jason McLeod Dares to Enter My Alternate Universe

2012-03-01T10:25:00.004-06:00

Today marks the beginning of the third month of the year 2012. I *cannot* be the only person who feels like the first two months of the year just flew by. Flew like a jet, not a prop. plane.

Today’s post is yet another interview in my series. Today’s subject is a name that may not be familiar to many of you, but his face and description may ring a few bells.

Jason McLeod, star of the Sherwood Pictures films “Facing the Giants” and “Fireproof”, took the time to answer some questions for this little ole’ blog. This is the second Sherwood Pictures star who I have had the opportunity to interview (find the first one here).

Jason played Brock, the tough linebacker in “Facing the Giants”. He starred in two of my favorite scenes from the movie. The first was when Brock and a fellow football player are sitting in class as their graded tests are handed out. “55?” Brock calls out when he sees his grade. The teacher dresses him down, and his buddy leans over. “57,” the buddy whispers triumphantly. Classic.

The other scene that I really like is the one where Brock is being a royal jerk, so the coach ties a blindfold around his eyes and makes him do the “death crawl”. Usually, players go to the ten. The coach challenges Brock to go to the twenty. Even though he’s dead tired, Brock makes it to the opposite end zone, having done the “death crawl” for a full 100 yards.

Question #1: Which of the Sherwood Pictures movies is your favorite? Why?

Answer: It is hard to pick a favorite. I would probably say for now Fireproof; it has had the biggest impact on my life, as I am a newlywed and God has taught me so much through my marriage with Meagan. Fireproof was also a lot of fun to shoot! Getting to fight fires and train with the Albany Fire Dept. was an experience I will never forget!

Question #2: What is your favorite scene in “Fireproof”?

Answer: My favorite scene in Fireproof was definitely when Capt. Holt drags Lacy underneath the house to save her life and escape death for them both! Kirk Cameron told me it was "the death-crawl on fire." I would have to agree wholeheartedly!

Question #3: Do you share any qualities with your character in ‘Facing the Giants’?

Answer: I would definitely agree that I share qualities with Brock in Facing the Giants. Brock's character pretty much summed up my role in high school as a leader on the field and off. I wasn't as much of a goof off in class as Brock was portrayed through his poor grades and class clown antics, but I do definitely think I could relate with Brock's character on many levels. I had the leadership positions through football, in the classroom, leadership roles in my youth group at church, but don't think at times I fully understood that leadership potential. I'm very grateful the role of Brock has created a platform for me in ministry.

Question #4: What is your favorite Bible verse?

Answer: Favorite Bible verse is a tough one, because when I start talking about one, I tend to think of several more along with it and then it snowballs. I did an interview one time and was asked the same question, to which I never answered the question and about 30 minutes later, he actually had the opportunity to ask me another question! I felt bad but not really when I realized he didn't know how to respond because I just kept talking about another scripture or passage that meant a lot to me(sad thing was it was a Christian interview!) I am a student of God's Word, always learning and digging deeper and I love that moment when it just comes alive, just you and God-which is so cool because he wrote it, inspired it and He is there with you every time you read it. I am not a scholar or great theologian, but I realized in college I did not know God's Word as someone who had been saved or known Christ since I was seven years old, and thus began a wonderful journey. I go through "seasons" of scriptures and passages that I often will say "mess me up in the best way." Passages and chapters that have meant a great deal to me over the past few years on this journey have been Colossians 1, 2 Corinthians 12, Luke 5, Psalm 119, all of Romans...see I told you I can't even narrow it down to one chapter let alone one verse! If I could communicate anything through this interview that someone else might read and take to heart it would be to treasure God's Word above all else. It is the only anchor that will carry you through the toughest times in life, throw yourself into it, and I promise you that you will encounter God in the most real way! Other than our testimony of Jesus, it is the only thing we will take with us into eternity. (Rev. 1)

Question #5: If you could have dinner with any three people, living or dead, who would they be and why?

Answer: This is an intriguing question. It would be hard to narrow it down but if I had to choose 3 it would be:

1.) Paul the Apostle: I have a lot of Bible character "favorites", but I just feel as though I relate in so many ways with Paul's letters and writings. I love his transparency in his writings, his urgency, honesty, bluntness, compassion and affirmation to all the different people groups he wrote to. I have read his letters much more than I have read other parts of the Bible. I would love to have a dinner with Paul-skip the dinner and just listen to his many stories and insight on the grace of God! He always had something to communicate that was life changing!

2.) Charles Haddon Spurgeon: I love his story, his faithfulness in ministry and to his wife, I have several volumes of his old sermons he preached and I often find myself late at night sitting right in the middle of Exeter Hall in London, England listening to his preaching. I would love to have dinner with him and rack his brain!

3.) Louie Giglio: one of my modern-day heroes. His vision and passion for the glory of God has challenged me probably more than any other communicator of God's Word I've heard in my lifetime.

Where Are They Now: Darin Erstad

2012-02-29T10:01:00.000-06:00

1996 Leaf Signature #94 - Darin Erstad RC

Who is he? Darin Erstad, former Angels, White Sox, and Astros

What is he known for? Before his Major League career began, Erstad was the starting punter for the 1994 National Championship-winning Nebraska Cornhuskers football team. During his MLB career, he was a two-time All-Star and won a World Series ring in 2002 as a member of the Angels.

Does he have any baseball cards? Yes, he was featured in several sets from 1995-2009. His rookie card is shown to the right. His first Upper Deck card was #230 in the 1997 UD set; his first Topps base card didn't appear until a year later, card #288 in the 1998 Topps set. His autograph can be had for $2.99 on comc.com here, but he is also a relatively reliable TTM signer.

What's he doing now? Erstad is currently the head coach of the University of Nebraska baseball team. His profile on the team's website is here.

Contact information: You can try to contact Mr. Erstad at this address. Please note that I cannot guarantee that this address will produce a successful return.

Darin Erstad

c/o Nebraska Baseball

P.O. Box 880120

Lincoln, NE 68588-0120

Tweetversation: The Experiment

2012-02-28T13:06:00.000-06:00

I know you all cried yourselves to sleep last night because I didn't post yesterday. It's OK to admit it; no one will think any less of you if you made your way through a half of a box of tissues. Now, if you used a full box, I can't make any promises...

After obtaining a Facebook page and a blog for three years, I finally broke down a couple of weeks ago and joined the world of Twitter. I saw an opportunity to enter more contests, and thus win more prizes, as well as score more interviews to feature here.

Follow me for the most random mix of tweets that you have
ever seen: @justfactsmaam. Bonus points if you get the TV
reference.

When I look for a possible interview subject, I always try to find someone who a) has a history of frequent fan interaction and b) is well-known but is not a mega star.

For my first interview requests, I chose two subjects: Former MLB catcher Rob Bowen & Mariners P Shawn Kelley.

Both responded affirmatively when I asked them to answer some questions, although Kelley is the only one who has answered them as of yet.

Do you know how hard it is to fit interview questions into 140 characters and still leave room for an answer? Well, I found out just how hard.

Both the questions and answers are short, but I hope you find them enjoyable. Read the post and let me know what you think of this “Tweetversation”.

Question #1: Was it always your dream to play in the MLB?

Shawn Kelley

Answer: You bet.

Question #2: Did you play any other sports as a kid/teen/young adult?

Answer: Basketball, football, golf

Question #3: Who is your funniest teammate?

Answer: I’m the funniest!! Just kidding. Felix is pretty funny.

Question #4: Who is your hero?

Answer: My wife

Question #5: If you could pitch to any MLB batter of all-time, who would it be?

Answer: The Babe!! He wouldn’t have a chance.

My Cardboard, I Appreciate You: Part 2

2012-02-25T17:04:00.001-06:00

Obligatory link to say “sorry I stole your post idea”: Night Owl Cards

In my collection, I have cards that feature three presidents of the United States. Richard Nixon is featured on a Turkey Red; John Kennedy is the subject of an Upper Deck Masterpiece; and Ronald Reagan throws out the first pitch at Wrigley Field. Watch this clip and guess which card I “appreciate” the most:

Video clip: Reagan owns a heckler

Yes, today I will be talking about this card:

When I saw that this card was in the 2011 Topps Opening Day set, I knew I would trade whatever I had to to get my hands on it. Luckily, all I had to do was give up a Barack Obama card from the same set. Lopsided trade, if you ask me, but don’t tell my trade partner that.

There are so many great things about this card. #1, I’ve always enjoyed celebrity first pitches. I love when Johngy’s Celebrity Jersey Cards make an appearance on his blog.

#2, President Reagan is actually wearing a Cubs jacket. I hate it when the person throwing out the first pitch dons a regular jersey; more often than not, all it does is show off the person’s large midsection. (see: Belushi, James)

#3, you can see the ivy of Wrigley Field in the background. There’s a little redness, but it’s mostly green. Ah, what a pretty sight.

#4, and most importantly, it’s FREAKIN’ RONALD REAGAN! If you ask me, the man was the greatest president we’ve ever had, and if you don’t agree with that, then I will hunt you down and cover you with chocolate and peanut butter.

This card is one of the cornerstones of my collection. Yeah, a little extreme for a base card from the Opening Day set, but I think all collectors have a card or two like this.

What’s yours?

Kevin Gausman Enters Justin’s World

2012-02-24T16:44:00.001-06:00

After seeing a Meaux vs. video earlier this year, it recalled to mind a name that I believe I had first heard last year. The name was Kevin Gausman, and I discovered (or rediscovered, I should say) that he is a star pitcher on the LSU baseball team. I first found his Twitter account, then his contact info, and he was kind enough to answer all of my questions.

Thanks a lot, Kevin, and good luck this season!!!

Kevin in action.

Question #1:

A: My favorite memory at LSU so far has been my first inning pitching for the Tigers. I remember getting ready for the first pitch and my legs shaking. The atmosphere of this place is unbelievable and something I will never forget.

Question #2:

A: Eventually, I do dream of playing in the big leagues, just as I think every baseball player does, but that is something I will focus on when that time comes. The only thing that is on my mind now is how to bring the Tigers another National Championship.

Question #3:

A: If I could pitch to any major leaguer of all time, I think I would pick Ted Williams. To me, Ted is the best hitter to ever play baseball.

Question #4: Who is your hero?

A: My hero would have to be my brother. He taught me everything I know about baseball and how to conduct yourself. He definitely influenced me a lot growing up.

Question #5: If you could have dinner with any three people, living or dead, who would they be?

A: Hmm. Thats a tough one. I would have to say first Jesus. I am a very strong follower of Christ and I would have so many questions to ask him about life. Second would be Martin Luther King Jr. I think just talking to him would be an experience of a lifetime. Third would be Cy Young. I would love to talk to him about pitching, being that he is considered the best pitter to ever pitch.

Ebay Idiot #54,309

2012-02-24T11:33:00.000-06:00

OK, correct me if I’m wrong, but Albert Pujols autographs & Michael Jordan rookie cards don’t even go for that much! I’ve lived in houses that didn’t cost that much!

Here’s a poll question to go along with the idiot: Do you think Jeremy Lin is the real deal? Why or why not?

An Interview with Tara Wheeler

2012-02-23T16:21:00.011-06:00

Normally, these interviews consist of four-five questions & the post’s subject’s answers to those questions. This, however, is the first full-length interview ever to be posted at Justin’s World!

The subject of this interview is a very nice, very attractive, and very interesting young woman. Her name is Tara Wheeler, and she holds the title of Miss Virginia 2008. I had a lot of fun coming up with these questions, and I hope you have fun reading Tara’s answers.

You can follow Tara on Twitter: @CBS19_TaraW

Miss Virginia 2008 Tara Wheeler

Question #1: How did you decide to start competing in beauty pageants?

Answer: I competed in my first pageant when I was about 20 years old. I was an ice hockey goalie for Penn State's Lady Icers and an Air Force cadet and wanted to try something a little more girly. I found out that Miss America was the largest provider of scholarships to women in the world and that sealed the deal! I tried a pageant on a whim and expected to meet the stereotype... instead I met some of the most accomplished and incredible women I've ever known. Competing in the Miss America program gave me so many opportunities and helped shape me into the woman I am today. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Question #2: What was the first pageant that you won?
Answer: I started competing in Pennsylvania while I was a student at Penn State. The first pageant I ever won was Miss Greater Pittsburgh. I had competed in easily a dozen local pageants before finally winning one and getting the chance to compete at the state level. When I competed at the state level for the first time I was a total deer in headlights and didn't even make top ten... but I was determined to try again!

Question #3: What kind of things did you do to prepare for the Miss America pageant after being named Miss Virginia?
Answer: My year as Miss Virginia and preparing for Miss America was especially challenging but very rewarding. I travelled around 4,000 miles a month speaking to schools, hosting fundraisers, and as a Children's Miracle Network ambassador across the commonwealth. Embracing that role and those job responsibilities was the best way I could prepare for Miss America. I also had so much help from people across Virginia who would set up mock interviews at host family houses to keep my mind fresh and fast, and I made time to focus on my fitness at the gym. I was constantly inspired and motivated by the people I met along the way!

Question #4: As Miss Virginia, what was your platform? Tell us a bit about it.

Answer: My platform and passion still, is encouraging people, especially young people, to break stereotypes and embrace differences in each other. Beauty is as beauty does and it's so important for people to do beautiful things for others and treat each other beautifully.

Question #5: You are a very skilled ice hockey goalie, I believe. How long have you been playing hockey?
Answer: Haha! Thanks! I've been playing hockey since about the 3rd grade. I was living in Massachusetts at the time (my dad was in the Army and we moved all over the country) and the Mighty Ducks movies were really popular. There was a character named "Julie the Cat" who was a girl and a goalie and I decided I wanted to be just like her!

Question #6: Presently, you are a local news anchor. Was television journalism always something you wanted to do?
Answer: I've always wanted to be a journalist. I think it's such an exciting job. It's an honor that viewers turn to my station to get the important news of the day and it's so wonderful to be able to meet new people and tell their stories every day.

Question #7: You once had a blog on the CSN Washington website, where you wrote about all kinds of things, including sports. With all of the young talent they have, is Ryan Zimmerman still the best player on the Nationals team?

Answer: I love having a blog where I can share my thoughts and interact with viewers, and still blog here at my station in Charlottesville ( http://www.newsplex.com/blogs/tarastake?showMore=yes ) I think he's the best leader on the team and is solid and reliable and that's what makes him so valuable.

Question #8: Any predictions for the Nationals this season?
Answer: My prediction for the Nationals... I hope they go far because I love watching games with my dad! I'm not the biggest baseball fan as far as the sport goes, but I'm a HUGE fan of the atmosphere!

Question #9: If you could have dinner and talk with any three people, living or dead, who would they be and why?
Hmmmmmm....

Diane Sawyer, because she's such a career role model for me and I'd love to hear the stories of all the people she's interviewed.
Oprah, because I think she's such a brilliant marketer and motivator and I think I could learn a ton from her.

And Joe Paterno. As a Penn State grad, he's like a grandfather to me. Despite the huge mistake that tainted his legacy, he did so much good and changed the lives

Jace Williams Enters Justin’s World

2012-02-22T15:38:00.001-06:00

Even though they’re on the West coast and I’m a good ole’ Southern boy, I really enjoy watching the University of California (Cal) Golden Bears play softball. They have a good amount of stars on their team, and, unless they’re playing the Vols or Georgia Bulldogs, I usually find myself rooting for them to win.

Jace Williams was one of almost a half-dozen players from Cal that made it onto my pre-season watch list. There were twenty-four players on that list, although I only published three of them in my pre-season predictions post, and Jace was the #1 third-baseman. So, yes, I consider her to be an elite player.

Get this: Jace responded to my questions eighteen minutes after I sent them. Eighteen minutes! Thanks a lot, Jace!!

Jace's card in the 2012 Justin's World
Customs set.

Question 1: What are your hopes after your collegiate softball career is over? Do you intend to continue playing softball, perhaps professionally?

A: Honestly, I have no idea what I am going to do post graduation. I am open to playing softball professionally, but I also have a passion for business and coaching. I am leaving all of my options open and for now just “going with the flow”! I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason and I know God has big plans for me in whatever route he chooses. :))

Question 2: Are there are personal or team goals that you hope to meet this season? (i.e. certain # of home runs, no more than __ number of errors, etc.)

A: I am all about team stats. As long as I can consistently contribute to our end goal, which would be to win a national championship, I will be more than satisfied. The end goal would be a National Championship, but as far as short-term goals go, I think this team is capable of going undefeated in the pre-season!

Question 3: What is your favorite memory from your softball career thus far?

A: Beating Kentucky in Game 3 of the Super Regional, after a bad Game 2 loss, to go to the World Series is by far my favorite softball memory to date. I am pretty sure winning a national championship would replace that, though!

Question 4: Who is your hero? Why?

A: Coach [Diane] Ninemire is my hero. She gave me a chance to play at CAL, when many other elite programs would not, after I got booted from Washington due to “poor decision making”. I was young and immature, but Coach Ninemire believed in my and gave me a second chance! Any chance I get, I try to make her proud!

My All-Time Top 10 TTM Successes: Honorable Mention, Part 1

2012-02-21T15:07:00.001-06:00

After almost six years of collecting autographs through the mail, I have established a list of my top ten favorites that I have acquired during that time. I will introduce them to you one by one. Today, I begin by showing off some of the autographs that I was glad to get, but just couldn’t crack the top 10.

>>> To be fair, I alphabetized the honorable mentions list, and this young man came up first. Probably best known as Lou Grant in “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”, I also enjoyed Asner’s roles in “Gus” “El Dorado” and “Up”. He’s the definition of a classic actor, and I was glad to add his signature to my collection. My only regret is that I didn’t send him a larger photo.

>>> Some of you may wonder how this autograph made the list. I mean, DeRosa had some good seasons, but he was never a huge star. And now he’s going to spend 2012 with Washington. Washington. Yeah, that’s how low he’s dropped. Anyway, at the time I acquired this success, Mark was still a Cub. I loved his versatility, as he regularly played first, second, third, or could fill in at one of the corner outfield spots. The fact that he signed a 2008 Topps, one of my favorite Topps sets, was just an added bonus.

>>> Any St. Louis Cardinal fan knows and appreciates Jimmy Edmonds. Even as a Cubs fan, I enjoyed Jimmy’s play in St. Louie, and you can’t imagine my glee (no, not the television show. Happiness, moron) when he signed with the Cubs. He spent the 2008 season in Chicago, and hit twenty home runs, which was a nice surprise for the critics who thought he didn’t have anything left. He played until 2010, which he spent with the Brewers and Reds, before retiring before the start of the 2011 campaign. When I saw that he was signing TTM, I immediately sent him a letter, and my signed card was returned in just a couple of weeks.

>>> Rangers standout second baseman Ian Kinsler has been a fixture in the Texas lineup for five years now. When I first got into TTM collecting in 2006, I sent a letter to him, along with his 2006 Topps rookie card. He returned the card signed, and it has been on Page 1 of my autograph book ever since. The autograph bubbled a little bit in transit, but it’s still a nice-looking piece.

>>> And here we have another television legend. The star of “The Bob Newhart Show” and “Newhart”, I sent three index cards to Mr. Newhart a couple of years ago. Since he returned them signed, he has made a guest starring appearance on NCIS, which makes having his autograph even cooler!

>>> The last autograph that I’ll show in part 1 comes all the way from the land of leprechauns and features another on-screen legend. Maureen O’Hara is #2 on my all-time list of favorite actresses (another list you might see), and my personal favorite movie of hers is “McClintock”. Seriously, if you have never seen this film, pick it up from the library, buy it, do whatever you have to do to watch this film. It is GREAT. I have five Maureen O’Hara movies in my collection, plus her autobiography and her autograph. Not a bad collection, if I do say so myself.

Where Are They Now: Eric Munson

2012-02-20T14:49:00.001-06:00

Who is he? Eric Munson, former catcher for the Tigers, Devil Rays, Astros, and Athletics.

What is he known for? Munson was the third-overall draft pick in the 1999 amateur draft. He was also a part of the 2006 Astros team that would eventually advance to the World Series, although Munson was not on the roster for the series.

Munson's rookie card - 1999 Fleer Tradition
Update #U4

Does he have any baseball cards? Yes, he is featured in the following sets:

· 2006 Upper Deck (Card #635)

· 2005 Topps Chrome (Card #263)

· 2004 Topps Heritage (Card #188)

· 2004 Topps (Card #391)

· 2004 Topps Chrome (Card #391)

· 2003 Upper Deck (Card #248)

· 2002 Fleer Tradition (Card #256)

· 2002 Bowman (Card #295)

· 2001 Stadium Club (Card #184)

· 2001 Pacific (Card #470)

· 2001 Fleer Tradition (Card #370)

· 2001 Bowman Heritage (Card #162)

You can complete a Munson trifecta for 2.88 + shipping on checkoutmycards.com. His rookie card is here; relic here; and autograph here.

What's he doing now? Munson is currently an assistant baseball coach at the University of Southern California (USC).

Contact information: You can try to contact Mr. Munson at this address. Please note that I cannot guarantee that this address will produce a successful return.

Eric Munson

c/o USC Baseball

Dedeaux Field Building

1021 Childs Way

Los Angeles, CA 90089-0731

News & Notes – 2/19/12

2012-02-19T15:50:00.000-06:00

Tennessee Softball: The Lady Vols are in Texas this weekend. They bested Illinois by a score of 10-7 on Friday and were cancelled yesterday against Pitt. They lost to the Longhorns of Texas today in extra innings, 3-2.
Tim Wakefield announced his retirement from baseball on Friday. He played from 1992 to 2011, with the Pirates & Red Sox.
Miami Dolphins: Former Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman has been hired as the Dolphins’ new offensive coordinator.
Ron Jaworski has been let go as a color analyst on Monday Night Football. He has, however, been retained by ESPN, and will continue to provide NFL analysis on programs like “SportsCenter”. Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden will be a two-man team in the broadcast booth next season.
The Great Orioles Autograph Project has been completed! Until new Orioles take the field in a few weeks, Ryan has the autographs of all 910 players that have worn the O’s uniform. See the last autograph he obtained here: Link
Chicago Cubs: Blake DeWitt, the main Chicago-bound piece of the trade that sent Ted Lilly to the Dodgers, was outrighted to Triple-A Iowa and will be in Major League camp as a non-roster invitee. DeWitt and two prospects were traded to the Cubs in 2010 in exchange for Lilly and Ryan Theriot.
Cincinnati Bengals: Former Raiders head coach Hue Jackson is the new defensive backs coach for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Worth Watching

Discussion

Consider this post an open thread! One rule: Keep it clean, ladies and gents.

An Exclusive Interview with The Voice's Angie Johnson

2012-02-18T14:40:00.001-06:00

Angie singing the Star-Spangled Banner at a Seahawks game.
Photo credit: Brandan W. Shulze

You know her as the power-voiced Air Force Staff Sergeant on NBC’s hit show “The Voice”, and now you can read her answers to my questions!

It’s amazing what a little thing like a contact form submission can do. I was offered the chance to actually speak with Ms. Johnson, but I was, unfortunately, forced to decline. However, she was still kind enough to answer my questions. My thanks to her and Emel, without whose assistance, this post would never have come about!

Question #1: Has music always been an interest of yours? Who are some of your musical inspirations/heroes?

My love for music started at a very tender age. I remember singing when I was 3 years old. I would lock myself in my room and listen to people like Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston and press stop, then rewind, over and over again until I could sing a lick just like them. I used to put on little shows for my parents and their friends and then I started singing publicly in middle school for talents contests and musicals.

Question #2: Growing up, what were your career aspirations?

The only thing I’ve ever passionately desired to do is be a singer and work in the entertainment industry. I had flighty little dreams about maybe being the first female president or becoming a veterinarian, but singing was the only thing I loved enough to go after and stick with. When I started to get older, and my music career had yet to take off, I kind of hung up the towel on being a recording artist and decided to use my G.I. Bill to go back to school. I was majoring in Psychology and eventually wanted to get my doctorate to become a therapist. A few experiences that I’ve had with children and veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder really made me want to reach out to those who needed help learning how to cope with traumatic events that had occurred in their lives.

Question #3: How long have you been in the military?

I served a 6 year active duty term before I transferred into the Air National Guard where I currently serve one weekend a month. I’ve been in the Guard for 5 years and a half years. So almost 12 years of cumulative service so far.

Question #4: How did you decide to join the armed forces?

I had a turbulent childhood. My parents split up and my relationship with them really faltered during my high school years. By the time I graduated from high school I was in a really emotionally exhausted place. I knew in my heart of hearts that if I tried to go to college I would fail miserably at it because I just didn’t have the drive. But at the same time I didn’t want to be 19 years old, working in a dead end job, living in a trashy apartment somewhere. So, I decided to join the Air Force. I knew that joining the Air Force would give me focus and direction that I didn’t necessarily have at that point of my early adulthood. I knew that I could learn a new skill and be trained, maybe get to travel and live somewhere other than my hometown, and that in the end I would receive educational benefits for if I ever felt really ready to go to college. It was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life.

Question #5: What are your hopes for your future on "The Voice" & your musical career beyond?

As far as The Voice goes, I want to go as far as I’m supposed to go. I know that may sound like a weird answer, but I don’t necessarily believe that the only winning scenario is to win the show. I would be ecstatic if I were Kelly Clarkson or if I were Kellie Pickler. Success can be measured in a lot of different ways. In that respect, I feel that I’ve already won more than I could ever dream. I’ve gone from a regular Armed Services member just doing her job, to a vocalist on a hit national television show who gets to be mentored by one of the biggest names in music right now. No matter the outcome of The Voice, all of this experience will help my music career. This has actually given my musical career back to me.

Question #6: If you could have dinner with any three people, living or dead, who would they be and why?

Wow, great question. My number one pick is definitely Jesus, post age 30. I’d take Unconditional Love 101 from Him and really try to apply it to my life. And I’d thank Him face to face for loving me enough to give His life for me.

Next would be my grandmother on my father’s side. Her name was Verna and she died when my father was 11. He always tells me that she was a beautiful singer and that she used to sing hymns to him when he was small. Neither of my parents sing so I think I may have gotten my ability from her. I’d like to sit down to a good ole Southern supper with her and sing hymns with her afterward.

Lastly, I’d like to have a meal with Carrie Underwood. I think one meal is all it would take for us to become fast friends. I admire the image she puts forth for young girls and women everywhere. She’s managed to be one of the biggest country music stars of our time and still maintain a sweet, down home attitude. She’s also been involved in reality television and had her career spiral upward at a very quick rate of speed. I’d get advice on how to deal with the pace of everything and keeping your head on straight at the same time.

Autograph Adventures: Graphing My First Concert

2012-02-17T14:15:00.016-06:00

In December of last year, my dad and I attended a Southern Gospel concert here in town. We are both big fans of that genre of music, and I am good friends with one of the artists performing that night. It was an anniversary celebration that evening, as the Sanctuary Quartet were hosting the Mark Trammell Quartet and the Whisnants. (Click on each group’s name to visit their website).

In preparation for the concert, I created custom cards for each of the singers that I knew would be in attendance. I don’t know if I’ve shown off my design, but here it is:

It was inspired by 1984 Topps, to some extent.

There were eleven singers in all that were scheduled to be in attendance. I carried a binder with the cards in it; a silver Sharpie; a black Sharpie; and a few blank index cards just in case someone else I recognized happened to show up.

As soon as we walked in the doors of the building, we were met by two members of the Sanctuary Quartet, the evening’s hosts. I had been corresponding online with their tenor, Stephen, for several weeks ahead of the concert, so meeting him in person for the first time was fun.

The four of us talked for a bit, then I asked each of them for their signatures. I had already mapped out which color Sharpie I wanted each card signed with, and I managed to get these two right.

Next, I spotted the tenor for the Whisnants. He was sitting behind their product table and wasn’t engaged by a customer, so I quickly asked him for his signature. He signed his rather dark card in silver Sharpie, like I asked. That put me at 3/3 on the night.

Three members of the Mark Trammell Quartet were all behind that group’s product table, so I made my way over there for their autographs. Both the bass singer (who can hit a low note with the best you’ve ever heard) and lead singer signed their cards and commented on them. Since the cards didn’t turn out nearly as well as I had hoped they would, their appreciation was much appreciated! :)

The interim tenor for MTQ was glad to sign for me. Even though he wasn’t a permanent member of the group, I had heard him sign on Youtube videos and I knew I wanted his signature. We talked for a bit, and he ended up giving me his business card to mail him extra copies of his card. We’ve become good friends, so here’s a shout-out to my friend, Jim Cox!

Now I had six signature and five cards left unsigned. I managed to get four of those five signed, with only one mistake: When I approached Sanctuary’s bass singer for his autograph, I messed up and handed him the black Sharpie instead of my preferred silver. As you can see in the scan below, he was forced to sign in the corner of the card because the photo shows him wearing a dark suit.

I only had one card left unsigned when we took our seats for the concert. We spent a good amount of time listening to some FAN-tas-TIC music, then it was time for intermission. My one goal for intermission was to get Card #11 signed.

Sure enough, I got the only female singer in attendance (two of the groups were quartets, one was a two males/one female trio) to sign her card at intermission. That left me with a complete 11/11 night!

These scans are the four cards that I made and got signed by the members of the Sanctuary Quartet.

Sure, Southern Gospel artists may not be the most coveted autographs in the world, but I enjoyed getting them and I enjoy having them in my collection. The concert also served as a practice run to test my preparation for a future autograph opportunity – I’d say I passed with flying colors!

Trade w/ ‘All Trade Bait, All the Time’

2012-02-16T14:06:00.000-06:00

I recently completed my first trade with Oscar of the blog All Trade Bait, All the Time. He’s a Dodger fan, but if you don’t have any LAD cards laying around, there’s a whole list of players that he collects.

He emailed me about two cards he had for one of my player collections. I didn’t have either of them, so we set up a trade.

First, we have a Reed Johnson card from 2009 O-Pee-Chee (dontcha just love saying that?). Also, here’s the black-bordered version of the same card.

Oscar also sent me a few other Cubs cards, most notably a Ryne Sandberg Diamond King that I forgot to photograph.

Thanks for the trade, Oscar!

My Cardboard, I Appreciate You: Part 1

2012-02-15T14:00:00.001-06:00

Obligatory link as my way of saying “sorry I stole your post idea”: Night Owl Cards

You all know I’m a *HUGE* Tennessee Vols fan. I don’t care for their basketball (Bruce Pearl kind of soured my attitude toward the Vols on the hardcourt); I’m 100% a football guy.

In the past few years, UT has had a few players land a spot on an NFL roster. Some were just for training camp and were cut before the season started. Others stuck on their respective team’s roster and, while perhaps not playing every down, got some respectable reps.

Jonathan Crompton is a prime example of the former. He was drafted in the 5th round of the 2010 draft by the Chargers. Evidently, Topps considered his prospects of landing on the team good enough that they put him in the 2010 Topps NFL set (card # 297).

Luke Stocker is a good example of the latter option. Drafted by the Buccaneers in the 4th round of the 2011 draft, he was the #2 tight end on the Tampa Bay roster throughout the season. With the horrible season they had, I don’t know why Stocker didn’t get more chances to play, but I digress.

Stocker has cards in both the 2011 Score and 2011 Topps sets, as well as a handful of others. A guy on Facebook had two Stocker cards, neither of which, sadly, featured him in his Tennessee uniform. Still, I really wanted a Stocker card and now I do!

Stocker is the type of tight end that, as the back of the below card puts it, “can drag tacklers to scrape out tough yards”.

Here it is, my first Luke Stocker card. I have his autograph on two custom cards, although I’m still on the lookout for a cheap cert., so all I need is a relic of some kind and this trifecta will be completed!

Where Are They Now: Andy Phillips

2012-02-14T16:30:00.002-06:00

Who is he? Andy Phillips, former Red, Met, and Yankee utility player.

What is he known for? In his first MLB at-bat, Phillips hit a home run over Boston's famous Green Monster.

Does he have any baseball cards? He was included in a few mainstream sets:

2001 Stadium Club (RC)
2006 Upper Deck
2007 Upper Deck
2008 Topps
2008 Topps Heritage
2008 Topps Update

What's he doing now? Phillips is currently the assistant baseball coach at the University of Alabama, his alma mater.

Contact information: You can write a letter to Mr. Phillips at this address. Please note that I cannot be guarantee that this address will produce a successful return.

Andy Phillips

c/o Sewell-Thomas Stadium
241 Paul W. Bryant Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487.

Trade w/ Moe of “My 2008 Topps Set Blog"

2012-02-13T14:02:00.001-06:00

I recently completed my first-ever trade with Uncle Moe of My 2008 Topps Set Blog. This guy is trying to get the complete 2008 Topps set signed. That’s 990 cards! He’s almost halfway there, last time I checked, and along the way he has also added signed cards from the 2008 Topps Chrome, basketball, and football sets, as well as ’08 Topps relics and signed custom cards. He also has a bit of a Daniel Hudson player collection going, and is a Diamondbacks.

He had some 2011 Topps Update sparklies for trade, and I asked for three of them.

The colors on the Linebrink really make the card pop.

Thanks for the trade, Moe!! Looking forward to our next one.

News & Notes - 2/12/12

2012-02-13T08:00:00.001-06:00

News:
Softball:

Tennessee: Sophomore pitcher Ellen Renfroe is 5-0 to start the season. She pitched 31 innings through five of the first six games, and has registered 48 strikeouts thus far.
Arizona State: The Sun Devils are in danger of losing their #1 ranking after losses to McNeese State on Friday & Tennessee on Saturday.
Florida: Freshman Sami Fagan has started the season on a tear, registering eight hits in nine at-bats. She also has a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.

Baseball:

Yankees/Pirates: Pittsburgh and the American League New York franchise are discussing a trade involving pitcher A.J. Burnett. Although players that might be involved from the Pittsburgh side aren't known, power-hitting utility player Garrett Jones is apparently off the table.
Blue Jays: The Clemens name has once again arrived in Toronto. Roger's son Koby has apparently signed a contract with the team.
Marlins: The new-look Miami team have unretired the #5 jersey. It will be worn by Logan Morrison (who formerly wore #20). #5 had previously been the only number, besides Jackie Robinson's 42, retired by the Marlins. It was retired in 1993 in honor of the passing of the team's first president and COO Carl Barger.
Giants: Former Cub, Dodger, and Cardinal Ryan Theriot, who won a World Series title with the 2011 St. Louis team, has signed a contract with the San Francisco Giants. The deal is for one year and is worth $1.25 million, with $750,000 in performance bonuses.

Football:

49ers: San Francisco breakout QB Alex Smith has spent his weekend caddying for Niners head coach Jim Harbaugh at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Other NFL'ers in the field include Tony Romo; Jerry Rice; Aaron Rodgers; Herm Edwards; and Bill Belichick.
Patriots: According to reports, Tom Brady is about to get a new brother-in-law: Boston Red Sox 1B/3B Kevin Youkilis. This article offers a humorous twist on an angle of the story; read the last two paragraphs.
Patriots: Chad Ochocinco is reportedly changing his last name back to Johnson. Why? He's getting married! Yeah, add the woman in that arrangement to your prayer lists.

Worth Watching:

Gilbert Gottfried may not know when to keep his mouth shut (see: Japanese tsunami), but most of the time when he opens it, something funny might just come out. This is from a 1999 episode of Hollywood Squares.

Discussion:

Consider this post an open thread! Keep it clean, ladies & gentlemen.

A gift from Joe @ the Sandlot

2012-02-11T15:00:00.000-06:00

When Night Owl posted his One-Card Challenge, I scrolled through the list of cards that different bloggers needed to complete sets or team sets or for their player collections. I was surprised to see that Joeneeded a 2009 Topps Nick Evans card. Since I received the whole 660-card ’09 set as a Christmas gift that same year, I knew I had that card somewhere; it was just a matter of finding it.

Luckily, it didn’t take me long to discover it in the middle of the miniscule Mets stack of my trade box. I emailed Joe for his address, and I was very clear that I wanted nothing in return.

Well, I just thought I was clear. Less than a week after Mr. Evans was mailed, a package from Joe arrived in my mailbox. The note inside read “I know you said you didn’t want anything in return, but I know a guy, who knows a guy, whose hairdresser believes in karma”.

Bad hairdresser!

This beauty fell out of the package from Joe:

I recognized the name, which is a tremendous feat for me since he had no major league experience for the Cubs before becoming a part of the trade for Matt Garza. I love how the Bowman Chrome cards look with an autograph on them. The photo doesn’t do this card justice; it is BEE-u-TE-full.

So, let me get this straight:

I sent Joe a single 2009 Topps base card

He sent me an on-card autograph from a guy in a Cubs uniform?

The generosity of the blogosphere never seizes to amaze me! Thanks, Joe!!

UPDATE: Bloggers on Facebook

2012-02-11T10:16:00.000-06:00

I’m still way behind in the race to win this card:

Only six of my blogger friends have joined the group and I know there are a lot more of you on Facebook!

So here’s what I’m going to do.

I need at least thirty total referrals, so twenty-four more are necessary. If I hit that number and win, then I will receive both the Elway card above + this

then one person will win the Elway card for their own collection.

If you want a chance to win the Elway, follow these steps:

Click on this link (make sure you are logged into Facebook)
In the top right corner click on the “Ask to Join Group” button
After your request to join is approved, post something to the effect of “Justin M____ referred me” on the group’s wall

Please note that only those who join the group and post that I referred them will be eligible to win the Elway card.

That is all. Thanks to all of y’all who have already joined the group to help me out! We now return you to your regularly-scheduled programming.

Friday Funny

2012-02-10T14:01:00.000-06:00

‘Grandma not in heaven’ boy reports

APPLE VALLEY, Minn. — Four-year-old Jeremy Werdt says he went to heaven during emergency spleen surgery, and his testimony of seeing Jesus and deceased relatives thrilled his Christian family and landed him a book contract.

Then Jeremy revealed to his family that Wanda Spencer, his maternal grandmother, was not in heaven after all.
“To have Jeremy back and talking about this amazing experience of being with the Lord was the most wonderful day of our lives,” says his mother, Brenda. “He named all the relatives he’d seen and we just sat there crying. Then, after a while, we realized he hadn’t said anything about my mom, Grandma Spencer.”
When Brenda asked about her, Jeremy shook his head and said, “She ain’t there,” then rolled over and went back to sleep.
“Our smiles froze in place,” says Brenda. “All the comfort I’ve had since her death vanished.”
Distressed, the family gathered in Jeremy’s recovery room two days later to gently quiz him again about who he had seen. He was able to repeatedly name and describe every deceased relative he had spent time with in heaven, even ones he hadn’t met during his life on earth.
But when it came to Grandma Spencer, the boy was firm.
“Every time we asked he just shrugged his shoulders and said, ‘Nope. Not there,’” says Brenda. “We suggested maybe he didn’t recognize her because she looked younger in heaven. He smiled and said, ‘Mom, you recognize everyone in heaven. Grandma wasn’t around.’”
The revelation has divided the family. Some doubt Jeremy had an out-of-body experience at all. Others suggest that during Jeremy’s visit to heaven, Grandma Spencer was elsewhere on God’s business.
But “what kind of grandmother wouldn’t stop by to visit her grandson to encourage him before he returns to earth?” asks one of Jeremy’s uncles. “That just doesn’t sound like Mom.”
Other relatives have started to speculate about Grandma Spencer’s actual beliefs. They describe a quiet, mischievous woman with a stubborn streak, very much the opposite of Grandpa Spencer who was outspoken about his faith. Many are wondering if Grandma Spencer ever made a solid declaration of faith.
“She was always coy about it and kept her beliefs to herself,” says Brenda’s sister Beatrice. “She would sit there with a knowing smile when we talked religion. I always thought it was a sign of her wisdom and humility. Now I’m racking my brain to remember if she ever claimed Christ or not. I want anything to hold onto.”
In the weeks since the experience, some say they can’t look at old photographs of Grandma Spencer without a fresh sense of grief and even anger at her. Some say they wish Jeremy hadn’t been granted a heavenly visit at all.
“As wonderful as it was for him, the rest of us are going out of our minds,” says Beatrice. “I wish someone could go back to heaven and find out for sure.”•

This story was reprinted from larknews.com and does not portray actual events. I do not claim any sort of ownership of copyright over this piece; it was reprinted only for our readers’ enjoyment. We here at Justin’s World hope this story did give you a laugh. Next week, we will feature another “Friday Funny”, so y’all come on back now, ya hear?

Krista Donnenwirth Steps Into Justin’s World

2012-02-09T13:36:00.006-06:00

In the past, I’ve said some things about the ASU Sun Devils that could be considered less than nice. They were all intended in good fun, and I hope they were portrayed and received as such.

Krista with the 2011 WCWS Championship trophy.

One of the stars of last year’s ASU squad was 3^rd-baseman Krista Donnenwirth. An outgoing senior, she led the Sun Devils to the Women’s College World Series title, the second in her career. Now graduated, Krista answered my questions and let’s us know what she’s going to do next.

Question 1: What are your hopes after your collegiate softball career is over? Do you intend to continue playing softball, perhaps professionally?

A: Now that collegiate softball is over, I am just trying to finish my two degrees at ASU (Nutrition and Psychology). I have joined a few slowpitch softball teams and am just trying to have fun while I finish school and start looking for a job. I would like to get a job working with athletes in either sports nutrition, psychology or marketing.

Question 2: Are there are personal or team goals that you hope to meet this season? (i.e. certain # of home runs, no more than __ number of errors, etc.)

A: Because I am no longer on the team I do not have any personal goals for the upcoming season but I would like to see the team win another Championship!

Question 3: What is your favorite memory from your softball career thus far?

A: My favorite memory was winning the 2011 World Series. It felt amazing to finish my career on top!

Question 4: Who is your hero? Why?

A: My hero is my grandmother because of her ability to stay positive in any situation.

Thanks, Krista!!

Answers may have been edited for clarity and/or grammatical correctness.

My Pre-Season NCAAS Predictions

2012-02-08T13:34:00.005-06:00

As if anybody cares what I think is going to happen…

SEC Champion: Tennessee

SEC Runner-Up: Florida

These two spots were the toughest calls I had to make in my predictions. It’s not Vol loyalty that made me pick UT to become repeat champions, either. Three points that make me think Tennessee will win back-to-back SEC titles:

They only lost two playesr. Kelly Grieve will be hard to replace, but the Vols have the other eight positions locked up. Jessica Spigner’s power will have to be compensated for by the other players, and I think they can definitely do it.
A talented senior class. Shelby Burchell, Cat Hosfield, Ashley Andrews, and Holly Baker are all outgoing seniors, and I know they all want to leave in style.
A powerful crop of freshmen. The newbies on the team are sure to make an impact, as Hannah Akamine and Cheyenne Tarango may end up starting right off the bat.

WCWS Participant: Tennessee

WCWS Participant: Georgia

WCWS Participant: Florida

WCWS Participant: Baylor

WCWS Participant: Arizona State

WCWS Participant: Oklahoma

WCWS Participant: Missouri

WCWS Participant: Texas

Five of these teams (Florida, Baylor, Arizona State, Oklahoma, Missouri) were in the WCWS last year, while a sixth (

Georgia

) barely missed out on the tournament. Texas and Tennessee both have very good teams with more than enough power and skill to advance to OK City.

Players to Watch: Kristyn Sandberg; Jackie Traina; Kathy Shelton

Sandberg is

Georgia

’s big power threat, as well as excellent defensively and a leader in the clubhouse. In her last season as a Bulldog, she will have a big part in whatever

Georgia

does with their season.

Traina showed a lot of talent as Alabama’s #2 pitcher last year. With the graduation of Kelsi Dunne, Traina will move into the ace slot and Alabama is counting on her to lead the team from the circle.

Shelton is a speedy center fielder for the Baylor Bears. A threat both with her bat and on the base paths, Shelton may be Coach Glenn Moore’s X-factor.

Team that Might Surprise Us All: Mississippi State

With the addition of ex-Alabama pitching coach Vann Stuedeman as head coach and NPF #1 draft pick Kelsi Dunne as a volunteer assistant, the Bulldogs could very well become one of the top teams in the SEC West, which already features three pre-season Top 25 teams.

Team that Might Disappoint Us All: Alabama

With the losses of Stuedeman and Dunne, and the departure and return of head coach Patrick Murphy, ‘Bama could finish as bad as fourth in the division, and seventh in the conference. Then again, with stars like Traina and Kayla Braud on their team, the Tide could also make a run at a WCWS spot. The freshman class is stellar, so of all of my predictions, this is the one I’m the most wishy-washy about.

Email Autograph: Senator Mike Enzi

2012-02-07T14:15:00.000-06:00

Sen. Mike Enzi, 1/0 – This is my second autograph from a United States Senator, following only Kay Bailey Hutchison. Senator Enzi sent me a 4x6 photo with a pre-printed signature written in gold. The signature is definitely a PP, as it is not raised from the photo and there are no indentions as to where the pen was pressed down as he signed it. His signature on the photo reads “Mike Enzi, US Senator”.

Where Are They Now: Jon Kitna

2012-02-06T18:00:00.003-06:00

Who is he? Jon Kitna, the recently-retired NFL quarterback.

What is he known for? Before his retirement, Kitna had played in the NFL for fourteen years. He played for the Seahawks; Bengals; Lions; and Cowboys, as well as NFL Europe's Barcelona (Spain) Dragons. He won the Comeback Player of the Year award in 2003.

Does he have any football cards? Yes, several. His first rookie card appeared in the 1997 Revolution set, and his most recent card was in the 2009 Topps Mayo release. His last inclusion in a "major" set was 2008 Topps.

What's he doing now? Kitna was recently named the head football coach at Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Washington. He will also serve as a math teacher. (Hat tip to Mark for the info).

Contact information: You can write a letter to Mr. Kitna at this address. Please note that I cannot be guarantee that this address will produce a successful return.

Jon Kitna

c/o Lincoln High School
701 S 37th St
Tacoma, WA 98418

2012 Topps Want-List

2012-02-04T13:57:00.003-06:00

I’ve made a decision: I will not purchase a single pack of 2012 Topps Series 1, Series 2, or Update this year. Not because Topps failed to fulfill their promise of a “game-changer”, but simply because a) I don’t like the design and b) I’m becoming more of a player collector than a team guy. If my odds of pulling a card I needed for a team set were small before, think about how miniscule they will be if I’m only looking for a few select players.

There will be a few cards that I need, some for TTM requests and some for my personal collection. I need sixteen cards from Series 1. Just 16. I’d like to trade for these cards all at once to save on postage, but that’s not required.

These are the cards I need:

40-Tom Milone
58-Tim Hudson
90-Adron Chambers
178-Edward Mujica
202-Andrew Carignan
205-Justin Masterson
259-Michael Stutes
278-Randy Wells
321 Jason Bourgeois
325 Chris Schwinden
329 Allen Craig WS

Hit me up with an email or in the comments if you can help me out!

Where Are They Now: Troy Smith

2012-02-03T16:26:00.000-06:00

Who is he? Troy Smith, former Ohio State Buckeye, Baltimore Raven, and San Francisco Forty-Niner.

What is he known for? While at Ohio State in 2006, Smith was awarded the Heisman Trophy, beating out Darren McFadden and Brady Quinn.

Does he have any football cards? Base card-wise, Smith was included in several sets, including one set in 2011:

-2007 Bowman
-2007 Press Pass
-2007 Topps
-2007 Topps Total
-2008 Score
-2008 Topps
-2009 Topps Magic
-2011 Score

What’s he doing now? Smith spent the 2011 campaign with the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. He backed up former Ole Miss stinker Jeremiah Masoli for all but the last game of the season, if that tells you anything.

Contact information: As listed on their website, the Nighthawks address is:
1019 Leavenworth St.
Omaha, NE 68102

You can send fanmail for Smith, Masoli, or other Nighthawks players there.

Pre-Season NCAA Softball Rankings – ASU Starts at #1

2012-02-02T18:26:00.003-06:00

The pre-season rankings for the NCAA softball season came out last week. No surprise, defending champions Arizona State hold the top spot. With the addition of Texas A&M and Missouri into the conference, the SEC holds eight of the top twenty-five spots. Oklahoma State starts out tied for sixteenth after finishing last season as number eight. The loss of five starting seniors caused 2011 runner-up Florida to start the season ranked #4, the second of three SEC teams in the top five. Below are the complete rankings, 1-25.

(SEC teams are denoted in RED)

1. Arizona State
2. Alabama
3. California
4. Florida
5. Missouri
6. Oklahoma
7. Baylor
8. Arizona
9. Tennessee
10. Stanford
11. Oregon
12. Georgia
13. UCLA
14. Washington
15. Texas A&M
T16. Michigan
T16. Oklahoma State
18. Kentucky
19. Texas
T20. LSU

T20. Nebraska

22. Houston

23. Georgia Tech

24. Louisiana Lafayette

25. Notre Dame

Email Autograph: New Mexico Governor Susanna Martinez

2012-02-01T18:19:00.004-06:00

Gov. Susanna Martinez, 1/0 – The New Mexico governor sent me a signed 8x10 photo, as well as a lapel pin in the shape and design of the NM flag. As cool as the pin is, it caused me problems, poking holes right through the envelope; the manila folder that the photo was sent in; a nice letter from the governor; and the photo itself. Check out pictures of the autograph and the damage below:

Holes in envelope

Pin that caused the problems

Close up of signature/holes in photo

Putting out the call

2012-02-01T14:15:00.002-06:00

I’m planning to send an autograph request to former Cardinal and Mariner Tyler Johnson, but I realized I don’t have any of his cards. I had a Fleer RC, but I guess I traded it away. Does anybody have a single card of him, from any release, that they would be willing to PWE to me? I’d appreciate it immensely!

Email Autograph: Florida Governor Rick Scott

2012-01-31T18:15:00.001-06:00

Rick Scott, 1/0 – Another freshman Republican governor was kind enough to send me his autograph. Florida’s own Rick Scott sent me a signed 8x10 photo in just about a week. There was also a nice letter that looks like it might have actually been hand-signed. Gov. Scott has a nice signature, and anytime an autograph is signed in silver, I like it. :)

Contest Prize from Autograph University

2012-01-30T13:32:00.000-06:00

If you are any kind of autograph collector, you need to check out Autograph University. Matt does a great job with the site, and it’s very helpful and informative. I’ll wait while you check it out. Go! Now!

…

What, back so soon? Anyway, Matt ran a year-end contest and I somehow won. The prize was a 5x7 autographed by New Jersey Nets star Deron Williams. Yes, an NBA player. What? National Basketball Association. Yeah, basketball. Orange ball, you throw it through a metal hoop and get points? Yeah, that.

OK, now that we’ve recalled what the NBA is, isn’t this a pretty autograph? Great photo, great quality, great signature. Too bad I can’t stand Deron Williams.

If any of you NBA collectors want this, let me know. We might be able to work something out.

Idiotic Ebay Seller #357,201

2012-01-29T13:11:00.000-06:00

A Walter Payton rookie card for $35,000? No, thanks. I’ll buy a house.

“Arguably the best football player ever”. Do you agree with this sentiment?

Email Autograph: Alabama Governor Robert Bentley

2012-01-28T13:05:00.002-06:00

Here’s another autograph that came in just four days after I sent my request: Alabama’s freshman governor Robert Bentley.

Robert Bentley, 1/0 – I lived in Alabama for a year, and, with the exception of Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe, I posess the autographs from all of the current governors of the states that I’ve lived in. That would be Tennessee (Bill Haslam); Alabama (Bentley); and Louisiana (Bobby Jindal). Of course, notably, Beebe is also the only Democrat out of that group. Gov. Bentley has a very nice signature, and I’m glad to add his signature to my collection.

Thanks to Governor Bentley and WarRollEagleTide!

Email Autograph: Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison

2012-01-27T13:00:00.003-06:00

I recently sent out emails to a few of the new stock of US Governors, as well as a couple of senators. I got four (!) autographs back just four days after I sent out the requests. The first was from the senior senator from Texas, Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Kay Bailey Hutchison, 1/0 – Before she retires at the end of her current term, I definitely wanted to add Sen. Hutchison’s autograph to my collection. Luckily, I happened to see a post in an autograph forum mentioning how he got her autograph. I immediately followed the provided link and emailed the senator. Just four days later, a signed 8x10 photo was sitting in my mailbox.

Thanks to Sen. Hutchison for signing for me, and also a “Thank you” to whichever of her staffers that read my email and helped me out!

Attention Bloggers on Facebook!

2012-01-26T16:44:00.000-06:00

A Facebook group that I belong to, called The Sports Card Hangout, is running a "referral contest". Basically, whoever brings in the most members before the February 24 deadline will win a John Elway Super Bowl Die-Cut. If the winner brings in over 30 people, he/she will also win a 2011 Topps black Julio Jones #/60.

If you're on Facebook, click the link and ask to join the group. When they accept your request, give them my name and tell them I sent you.

Here's the link to the group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SportsCardTrading

A Gift from the Man Under the Bridge

2012-01-26T12:41:00.000-06:00

The Troll from whatever his blog is called now, is well-known to most of the card blogging and trading community. We’ve traded more than once. Most recently, a greeting-card sized envelope from him arrived in my mailbox. Inside were two cards that I needed for various reasons.

First, we have a Daniel Moskos sparkly rookie card. Even though the photo tints the bottom foil blue, it’s just a regular diamond parallel, not the hope diamond.

Secondly, we have a Zack Greinke gold parallel numbered to 2011. At the rate I’m trading for these gold cards, I may try to put the entire 990-card parallel set together. I’m not sure yet; it’s a big undertaking, but if you have some gold cards from 2011 Topps just laying around that you want to trade or give away, shoot me an email.

Thanks for the cards, Troll!! Looking forward to the Troll-ized version of TMA!

Cat Hosfield Enters Justin’s World

2012-01-25T13:13:00.009-06:00

The Tennessee Vols are my team. Any of you who are regular readers of these here ramblings are, I’m sure, well acquainted with that fact. You probably also know that I am a huge fan of the UT softball program. One of the members of the Lady Vols softball team is Cathleen “Cat” Hosfield.

Cat is a member of the 2012 senior class, so this is her last year in a Vols uniform. I’m excited to see what she and the rest of the team have in store. Cat was kind enough to answer all of my questions; thanks, Cat!!

This is Cat's card from the "UT Portraits" custom
set that I made. The photo is from the 2011 UT
media guide and the design is all my own.

Q: What are your hopes after your collegiate softball career is over? Do you intend to continue playing softball, perhaps professionally?

A: After the season is over, I hope to continue my career with the Lady Vols as a graduate assistant for our softball program. I am also thinking about going overseas to play with a team in Holland. The details for that haven’t been worked out, but they both are things I am interested in after our season is done.

Q: Are there any personal or team goals that you hope to meet this season? (i.e. certain # of home runs, no more than __ number of errors, etc.)

A: Some goals for our season – Our team would like to win the SEC regular-season. This is a battle because our conference is very tough. We would also like to return to the SEC tournament and win a back-to-back tournament championship. Finally, a team goal of ours is to go as far as we are capable of in the post-season. With this team, I believe we are capable of making the world series again like we did with the 2010 team. Personally, I would like to fill my role to the fullest. This entails bringing in runs with my bat and giving my team a chance to win when I’m called on to pitch some innings. As any softball players, I would like to hit 5+ home runs with an average above .300, haha, but I would rather be one of the team leaders in RBI’s and scored runs. I feel as if those stats are more important than batting average and the number of home runs. Overall my main goal is to have fun and be a leader and guide my team back to the world series.

Q: What is your favorite memory from your softball career thus far?

A: My favorite softball memory was beating #2 Michigan at Michigan when we were the #15 seed. We beat them to advance to the college world series. I got the win in the second game of the super regional and I was more than excited to be such a key player for my team in that series.

Q: Who is your hero? Why?

A: My hero is my mom because of her passion for life and for her family. Her drive is so powerful and something that I admire. She is committed to helping others and spending time with her family. She is very special to me and is the reason why I made it to Division I softball. She was there every step of the way.

Answers may have been edited for clarity and/or grammatical correctness.

Eddie Murray is short

2012-01-24T13:25:00.000-06:00

Short printed, that is. I don’t recall how I came across this short-printed card from 2010 Topps that features Mr. Murray, but it doesn’t really fit in my collection needs. I would be happy to trade it. I’m not looking for anything in particular in exchange, so make offers! All offers will be given due consideration.

Gift from Matt H. of "Card Anathema"

2012-01-23T13:21:00.004-06:00

Matt H. contacted a little bit ago and asked for my address, saying he wanted to send me a few cards off of my want list in exchange for a package that I sent him a while back. To be honest with you, I don’t remember sending any such package, but I surely wasn’t going to turn down cards! Matt knocked four 2011 Topps Update cards off of my list. They are #’s 57, 105, 267, and 307.

Thanks, Matt!

Trade w/ Eric of Manupatches & Mustaches

2012-01-22T16:32:00.000-06:00

Craig Gentry is one of my favorite young players. I don’t think he’ll be a mega-star, but I think he can put up some really good numbers, especially defensively. However, with a Texas outfield that features David Murphy, Josh Hamilton, and Nelly Cruz, I’m not sure Gentry will be content as the 4^th man. I sure hope he sticks here, though; it’s a lot of fun to watch him play.

Eric L. was kind enough to send me this 2011 Topps gold parallel of Monsieur Gentry. Thanks, Eric!

Kristyn Sandberg Enters Justin’s World

2012-01-20T17:04:00.002-06:00

I’ve made no secret of my love for SEC softball. It’s right up there with SEC Football on my list of favorite hobbies. The difference between the two are the teams I root for. One of my favorite teams on the softball side is the Georgia Bulldogs. One of their stars is C/1B Kristyn “Sandy” Sandberg.

To me, Sandy is the standout on a stellar Georgia team. I’m especially interested to watch the Bulldogs play this season, because they lost four starting seniors at the end of last season. Sandy cranked out homers like crazy in the games that I saw last season, and I expect she’ll do the same this year. This is just one crazy-good player!

Through Facebook, Kristyn was kind enough to take time to answer my questions in-depth. Thanks, Sandy!!

Question #1: What are your hopes after your collegiate softball career is over? Do you intend to continue playing softball, perhaps professionally?

Answer: My plan is to graduate from the University of Georgia with a degree in Health & Physical Education in December 2012. Ideally, I would like to find a teaching job in New York close to my family, preferably in the school district I grew up in. If I cannot find a job in New York immediately upon graduation, I will look to get my Masters Degree (in what, I’m not exactly sure … Administration, Education, not completely sure). I would like to be able to work towards my Master’s Degree while potentially holding a Graduate Assistant position coaching a college softball program. After that, I will see what is on the table in front of me whether it be moving up in the college coaching world or returning to the teaching world when/if a job opens up for me.
As for playing professionally, I will see what comes my way. It may be difficult to play this summer having to start student teaching in early August. It would be a great honor to be drafted and play professional softball with and against old college teammates and friends I’ve made through the years, but again I need to see what I can do since I am still working towards earning my undergraduate degree. If I cannot play professionally this summer for one reason or another, I may continue to play with my current team, The Brakettes in Stratford, Connecticut. I have had an amazing two summers with them, winning to ASA Women’s Majors Championship. I enjoy the friendship and memories I’ve made there and it would be nice to continue playing even if I cannot immediately play professionally after my college career is over.

Question #2: Are there any personal or team goals that you hope to meet this season? (i.e. certain # of home runs, no more than __ number of errors, etc.)

Answer: I think every team wants to make it to the Women’s College World Series and win it. Having been there twice, I would love to end my career with another trip back to Oklahoma City. Last year’s season was a bit of a disappointment in not making a third consecutive trip to OKC but we ran into a great Baylor team. There’s nothing greater in the softball world than playing at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in front of some of the largest crowds you’ve ever seen and will play in front of. It’s a great atmosphere to be in. From opening ceremonies, to the autographs for thousands of little girls aspiring to be in your position one day, to the time you walk off the field for the last time, it’s all just an amazing experience.
After a great run in the SEC Championship, and a loss to Tennessee in extra innings, I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to make it back to the championship game. I feel as if we have a talented enough team to win some games and go deep into the tournament. To come that close to winning and not finish it is disappointing to me which is why I am even more determined to help this young group of girls back to an SEC Championship game.
Personally, I am not looking at certain statistics. I would be very happy to win something and leave Georgia with the ring I came here to get. When you start to put personal success in front of the team, you lose sight of the overall goal, and that’s to win games as a team. As long as Georgia Softball wins, I am satisfied. I will be content to walk off the field knowing I gave everything I had for this Georgia program as long as we can walk away as victors as a TEAM! I would love to end my career as an All-American but walking away with a Championship ring would be the ultimate satisfaction.

Question #3: What is your favorite memory from your softball career thus far?

Answer: It is hard for me to pinpoint just one memory from my softball career because there have been a lot of things that really stand out to me. One of my all-time favorite memories was hitting my first homerun over the fence on Father’s Day when I was 14 years old. After that first homerun on Father’s Day, my next one didn’t come again until a year later, AGAIN on Father’s Day. Even since then, I’ve continued to hit one on Father’s Day, I guess you could say it’s something special.
On the same level as that, catching the final out against Ohio State on a strike out pitch from Christie Hamilton to go to Georgia’s first ever Women’s College World Series is a personal favorite. The first trip to the WCWS opened up a whole new world for me; it left me with some of the most remarkable experiences. The rush of adrenaline itself after catching the out & running towards the mound was one of the best feelings EVER; it was as good as it felt to win a New York State Championship in ice hockey in 2005 and I hadn’t even won anything yet! Nothing can explain the emotions that came over me personally and those the team experienced, it was simply AMAZING. I have the games recorded and I could watch the final inning over and over again, it never gets old. In part, that first trip opened up a whole new world for the Georgia Softball program and allowed the world to see what a group of young, talented athletes could do. Everything in Oklahoma City is outstanding, from the staff to the facilities to the fans; it just takes your breath away when you walk into an empty stadium to warm-up and see just how many people can be seated in the stadium come game time.

Question #4: Who is your hero? Why?

Answer: I don’t have one particular hero. My parents have been a big influence in my life and have always supported me. They worked hard to allow me to do the traveling I did in order to get recruited by top college programs. Many times, I traveled to tournaments alone while they worked and took care of my younger brother. Still, it’s rare that my parents see me play in Georgia but with the incredible things technology has done, I know they are crowded around the computer watching Gametracker or a live feed of the game; they never miss a game. And when they do get to see me play in person, it makes it even more special, I think, for all of us. Without the efforts and support of my parents, I would not be where I am today.

Trade Post: Macay McBride Auto + a Surprise!

2012-01-19T15:58:00.000-06:00

These cards came from a guy named Ben that I met through the ever-growing Facebook groupBaseball Cards Rule. The card that I was supposed to get was a Macay McBride auto. I included a little bonus with my end of the deal, and Ben followed suit. See what bonus he sent me below:

I’m pretty sure it’s a Beltre RC, but who knows? Either way, I had completely forgotten that Beltre was a Dodger, so this card served as a good reminder of that. If in fact this is Beltre’s rookie card (confirmation of which would be appreciated), then this is my seventh Dodgers rookie. The others are Dee Gordon; Mike Piazza; Andre Ethier; Matt Kemp; Clayton Kershaw; and Franklin Gutierrez. Not a bad collection for a guy who can’t stand the Dodgers. Ha!

"Looking for a City" by James Canupp

2012-01-17T23:59:00.000-06:00

Please note: All Christians are not this stupid. I'm only posting this in the hopes that it will make you laugh. Or cry, whichever emotion you think is better suited for the moment.

Bait: Freddie Freeman GQ Mini

2012-01-16T16:31:00.000-06:00

Ach! My dear ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to extend my deepest apologies! I had no idea I had left you without your daily entrance into Justin's World for the whole weekend. I'm sure your little hearts are broken. Never fear, I'm back... with trade bait!

Any GQ set collectors or Braves fans out there need this card? It was supposed to be traded months ago, but that one is old and done for. If you just have an obsession with minis (not to be mistaken for an obsession with ponies (link)), I also have several Kimball Champion minis from 2011 Topps. Inquire within.

TTM Success: Muse Watson

2012-01-12T12:00:00.000-06:00

Muse Watson, 2/2 – With this success, I now have autographs from three of my favorite “veteran” actors, all of whom have or have had substantial roles on my favorite show, NCIS. (The other two are Ralph Waite and Mark Harmon). I emailed Muse through his website, asking for an address to send this request to, and he graciously replied. Since then, I have enjoyed following him on Facebook (he’s posted about NCIS episode #200 several times recently) while I just waited for my autograph to come back. A few days ago, here it was!

One of the signatures is very hard to see; I didn’t think about that when I sent him such a dark photo.

“Like” Muse’s Facebook page here, and keep up with his many exploits!

Autograph Identification - HELP Please!

2012-01-11T12:00:00.000-06:00

I received this autograph back TTM a few years ago. It was sent to a member of the Mariners at that time, but I don't know which one! Any help you can provide would be much appreciated.

COMC.com Idiot #586,295

2012-01-10T10:28:00.000-06:00

Check out this listing on checkoutmycards.com:

Really? Political beliefs aside, a guy wants a thousand bucks for Al Gore?

Where Are They Now: Adam Boeve

2012-01-09T19:05:00.001-06:00

Who is he? Adam Boeve, former third base prospect for the Pittsburgh Pirates

What is he known for? Boeve was considered one of the Pirates top prospects at the hot corner after a hot first year in professional ball, but he never made it past Triple-A. He was forced to retire from pro ball in 2009 due to injuries.

Does he have any baseball cards? Boeve had cards in three major sets, all from 2005: Bowman; Topps Update; Bowman Chrome; and an insert set, Bowman’s Best. Of course, each of these cards has several parallels.

What’s he doing now? Boeve is now the head assistant & hitting coach at Northwestern College in Iowa. According to his biography on the team’s website, this is his third year at that position, so he apparently took this job right after his retirement. Boeve also is the school’s year-round strength & conditioning coach.

Contact information: If you’d like to send Boeve fan mail or an autograph request, you might try this address:

Mr. Adam Boeve

c/o Northwestern College Athletics

101 7^th Street SW

Orange City, Iowa 51041

Matt Stairs Collection – 2011 Topps Update Gold Parallel

2012-01-08T16:42:00.000-06:00

My largest player collection is of former Athletic, Cub, Brewer, Royal, Phillie, and National Matt Stairs. I began to collect Stairs about a year ago, because he fits all three of my basic criteria. He played for the Cubs; two, he had at least one baseball card produced showing him as a Cub; and three, he has always been an “underdog” – a player that produced when it mattered, but wasn’t really well-known .

Before I get into all of the different parallels of Stairs’ cards, I’m trying to pick up just his base cards to start off. I’ve gotten off to a pretty good start, and picked up two gold parallels and a few autographs along the way.

One of those gold parallels came in a trade with Laurens, of the blog Card Buzz. I traded him a Scott Downs gold parallel, and he sent me the Stairs. This is the only card showing Stairs in a Nationals uniform, as he played for them one season before his retirement at the end of this year.

Here’s the card in all it’s glory. I’m trying to get at least one card showing Stairs with every team he’s played for, before I really concentrate on getting all of his cards.

Where Are They Now: Ryan O'Malley

2012-01-07T10:20:00.000-06:00

Who is he? Ryan O'Malley, former pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, Schaumburg Flyers, and Chicago White Sox organization.

What is he known for? In his major league debut against the Astros, O'Malley pitched eight innings, gave up five hits and no runs. The Cubs won the game 1-0. After the '06 season, O'Malley was invited to 2007 Spring Training with the Cubs, but he didn't make the team. He signed with the Schaumburg Flyers of the Northern League, but didn't play a game for them before he signed a minor league contract with the White Sox. He became a free agent after the 2008 season.

Does he have any baseball cards? O'Malley was included in the 2006 & 2007 Upper Deck sets, as well as the 2006 Topps '52 base and autograph set. O'Malley's autograph can be had for $2.35 on checkoutmycards.com.

What’s he doing now? After a year of being out of baseball, in 2009, O'Malley was named the pitching coach for the Arizona League Rangers, the rookie-league affiliate of the Rangers. He still holds that position.

Contact information :If you would like to write Ryan a fan letter or autograph request, you can do so at this address:

Ryan O'Malley

c/o Arizona League Rangers

15946 N. Bullard Avenue
Surprise, Arizona 85374

Christmas Cards

2012-01-06T16:31:00.000-06:00

I didn’t get a single trading card for Christmas. Not one. What I did get, however, was $$$. So, I spent a little bit of it on some cards. I picked up the following retail packs:

One 2011 Topps Update

Two 2009 Donruss Americana

One 2007 Upper Deck NFL

One 2007 Upper Deck MLB

One 2011 Score NFL rack-pack

The highlights of the packs included:

Kerry Wood & Mark Melancon liquorfractors
Vicki Lawrence “TV Stars” insert #’d/1000
A Gwynn/Ripken HOF dual insert
Some GREAT photography!

The rack pack didn’t yield any hits, but it did give me five inserts including:

Josh Freeman “In the Zone”

Ndamukong Suh “In the Zone”

Steven Jackson “Millennium Men”

Dallas Clark “Complete Players”

Leonard Hankerson “Hot Rookies”

… plus six glossy cards:

#105 Clay Matthews

#66 Abram Elam

#325 Daniel Thomas RC

#236 Troy Polamalu

#249 Justin Smith

#366 Nate Solder RC

… and six base rookie cards:

#391 Steven Ridley, Patriots

#336 Greg Jones, Giants

#346 Jerrel Jernigan, Giants

#379 Ricky Stanzi, Chiefs

#322 Corey Liuget, Chargers

#363 Mike Pouncey, Dolphins

And that, my friends, are my Christmas cards.

Where Are They Now: Matthew LeCroy

2012-01-05T06:57:00.002-06:00

Who is he? Matthew LeCroy, former Major League catcher for the Twins & Nationals. After the Majors, LeCroy also played for the independent-league Lancaster Barnstormers.

What is he known for? Personally, I remember LeCroy as the guy who made Frank Robinson cry. Other than that, LeCroy's career didn't contain any spectacular moments; he had a career .260 batting average, and sixty home runs in only 1,388 at-bats over eight years.

Does he have any baseball cards? Yes. His autograph from the 1999 Team Best Autographs set can be had for under $2.00 on checkoutmycards.com. Other sets that Matt had cards in include:

1998 Bowman
1999 Topps (w/ Jason LaRue & Mitch Meluskey)

1999 Topps Chrome (w/ Jason LaRue & Mitch Meluskey)

2000 Bowman Chrome

2000 Fleer Tradition Update (w/ Mark Redman)

2001 Topps

2001 Topps Heritage

2002 Topps Total

2004 Topps Chrome

2005 Topps

2006 Upper Deck

What’s he doing now? After managing the Hagerstown Suns & Potomac Nationals, minor league affiliates of the Nationals, LeCroy continued his rise through the minor league ranks when he was named manager of the Double-A Harrisburg Senators after the 2011 season.

Contact information :If you would like to write LeCroy a fan letter or autograph request, you can do so at this address:

Matt LeCroy

c/o Harrisburg Senators
P.O. Box 15757

Harrisburg, PA 17105

Where Are They Now: Chris Leak

2012-01-04T13:47:00.001-06:00

Who is he? Chris Leak, former Florida Gators QB and Chicago Bears draft pick.

What is he known for? Leak was the quarterback at Florida when the Gators won the national championship in 2007. His departure after the season opened the door for Tim Tebow to take over the starting job.

Does he have any football cards? Even as an undrafted rookie, Leak had several cards produced, most, if not all, showing him in a Bears practice uniform. Some of the cards include:

· 2007 Upper Deck #219

· 2007 Finest #108

· 2007 Press Pass #1

· 2007 Topps #294

· 2007 Topps Chrome #TC174

· 2007 Bowman #119

What’s he doing now? After some time in the Canadian Football League, with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats; Montreal Alouettes; and Saskatchewan Roughriders, Leak now plays for the Jacksonville Sharks of the Arena Football League. The Sharks are the defending ArenaBowl champions.

Contact information :If you would like to write Leak a letter, you can do so at this address:

Chris Leak

Jacksonville Sharks

1000 W. Bay St.

Jacksonville, FL 32204

Monica Abbott Steps Into Justin’s World

2012-01-02T09:06:00.008-06:00

There are few names better known in the softball world than Monica Abbott. She is one of at least three University of Tennessee graduates that are currently playing the NPF, and she helped lead the Chicago Bandits to the 2011 NPF title. (On a quirky side note, I noticed that the colors Monica wore in college, orange and white, are the primary colors of the Bandits’ uniforms.) She holds two medals from her time on the National team, one of them an Olympic silver, and the other a Pan American gold. Monica was kind enough to accept my Facebook friend request, and also answer my questions; thanks, Monica!!

Q: Growing up, did you always want to be a softball player? If not, what were your career aspirations?
A: Growing up, I always wanted to be a softball player; in fact, I wanted to be an Olympian. I thought that after that, life would be over, but it’s not! I now am living my dream playing softball for the Chicago Bandits and Toyota Motor Corporation. I also teach and put on clinics in my spare time.

Q: Who is your hero?
A: A hero is a hard word to choose, but characteristics that are hero-istic. My mom’s “So what, you can do it” attitude. My dad’s “find a way” attitude, my grandpa’s determination, and my grandmother’s confidence make them heroes in my eyes. I can’t pick one person; I pick heroic characteristics in people I know.

Q: Who is your funniest teammate on the Bandits?
A: Funniest teammate on the Bandits is by far my “wingwoman” Alisa Goler. [She] can quote any movie, comedy, very witty, and has the best timing ever. She cracks me up on and off the field.

Q: If you could pitch to any Major League pitcher, who would you like him to be?
A: It’s hard not too say Verlander right now because of his spectacular year, but any would be cool. Pitchers are a special breed so it would be fun to have those conversations.
(Editor’s Note: This question was typed wrong. I meant to write Major-League HITTER, but I goofed.)

Q: If you could have dinner with three people, living or dead, who would they be?
A: Jesus Christ, Oprah, and Babe Ruth

TTM Success: Jeremy Affeldt

2011-12-31T12:00:00.001-06:00

Jeremy Affeldt, 1/1 – I enjoy reading Jeremy’s blog (it’s linked to the bottom right, if you’re interested), and I have wanted his autograph for some time. At the time I sent this, I didn’t have any of his cards, so I created, printed, and included a custom 2010 Topps Heritage card. He was kind enough to sign it in black Sharpie. I sent the letter to the Giants in April, and, since the exact dates aren’t available, I’ll say it took about 9 months to get back to me.

5 Questions with Benjamin Davies

2011-12-31T10:22:00.001-06:00

Has anybody seen the movie “Courageous”? I didn't know what to expect when we went to see it, but I was impressed. I think it was the best movie that Sherwood Pictures has released, even better than the Kirk Cameron-led flick “Fireproof”. The action scenes in Courageous were good, and there were parts that had me in tears from laughing so hard. The film wasn’t perfect, but it was quite good. (8.5/10)

One of the stars of the film is Benjamin Davies. He plays one of the cops, the youngest member of the four-man team. He is the father that has a kid thanks to a one-time deal, and he's never met his daughter. (SPOILER!!!!) Thanks to the example of his fellow officers, he eventually gets to meet his daughter. (SPOILER!!!!)

Thank you to Benjamin for answering my questions!!

Q: What was your favorite scene from ‘Courageous’?
A: My favorite scene of "Courageous" has to be the end when Alex give his final speech. The cinematography is so good, sometimes you do not really notice how powerful and what a broad reaching speech really is.

Q: Growing up, did you always want to be an actor? If not, what were your career aspirations?
A: I am an athlete, so I always wanted to go to the Olympics as a kid. However acting is something I have always loved.

Q: Who is your hero?
A: Katie Davis. She had a book just come out called "Kisses From Katie"; powerful stuff.

Q: Who was the funniest person on the ‘Courageous’ set?
A: Robert Amaya was always fun on the set. Ha. We had some good times.

Q: What other projects can we expect to see you in?
A: The trailer for a new movie I did called "New Hope" just came out. It should be released in the spring. And a music video called "Make Me Believe" by Dustin Davella just came out as well. Great christian guy; I hope his songs continue to do well.

Ben Sheets Autographed Baseball!

2011-12-30T16:23:00.001-06:00

Even though my birthday was at the end of July, I got a late birthday present from a guy at my church a few weeks ago. Feast your eyes on this beauty:

Ain’t it beautiful? Yes, my friends, that is a ball signed and personalized by former Brewers ace Ben Sheets!

The guy at church knows Sheets’ brother-in-law, I think it is, and he offered to get me this free of charge. He even got me the ball and cube!

Thanks, James!!

Chris Schwinden Enters Justin’s World

2011-12-30T12:22:00.000-06:00

As I was sending out a few questionnaires a while back, I came across the profile of a former Major Leaguer. He was friends with a few others, and they were friends with a few others, etc. Before I knew it, I had visited the profiles of over fifty current and former MLB players. I decided to try an experiment, and I emailed fifteen of them. I didn’t figure I would get a response, so imagine my surprise when a message from Mets pitcher Chris Schwinden appeared in my inbox. He was kind enough to answer all of my questions; thanks, Chris!!

Q: What is your favorite memory from your career, thus far?

A: Fav. Memory so far is getting to pitch in the Major Leagues.

Q: As a kid, did you always want to be a professional baseball player? If not, what were your career aspirations?

A: I always wanted to be a baseball player, but I also always wanted to be a highway patrolman or a fighter pilot.

Q: Who is the funniest teammate you have ever had?

A: There have been a lot of funny guys, but if I had to narrow it down to a guy, I would have to say Dylan Owens or Justin Hampson.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time? What are some of your hobbies?

A: I like to work on cars. Off-road trucks, mostly. Or go shooting and hunting with my buddies.

Q: What are your hopes/expectations for the 2012 season?

A: My hopes for the 2012 season are to make the big club and stay there for as long as I can. And hopefully be one of the best pitcher in the league.

Adam Greenberg

2011-12-29T12:17:00.000-06:00

How many of us remember Adam Greenberg? True Cubs fans might. In 2006, I had the opportunity to see Greenberg play in-person when he was with the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx. He also had a card in the ’06 Diamond Jaxx team set.

Later that season, Greenberg was called up to the Cubs. In his first Major League plate appearance, Greenberg was beaned by a pitch from _______ __________. He spent a month on the DL before he came back to play. As he tried to rehab, Greenberg continued toe experience headaches and spent the rest of the year on the disabled list.

Since 2006, Greenberg has not made it back to the Major Leagues. He spent 2010 with the Arkansas Travelers and most recently played for the Independent-League Bridgeport Bluefish.

Though perhaps not the biggest prospect the Cubs had at the time, I enjoyed Greenberg during the times I got to see him as a member of the Diamond Jaxx. Even if it’s not at the Major League level, it’s good to see Greenberg playing ball again.

Pack Rip: 2 Topps Update Rack Packs

2011-12-28T11:56:00.003-06:00

My first taste of this set came in the form of two rack packs from Target. Let’s see what we get:

Rack Pack 1, Top Half:

US303-Juan Uribe (Love the powder-blue throwbacks.)

US219-George Sherrill

US167-Brendan Ryan (Me thinks Mr. Ryan is excited.)

US216-Takashi Saito (I thought this guy retired a couple of years ago.)

US79-Chris Dickerson (Got to see him play in person a few years back; I followed him until he put on the pinstripes. Then he was of no consequence to me.)

US171-Matt Lindstrom

US231-Charlie Blackmon

US288-Eric Thames (Any relation to Marcus?)

US328-Kevin Gregg

US142-Alex White (Rockies hot pack!)

US316-Justin Upton Sparkly Diamond Parallel

KC133-Ozzie Smith Kimball Champions (the Oz!... in a Padres uniform? Are you kidding me?!)

219-Carlos Ruiz Cognac Parallel

T60-120-Ozzie Smith Topps 60 (Another photo of the Oz in a San Diego uni. Really, Topps? Really?)

US68-Tyler Clippard AS (Fun fact: Clippard picked up the win in the 2011 ASG despite only throwing three pitches.)

US244-Francisco Rodriguez

US63-Doug Fister

US49-Rickie Weeks AS

Rack Pack 1, Bottom Half:

US97-Cody Eppley (My first Update Ranger. Oh, what could have been…)

US1-Adrian Gonzalez

US13-Koyie Hill (This is the third year in a row that this guy has been included in the Update set. Isn’t it about time he gets a card in, at least, Series 2?)

US326-Trevor Bell

US189-Wilson Valdez

US150-Adrian Beltre (The second Ranger, and not a Cardinal in sight. Oh, what could have been…)

US168-Bruce Chen

US251-Justin Turner

US245-Kevin Correia (The blurry-batter-in-the-foreground shot is one of my favorites.)

US6-Prince Fielder gold parallel, #’d 613/2011 (I can’t stand the Princess, but gold is gold.)

DD15-Joe DiMaggio & Derek Jeter Diamond Duos (Joe D. and the Captain make for one nice card.)

US58-Tim Lincecum AS (Wook at the wittle girl. Isn’t she pwetty? Aw.)

US229-Asdrubal Cabrera AS (Wouldn’t you hate to be stuck with name that sounds as if you were named in a sneeze?)

US4-Brian McCann AS

US82-Mark Ellis

US304-Hunter Pence AS

US321-Gaby Sanchez AS

US329-Dee Gordon (Another star rookie to add to my Dodgers collection. That puts me at four: Piazza, Ethier, Kemp, and Gordon)

2^nd Rack Pack, Top Half:

US233-John McDonald

US330-Lance Berkman (There’s the first Cardinal. Number 330? Betcha Topps is glad they fit him in.)

US318-Brayan Pena (No idea why I scanned this one…)

US41-Lou Marson

US65-Mitchell Boggs (No Cardinals in the whole first rack pack, and now two in four cards? This is cruel.)

US55-Anthony Rizzo

US122-Alfredo Aceves

US194-Jason Kipnis (One of the rookie cards I really wanted. I think Kipnis has a ton of great potential.)

US223-Arthur Rhodes (Glad to see this veteran finally get a ring.)

US225-David DeJesus

US295-Wilson Ramos Sparkly Diamond Parallel (My first thought when I pulled this card was, “Who?”)

KC114-Felix Hernandez Kimball Champions

254-Lars Anderson Puke Parallel

T60-113-Willie McCovey Topps 60 (Willie McCovey!... in a Padres uniform?!? What’s going on, Topps?)

US63-Doug Fister

US132-Jose Altuve (This guy could become the new face of the Houston franchise.)

US14-Alex Avila AS

US247-Zack Cozart

2^nd Rack Pack, Bottom Half:

US226-Steve Pearce (Nice, a Pirate to start things off.)

US265-Willie Harris

US212-Pat Neshek (Glad to see Pat get a card in this set. I know one autograph request I’ll be sending out next year.)

US284-Laynce Nix

US103-Josh Collmenter (Not very well-known, but I think this guy could be good for Arizona.)

US179-Michael Pineda Rookie Debut

US228-Zach Britton (Didn’t he have a card in Series 1? What’s he doing in Update?)

US30-Dustin Ackley (Another high-profile rookie card.)

US290-Sean Burroughs (This guy should have at least gotten some consideration for Comeback Player of the Year.)

US110-Edgar Renteria

US111-Scott Sizemore

TTU18-Heath Bell Toppstown

US300-Carl Crawford Gold Parallel, #’d 975/2011 (Ok, first the princess and now Crawford?)

US304-Hunter Pence AS

US321-Gaby Sanchez AS

US68-Tyler Clippard AS

US244-Francisco Rodriguez

US37-Rick Ankiel

My Cardboard Mistress Group Break, Part 6

2011-12-20T14:00:00.001-06:00

Another Clemente!
A Nate McLouth UD X die-cut. You wanna know how many of these I have? Three. Take a guess at who one of my least-favorite Pirates EVER is. Go ahead. Bet you can't guess.

My Cardboard Mistress Group Break, Part 5

2011-12-19T14:00:00.000-06:00

I’m always up for adding new Masterpieces cards to my collection.
It’s a dreadful memory to recall that Oliver Perez was once a Pirate.
Any Clemente is a good Clemente.

My Cardboard Mistress Group Break, Part 4

2011-12-18T14:00:00.001-06:00

Even as a Pirate fan, if I never see another Pedro Alvarez card, it will be too soon! I’m ashamed to admit that I don’t know who any of these prospects are. That’s why Google was invented, though!

My Cardboard Mistress Group Break, Part 3

2011-12-17T14:00:00.002-06:00

Me thinks Steve Pearce is pumped. I do wonder about the pink necklace, though. I didn’t even realize that Brandon Wood had a 2011 Topps card; shows you how much I know! Ronny Cedeno stunk with the Cubs; stunk with the Mariners; and now stinks with the Pirates. Glad they’re going to replace him with Barmes next year.

My Cardboard Mistress Group Break, Part 2

2011-12-16T14:00:00.000-06:00

McCutchen and Milledge are the only two cards that I needed to complete this set, but any Hanrahan card is always appreciated. Ross Ohlendorf's looking a little bloated.

My Cardboard Mistress Group Break, Part 1

2011-12-15T14:00:00.000-06:00

My favorite card has to be Steve Pearce climbing the outfield wall. Brandon Moss’ photo was taken at Wrigley, and that’s always a cool thing. Thanks to this break, I now own both of Evan Meek’s mainstream RCs. This is noteworthy because Meek is now the longest-tenured Pirate… he’s been a Pirate since 2008. Duke will go into my Hitting Pitchers PC (note the small photo).

Diamond Giveaway

2011-12-09T11:49:00.000-06:00

These are the cards that I have left on the Topps Diamond Giveaway site. I do not plan to have any of the cards shipped to me, so I'd be happy to trade them to you for whatever spare cards you have.

1960 #228 Ernie Johnson, Cleveland Indians
1975 #475 Darrell Evans, Atlanta Braves
1975 #408 Clyde Wright, Milwaukee Brewers
1999 #270 Cal Ripken Jr., Baltimore Orioles
1978 #502 Pat Rockett, Atlanta Braves
1979 #139 Luis Pujols, Houston Astros
1976 #463 Steve Hargen, Texas Rangers
1979 #180 Larry Hisle, Milwaukee Brewers
1986 #696 Team Leaders, Los Angeles Dodgers
1977 #114 Bruce Dal Canton, Atlanta Braves
1993 #355 Brady Anderson, Baltimore Orioles
1976 #496 Juan Beniquez, Texas Rangers
1990 #154 Mike Maddux, Philadelphia Phillies
1990 #559 Andy McGaffigan, Montreal Expos

File this one under "bad Ebay descriptions"

2011-12-05T15:52:00.000-06:00

Bryce Harper autographed press plate

Catch the absurdity? "Superfractor ish"?!?!

Helen Phillips Enters Justin's World

2011-11-23T16:45:00.000-06:00

A few years ago, the Biggest Loser had a string of seasons whose winners all originally started as a part of the pink team. It began with Ali Vincent in Season 5, and continued in seasons 6 & 7, with winners Michelle Aguilar and Helen Phillips, respectively. Ironically, all three of these winners were originally a part of a mother-daughter team: Ali and Michelle started the show with their moms, and Helen came to the ranch with her daughter, Shannon. The pink trend was finally bucked in Season 8, when Danny Cahill, of the brown team, won the title. Today’s post focuses on the winner of season 7, Helen Phillips.

As I said before, Helen came to the ranch with her daughter, Shannon. If I’m not mistaken, this was the season where the other two finalists were fan-favorite and odds-on winner Tara Costa and young Mike Morelli. Helen surprised a lot of people with her victory, as she took home the Biggest Loser title and the $250,000. Helen was kind enough to answer my questions for me; thanks, Helen!

5 Questions with Helen Phillips

Q: What is your favorite memory from your time on the Biggest Loser ranch?
A: I have so many memories from BL it is so hard to choose 1, so I will give you a few.
• The look on my daughters face when we weighed in the first week and we both lost 12 lbs each!

• When I started to run and then I couldn't stop.
• The last chance workout we had on the beach.
• Making it to the top 2.
• Winning and the confetti falling!

Q: Do you stay in touch with any of your fellow BL alumni?
A: I stay in touch with all of the past winners and only a few from my season.

Q: There have been a lot of events where dozens of former BL contestants, from many different seasons, got together to run a marathon or participate in a triathlon. Have you taken part in any of these events?
A: Yes, I have been to a couple of these events; however, I seem to be booked with speaking engagements for many. I am a motivational speaker now and travel speaking a lot.

Q: Who was your biggest supporter during your weight loss journey?
A: My biggest support was and is my family; my husband… I could have never done it without him.

Q: What are your favorite TV shows and movies?
A: Favorite TV: Big Bang Theory, X Factor, America's Got Talent, Carol Burnett show, I Love Lucy.
Movies... Home Alone, ELF, Fried Green Tomatoes, Titanic, Dolphin Tales.

Answers may have been edited for clarity and/or grammatical correctness.

Vicky Vilcan Enters Justin's World

2011-11-22T15:00:00.000-06:00

Every reality show has to have its villain. In Season 6 of the Biggest Loser, that villain was Vicky Vilcan. Of course, most of the drama is pre-written, which means *gasp* reality TV really IS scripted! Folks, I think we’ve just had a revelation here.

I’m not one to go by just what I see on TV, so I do my best to concentrate on the facts. The fact is that Vicky reached the finale still standing and came in 3rd place behind runner-up Ed Brantley and winner Michelle Aguilar. I was glad to receive Vicky’s answers to my questions; thanks, Vicky!!

Q1: What is your favorite memory from your time on the Biggest Loser ranch?
A: My favorite memory from my time on the ranch was when I found out I made it as one of the two finalists. I felt really proud that I hadn't let my family down. They had made so many sacrafices for me to be there and all I wanted was to make it to the end and I did.

Q2: Do you stay in touch with any of your fellow BL alumni?
A: I absolutely stay in touch with my BL family. They are the best part of the whole experience. It's really unexplainable to go through what we went through being on reality TV and all. The friends that I've made through the show are really more like family. I have the utmost respect for all of them. I also feel so blessed to know that I have their support system to help me through any weight issues and that I'm not alone in this battle.

Q3: There have been a lot of events where dozens of former BL contestants, from many different seasons, got together to run a marathon or participate in a triathlon. Have you taken part in any of these events?
A: I did do the full Olympic Distance San Francisco Triathlon with the others for the reunion show but I really try not do any more TV. So I hid from the cameras (LOL). I have also run races for Charity events with fellow contestants. I like training and doing races because they help me "exercise for a purpose" which is key to my maintance but I usually just do them on my own with out cameras and such.

Q4: Who was your biggest supporter during your weight loss journey?
A: My biggest supporters during my weight loss journey was pretty much my family. Everyone from my husband (who was kind enough to go on the show with me even though he didn't want to) to my kids who went without a mom for 3 months, to my mom and sisters who helped care for them. Also Bob Harper, Heba Salama, and Ed Brantley on the Ranch were invaluable supporters while I was on the ranch.

Q5: What are your favorite TV shows and movies?
A: Ironically enough I still love Survivor and the Amazing Race reality shows; I just don't make opinions about the contestants because I know how fake reality TV can be. I do still watch Biggest Loser but only if my best friend Abby Rike or other Alumni friends are on it because seeing past contestants who were in the early seasons still successful is so motivating.

Answers may have been edited for clarity and/or grammitical correctness.

These Cards Are Cool!

2011-11-16T15:13:00.000-06:00

How often has that title been used on a post? Seriously. No matter how clichéd the title is, this trade was certainly extraordinary. In exchange for cards that I’ll leave it to Ryan to blog about, he sent me the following pieces of cardboard.

2010 Topps Update Kris Medlen; 2010 Topps Update Jose Tabata RC; 2010 Topps Update Jon Jay RC; 2011 Topps Update Scott Downs gold parallel (#’d/2011); 2011 Topps Update Alex White diamond parallel; 2011 Topps Update Lance Berkman All-Star diamond parallel; 2011 Topps Jaime Garcia cognac parallel; 2010 Topps Update Mitch Moreland RC; 2010 Topps Update Ryan Church

I had forgotten that Ryan was holding several 2010 Update cards for me, and he was nice enough to include them in his package. The Jay is my 13^th rookie card of a member of the

World-Series-winning St.

Louis Cardinals. (All are up for trade; inquire within.) Mr. Downs is headed off in a trade to Laurens. Does anybody have a Mitch Moreland relic that they’re not particularly attached to? That’s all I need to complete this trifecta.

2011 Topps Update Jeff Francis diamond parallel; 2011 Topps Update Matt Holliday All-Star gold parallel (#’d/2011); 2010 Topps Update Sam LeCure RC; 2010 Topps Update Pedro Feliz; 2010 Topps Update Joel Hanrahan; 2010 Topps Update Mike Minor RC; 2010 Topps Update LaTroy Hawkins; 2010 Topps Update Reed Johnson.

I’m building a nice Cardinals collection. As a Cubs and Pirates fan, that disgusts me. Any Cardinals fans want to relieve me of my pain?!? Francis is my 23^rd diamond parallel. I’m not trying to complete the set, but I do like the look of these cards. Gold cards have become just another insert, but I still enjoy them.

Starlin Castro – Any Takers?

2011-11-16T09:14:00.000-06:00

I’ve got a reasonably-sized Starlin Castro collection, but I’ve decided to see if I can his cards around for something I like more. Yes, I know, a team collector trying to unload his team’s young superstar’s cards is unheard of, but I’m doing it.

My philosophy is simple. There are current Cubs that I like (i.e. Casey Coleman, Tony Campana, Tyler Colvin, Sean Marshall, Darwin Barney, Marlon Byrd) and some that I don’t (i.e. Zambrano, Marmol, DeWitt). There are some newly ex-Cubs that I like (i.e. Wood, Reed Johnson) and some that I don’t (i.e. Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Pena).

Yes, I know that the big superstars are on the don’t-like list. I think the main reason for that is that I’ve always been the guy who roots for the underdog. When I followed NASCAR religiously, do you know who my favorite driver was? Ken Schrader. Ken Schrader. Yeah, the guy who won four races in, like, twenty years. He was an underdog.

I’m not at all fond of Starlin Castro. I hate that he was our All-Star representative this season, and I doubly hate the fact that he made an error in the ASG. It just shows you how terrible the Cubs were this season.

Over the past two years, I’ve accumulated quite a few of Castro’s rookie cards and other interesting pieces of cardboard with his ugly (albeit youthful) mug on them. I was working on a trade for them with another guy, but he hasn’t emailed me in several months, so Castro is on the market. Any takers? I’ve listed just a few of the cards I have below. All offers will be considered, so fire away. Scans be provided, if necessary.

2010 Topps Chrome X-Fractor RC #195

2010 Topps Value Pack-Exclusive Refractor #BC-2

2010 Bowman Platinum RC #96

2011 Topps Kimball Champions Mini #KC-11

2011 Topps #247 in base, Wal-Mart black, and Target throwback variations

2010 Topps Update RC #US85

2010 Topps Update Gold Parallel #US135 “Rookie Debut”

2010 Bowman RC #BDP4

2010 Bowman Chrome RC #BDP4

2011 Topps 60 Relic #T60R-SCA (gray jersey swatch)

Shannon Doepking Enters Justin’s World

2011-11-15T07:31:00.000-06:00

My middle name is practically “Go Vols!”, so I always enjoy seeing ex-Tennessee athletes excel in the professional ranks of their chosen sports. Guys like Todd Helton in baseball, Peyton Manning & Arian Foster in football, etc. Softball player Shannon Doepking is another one of these athletes.

Forming an all-UT battery with pitcher Monica Abbott, Shannon is the primary catcher for the NPF-champion Chicago Bandits. When I came across her Facebook profile, I knew I would be sending her a questionnaire. I did, and she returned her answers to me within just a couple of days. Thanks, Shannon!!!

Q: Growing up, did you always want to be a softball player? If not, what were your career aspirations?

A: Growing up, I didn't even know there was professional softball. I didn't start playing softball till I was in Jr. High so I didnt know anything about softball or even which colleges were good at softball before I went to Tennessee. I grew up barrel racing and thought I was going to be a professional barrel racer. I went to Vegas one year with my parents to the NFR and after that I wanted to be a professional barrel racer.

Q: Who is your hero?

A: My mom is my hero. She's been the most amazing support system that I could have ever asked for.She’s one of those moms who doesn't really understand softball, so no matter what I do good or bad she is always there to cheer me on and tell me how great I am. She really is my #1 fan

Q: Who is your funniest teammate on the Bandits?

A: Hmm, the Bandits have a bunch of characters. But I would have to say the funniest person would be Caitlin Lever. She comes up with some of the most off the wall stuff. Her and Rachel Folden do a great impression of Beth Mowins and Michelle Smith. I've heard them do this impression probably 30 times and it never gets old.

Q: If you could hit against any Major League pitcher, who would you like him to be?

A: Mariano Rivera

Q: If you could have dinner with three people, living or dead, who would they be and why?

A: Sue Enquist, Billie Jean King, and my mom. I would pick Sue Enquist because she’s an amazing women who has done so much for softball and from what I’ve heard she’s an amazing motivational speaker. Billie Jean King because she has done so much for women in sports. It would be interesting to hear her talk about how far sports have come from the time when she played tennis. And my mom because she lives all the way in California and I only see her during Christmas time, so its always nice to sit and catch up with her.

Answers may have been edited for clarity and/or grammatical correctness.

Alisa Goler Enters Justin’s World

2011-11-14T16:37:00.000-06:00

If you know me, then you know that I am a huge softball fan. You also know that I am an SEC-all-the-way kind of guy. Even though I’m a UT Vols man first and foremost, I can always appreciate good softball playing. The play of the 2010 Georgia Bulldogs softball team was what first drew my attention to them, and I looked forward to 2011 with the hopes that they would be one of many teams to represent the SEC in the Women’s College World Series. And, what do you know, they were. One of the cornerstones of that Bulldogs team was third-place hitter and third-baseman Alisa Goler.

A senior last year, Alisa led the Bulldogs to the WCWS after being drafted by the Chicago Bandits of the NPF. She played with the Bandits during the 2011 season, along with former Georgia teammate and fellow NPF rookie Megan Wiggins, and was a part of their championship-winning team this season.

Alisa was kind enough to answer my questions. Thanks, Alisa!!

Q: Growing up, did you always want to be a softball player? If not, what were your career aspirations?

A: Since I was little I have always wanted to be a softball player. I've also entertained the idea of being a Lawyer. I'm currently getting my Masters and want to go into coaching, but who knows if I'll attend Law School once I'm done playing.

Q: Who is your hero?

A: My hero(es) are definitely my parents. They've sacrificed so much for my brother and I over the years and been nothing but 100% supportive. They're my biggest fans.

Q: Who is your funniest teammate on the Bandits?

A: Well the Bandits are full of funny girls, but Caitlin Lever is definitely the funniest one. I try to keep up but she steals the show.

Q: If you could hit against any Major League pitcher, who would you like him to be?

A: Mark Buehrle! I'm a huge White Sox fan since I grew up on the South Side of Chicago and he is a stud.

Q: If you could have dinner with three people, living or dead, who would they be and why?

A: Chris Farley because he is my all-time favorite comedian. Frank Thomas since he is my favorite athlete. I wear #35 because of him, and one of my best friends Kelly, who I lost to cancer about a year ago.

Answers may have been edited for clarity and/or grammatical correctness.

Bill Germanakos Enters Justin’s World

2011-11-14T07:28:00.001-06:00

How many of you have ever seen the NBC show “The Biggest Loser”? A few years ago, before I started watching NCIS every Tuesday (I just stuck to DVDs before that), the Biggest Loser occupied my TV screen every Tuesday evening. One of my favorite seasons was the year that there were three trainers on the ranch – a first at that time. Bob Harper and Kim Lyons were training the blue and red teams, respectively, and Jillian had “taken the year off”. In actuality, Jillian was training her own group of six overweight contestants. And, what do you know, at the season finale, who held all four of the top spots? Members of Jillian’s black team. Oh, and one of her trainees also took home the $100,000 at-home prize. The winner of the show that year was Bill Germanakos.

Bill’s twin brother, Jim, participated in the show with him, and Jim ended up with the $100,000. So, if you’re counting, one brother one the at-home prize of 100 g’s, while the other brother took home the grand prize of $250,000. Yeah, I’d say they had a pretty good night.

I’m Facebook friends with Bill, and he was kind enough to answer my questions. Thanks, Bill!!!

Q: What is your favorite memory from your time on the Biggest Loser ranch?
A: My favorite memory was when, during episode 9, I and my partner at the time, Julie Hadden, won a pair of SUVs, which was and remains the biggest prize ever awarded on the show. It was very special because Julie had told all of us earlier that week that she didnt even have a car and that she chose to stay home and raise her son, which meant that she couldnt afford the car any longer. It was a wonderful moment, and one that I'll never forget.

Q: Do you stay in touch with any of your fellow BL alumni?
A: We all try to stay in touch because after such a compelling and life-changing experience, we all consider ourselves family and one-anothers' support group.

Q: There have been a lot of events where dozens of former BL contestants, from many different seasons, got together to run a marathon or participate in a triathlon. Have you taken part in any of these events?
A: Heck No. Not only have I never run a marathon, but I'm pretty sure that I never will. After multiple knee surgeries, a torn tendon in my foot, a bad hip and a bad ankle (not to mention a horribly bad lower-back) I feel fortunate enough just to be able to walk down the stairs. Heck, I don't even like DRIVING 26.2 miles at one time.

Q: Who was your biggest supporter during your weight loss journey?
A: I would have to say my entire network of friends and family that were pulling for me as a whole. Of course, I went through this experience with my twin brother Jim, who was my support both on and off the ranch for the entire run.

Q: What are your favorite TV shows and movies?
A: I like action movies and comedies as well as thought provoking television. Some of my favorite movies include Jaws, the Bourne Series and The Blues Brothers, and some of my favorite tv shows include such shows as House, NCIS and just about everything on the Discovery Channel. I also like the reality television that involves competition, such as American Idol, X-Factor, The Ultimate Fighter, and The Biggest Loser (of course)...

People can follow me here on facebook via my home page at facebook.com/billgermanakos or on my blog page "staying healthy". They can also find info on me and my brother at www.weightlosstwins.com and www.speakersonhealthcare.com
Answers may have been edited for clarity and/or grammatical correctness.

TTM Success: Jeff Saturday

2011-10-27T13:37:00.000-05:00

Jeff Saturday, 1/2 – The Colts underappreciated center signed a photo c/o the Colts. He did not sign a 2010 Topps team card. I’ve always enjoyed Saturday because a) he plays for the Colts and b) he’s a good, Christian guy. He’s always been a classy guy, and fans and other players alike respect that. I know this fan does.

Photo to follow.

TTM Success: Mitch Moreland

2011-10-27T10:40:00.000-05:00

Mitch Moreland, 1/1 – The Rangers backup first baseman signed a 2011 Topps c/o the Rangers. I received this success back the day before the World Series got started, so I guess he got to his fanmail between the ALCS and the WS. He’s been a good, consistent signer all year long. I hope he continues to be.

Photo to follow.

TTM Success: Reggie Willits

2011-10-26T15:45:00.000-05:00

Reggie Willits, 2/2 – Autograph successes have been few and far between of late, but I’ve received a few as baseball season closed and some players got to their year’s-worth of fan mail. This Angels outfielder is a speedy guy, but I’ve long been of the opinion that he’ll go the way of Jake Fox – a good player who just can’t find his niche on the team. I hope he ends up with a team that can best utilize his skill set. He signed a 2008 and a 2011 Topps, and inscribed the Bible reference John 3:16 (see blog header for text) on both.

Photo to follow.

6 Questions with Brock D. Eastman

2011-10-26T10:32:00.001-05:00

Brock D. Eastman. Get used to hearing the name, because if his first works are any indication, that name will be well-known before very long. This young author’s first book, “Taken” was released earlier this year as the first book in the Quest for Truth series. Eastman is employed by Focus on the Family, and works on Adventures in Odyssey, which, despite the substantial difference in their target age and my actual age, is a very enjoyable series.

I emailed a prepared questionnaire to Brock, and he was kind enough to answer my questions for me. Enjoy!

You can find Brock at his website: (link)

… or on Facebook: (link)

"First thank you so much for this awesome opportunity. It's an honor to be asked all these great questions. You really made me think."

Q: Tell me a little about your books. To date, "Taken" and “HowlSage” have been released.
A: Taken was my baby. I've been working on it for over 6 years, back in 2005 is when it was started. Originally I wrote it to be a missionary story in Africa, wow did it change over time. Taken is written for 8 to 12 year olds, but can be enjoyed by any age. It's note really a sci-fi book in my opinion. I think of it more as Indiana Jones and City or Ember. It's constant action and adventure in mysterious ruins. HowlSage was an idea that literally was downloaded to me from God while I drove to work. After all He's the One that gives us creativity. HowlSage follows a newly assigned demon hunter on his quest to banish a a demon (like a werewolf.) The book focuses on spiritual warfare and the troubles facing teenagers at school. This book is for 14 and up, but several younger kids have enjoyed it as well.

Q: When did you know that you wanted to become an author?
A: I never set out to be a 'published' author. I started writing when I was challenged by a friend's comments. We were speaking of violence in entertainment, so I set out to write a story that would be awesome without violence. That was how The Quest for Truth came to be. Taken is the first of five books in The Quest for Truth series. It wasnt until 2010 that my wife encouraged me to find a publisher.

Q: Describe your feelings when you opened the box and saw the first published copies of “Taken”.
A: Sheer joy and delight. It was cool to see my name on something I hoped would reach lots of kids. It had that fresh ink smell and holding it in my hands flipping through it was like seeing years of hard work come to completion, of course then came the realization I had four more books to write in the series. I felt the same thing when I held HowlSage in my hand. There's something very special about seeing your work bound and printed, with cool graphics.

Q: Can we expect more books in the future? Can you tell us a little bit about them?
A: The Quest for Truth is a 5 book series, the second Risk will release Spring 2012. The next three Unleash, Tangle, and Hope will come out between 2012 and 2014. The series will continue to take the Wikks on a journey through space in search of a Truth that has been long lost and for their parents who have been Taken. HowlSage was the first in the Sages of Darkness trilogy, the second book BlizzardSage will release in the fall of 2012 and the third CrimsonSage in 2013. These books continue to build on the spiritual warfare that rages around us everyday, but unveils the demon army that is waiting around every corner.

Q: What are your hopes for your future as an author?
A: I would like nothing more then to be at home with my wife and kids working on new projects. But to do that your books have to sell really well. I also hope that kids impacted by my work, whether by being inspired to write themselves, or spiritually in their lives.

Q: Last question, and completely oddball: If you could have dinner with three people, living or dead, who would they be?
A: I'm going to answer this outside of Jesus and his disciples or apostles. First I think it'd be really cool to meet David (as in the shepherd and king.) I wrote Showdown with the Shepherd for Adventures in Odyssey, because the story of David and Goliath is so inspiring. To have Faith like David wow. Second I'd probably want to meet a pioneer from the frontier. Not anyone particular, just an average pioneer kid. What would it have been like to see the American West before cities, roads, and modern conveniences. Lastly I'd go with one of my great great grandchildren (Lord willing I have them.) What would they think of the spiritual heritage or legacy I have left. Not to mention it'd be awesome to know what technologies will exist.

Thanks to Mr. Eastman!!!

2011 Topps Update Want-List

2011-10-15T15:38:00.006-05:00

US47-Paul Goldschmidt

US57-Tony Campana

US90-James Russell

US108-Joe Mather

US114-Lance Lynn

US148-Alex Presley

US244-Eric Patterson

If you have any of these cards and are willing to trade, please email me at jcm731ATgmailDOTcom. (Replace the words "at" and "dot" with the appropriate punctuation.) I need two copies of five cards, noted with (2).

10/19/11 EDIT: I've seen images of a Ryan Ludwick Pirates card from this set, but the card is not on the BaseballCardPedia checklist. I want that card, too, whatever number it is!

2006 Fleer Tradition Pack Rip

2011-09-27T16:41:00.000-05:00

Here we go.

11-Chad Tracy, Diamondbacks

89-King Felix, Mariners

47-Skip Schumaker RC, Cardinals

87-Richie Sexson, Mariners (Horrible last name…)

45-J.J. Hardy, Brewers

64-Julio Lugo, Devil Rays (I thought he retired years ago. I heard Joe Simpson say his name on a Braves broadcast a few weeks ago and I did a double take.)

176-Jeremy Bonderman, Tigers (Whatever happened to this guy?)

134-Jason Bay, Pirates

111-Matt Kemp RC, Dodgers

189-Scott Podsednik, White Sox

With the addition of Matty, I now possess rookie cards from three current and former Dodgers stars – Andre Ethier, Mike Piazza, and Kemp. Not a bad collection, huh?

TTM Success: Justin Masterson

2011-09-24T09:55:00.000-05:00

Whoops, missed this one at first. A multi-success day is always a mood-lifter.

Justin Masterson, 3/3 – The young Cleveland hurler signed a 2009 Topps UH; 2010 Upper Deck; and a 2011 Topps in about a month. All three cards were inscribed with the Bible reference Philippians 4:13 (I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me). This is my second success from Justin; the last time, he signed and personalized a 2009 Topps, and also added the same Bible reference. Letter was sent to the Indians.

TTM Success: Michael McKenry

2011-09-23T14:28:00.000-05:00

Finally, an autograph comes in the mail! And a Pirate, to boot!

Michael McKenry, 2/2 – The Pirates young catcher signed a custom card and a 2011 Heritage Pirates team card in 23 days. The custom was a bit darker than I expected, and he used a black Sharpie to sign it, so you can’t make out his signature very well. The team card looks great, though. Letter was sent to the Pirates.

NCIS Episode 9.1 Hasty Notes

2011-09-21T19:54:00.002-05:00

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know that I am a HUGE NCIS fan. I even advocated for one of the card companies to make an NCIS card set. I even created a relic and autograph checklist, but no one from the show has contacted me. It will happen soon, however. I can feel it.

Last night, the much-anticipated premiere of Season 9 aired. For those of you who didn’t watch the show, here’s the IMDb user-written synopsis of the episode.

Of course, there was no way I was going to miss the show. I had food, beverages (non-alcoholic, of course), and my laptop, so I was ready to go.

Here are my notes just as I typed them during the show last night. Enjoy.

I’ll admit it. I cried at Mike Franks’ funeral.
DiNozzo is a crackpot. And I don’t mean that in a good way.
The honest look of betrayal in Gibbs’ eyes just shows what a fantastic actor Mark Harmon is.
Never have liked shrinks.
DiNozzo playing golf with the Sec Nav? This is going to be weird.
“Special Agent David”. That’s got a nice ring to it.

Commercial break

I was never a huge fan of DiNozzo, but I liked him. Over the past two years, though, uh-uh. He’s making me sick.
Still don’t like shrinks.
Cracker Barrel? Rocking chairs on the patio? Chicken and dumplings? Brownie points for the writers.
“It seems Special Agent Barrett’s and you share an affinity for retractable weaponry.” Go Ducky!
Mentioning Johnny Depp = minus brownie points

Commercial break

Gibbs is not God. Period. No omniscience. I wish they would stop throwing that junk into the episodes.
I sure hope Agent Barrett is the traitor. I can’t stand her.
What happened to McGee’s voice? It sounds odd.
They better not have replaced Fornell, or so help me…

Commercial break

DiNozzo involved with dysfunctional women? Never!
“We need your help.” “Uh-huh. After you cook dinner.” I love Gibbs.
Jerk of an FBI agent. Shoot yourself and do the world a favor.
Another one bites the dust. Another one bites the dust.

Commercial break.

“Ruin all of my hard work and I’ll kill you.” Great quote.
“Never believe what you’re told!” “Don’t waste what’s good” “If you feel like you’re being played, you probably are”. Rules 3, 5, and 35.
The new Sec Nav needs to be shot post-haste.
That’s three NCIS agents killed and two more shot in three episodes. Nice.
It’s Agent Stratton. Called it before I saw him.
First P2P wraps her in plastic and Gibbs manages to save her just in the nick of time; now she’s shot in the gut, and is missing again? Will Agent Barrett never die????

There you have it. What were your thoughts on the premiere? Comment below and let me know!

Another pack rip

2011-09-21T17:27:00.002-05:00

I know what you’re thinking after that last post – he doesn’t post for three weeks and then he throws a pack of ’90 Fleer at us? Yes, I did. But here I have something to remedy the problem: How about a pack of 1990 Topps, complete with gum? *evil laugh*

-Ad

342-Alex Trevino, Astros

247-Jerry Reed, Mariners

607-Steve Jeltz, Phillies

379-Steve Rosenberg, White Sox

303-Rick Cerone, Red Sox

425-Bill Landrum, Pirates

637-Craig Reynolds, Astros

143-Rafael Belliard, Pirates

464-Jerome Walton Rookie Cup, Cubs

301-Don Aase, Mets

739-Dale Sveum, Brewers

-Checklist

69-Todd Frohwirth, Phillies

337-Lloyd McClendon, Cubs

386-AL All-Star Julio Franco, Rangers

692-Sammy Sosa, White Sox

Pack Rip: 1990 Fleer

2011-09-21T14:13:00.000-05:00

Here’s a pack of 1990 Fleer. Enjoy.

-Stickers (Twins, Yankees, A’s, Mariners)

548-Sammy Sosa, White Sox

295-Cecil Espy, Rangers

597-Andres Thomas, Braves

550-Robin Ventura, White Sox

249-Frank DiPino, Cardinals

104-Jose DeJesus, Royals

202-Kevin Elster, Mets

191-Mark Thurmond, Orioles

329-Tim McIntosh, Brewers

124-Matt Winters, Royals

213-Randy Myers, Mets

502-Cory Snyder, Indians

413-Todd Benzinger, Reds

93-Dave Stieb, Blue Jays

18-Dave Parker, Athletics

TTM Success: Colts TE Jacob Tamme

2011-09-01T17:22:00.001-05:00

Jacob Tamme, 1/1 – I’ve been wanting to send to Tamme for a couple of seasons now, and he just always seemed to get demoted on my “To Send” list. I finally got around to sending his letter though, and I’m glad I did. This guy did a good job replacing Dallas Clark last season, and I hope he sees some playing time this year. He signed a custom card in 20 days. Letter was sent to the Colts.

(photo)

TTM Success: Colts WR Blair White

2011-09-01T17:22:00.000-05:00

Blair White, 2/2 – This guy really impressed me last season. So much so that I can forgive his parents for giving him a girl’s name. He’s probably fourth or fifth at the wide receiver position on the depth chart, but I hope he gets some playing time, because I love to watch him connect with Peyton (who I do believe will be playing in Week 1. Not 100%, but playing). He signed a 2010 Score RC and a custom in 11 days. Letter was sent to the Colts.

(photo)

TTM Success: Buccaneers TE Luke Stocker

2011-09-01T17:21:00.000-05:00

This is my fourth NFL success for the year, and quite possibly the coolest.

Luke Stocker, 2/2 – The rookie tight end was drafted in the ___ round by the Bucs. He’s still on the roster, which means he survived first cuts. Still one more round to go before the season starts, though. As a graduate of the University of Tennessee, and someone I actually got to see play, I’m rooting for Luke to succeed. He signed two custom cards featuring him in his UT uni in 20 days. Letter was sent c/o the Buccaneers.

(photo)

2011-08-30T19:23:00.002-05:00

I ripped a couple of 2011 Topps NFL rack packs yesterday. Full recap coming in a couple of days, but in the meantime, I pulled one of the NFL's Diamond Giveaway-equivalent code cards. Anybody want it? First come, first serve.

Email Success: Michigan State's Tom Izzo

2011-08-30T18:01:00.007-05:00

I know Jeff and Dennis are definitely going to love this success!

A while back, I emailed a few college coaches, asking for their autograph. This is the third autograph to come in; the first two were Calhoun and Pastner.

Tom Izzo, 1/0 - I’m not a fan of Michigan State, but I do like Izzo as a coach. Behind Pastner, he’s one of my favorite college basketball coaches, and maybe even one of my favorite in all of sports. At the risk of alienating a couple of followers, here’s hoping Izzo has another dynamite season next year!

Also, take a loot at this guy's SCF thread. He's gotten a ton of successes, and makes some pretty mean 1962 Topps-style customs.

TTM Success: Dallas Clark

2011-08-30T17:47:00.000-05:00

Dallas Clark, 2/2 – The Colts tight end, while aging, is still one of the best at his position, in, as my pastor used to say, my humble but accurate opinion. Dallas also is great at signing TTM. He’s one of the “nice guys” when it comes to signing. From what I’ve seen, he’ll sign multiples and personalize and inscribe upon request. I didn’t request anything, but he inscribed both cards with his jersey number, 44. Very happy with this success! Go Colts!!

Email Success: UConn's Jim Calhoun

2011-08-30T17:33:00.000-05:00

Jim Calhoun, 1/0 – The head coach of UConn’s men’s basketball team sent me a signed 8x10 photo. He signed it in silver Sharpie, and has a legible signature, especially for a guy who signs as much as he does. Not a UConn (especially Kemba Walker) fan, but always nice to add a successful coach’s autograph to the collection.

TTM Success: Mike Nickeas

2011-08-29T16:47:00.002-05:00

Mike Nickeas, 1/1 – The Mets catcher signed a 2011 Topps for me in about a week, c/o the Buffalo Bisons, the Mets’ AAA team where he currently plays. Mike’s Sharpie looks like it was out of ink when he signed the card. Interesting signature, though.

TTM Success: Samantha Boatman

2011-08-29T16:45:00.000-05:00

Samantha Boatman, 1/1 – The KNOE-8 reporter and fill-in anchor of Good Morning ArkLaMiss (our local morning show) signed a custom signature card in four days c/o KNOE. Sam’s a good reporter, and she’s very pretty, so I’m very happy with this success.

TTM Success: Jason Motte

2011-08-27T18:01:00.000-05:00

Jason Motte, 1/1 – All of the credit goes to Zach for this one. When I saw his success from Motte, I knew I had to try my hand at it. I actually pulled this card just a couple of weeks before I sent it out for a signature, and it turned out beautifully! I only wish I had dug out one of my copies of his 2010 Topps card and sent that as well, because he appears to willingly sign multiples. He also inscribed his jersey number.

TTM Success: Drew Stubbs

2011-08-26T16:44:00.004-05:00

Drew Stubbs, 2/2 – The young Reds outfielder signed a 2010 Topps RC and a 2011 Topps Opening Day. I’ve had a past success with Stubbs, but he signed the inside of a pocket schedule that time, so I resent, this time with a couple of cards. I mailed this request to the Reds early this season.