Ball Games and Specialty Jerseys

Went to Rockhounds game on Saturday as they were taking on Amarillo Sod Poodles. The team wore special jerseys that night. The theme? Paw Patrol: The Movie. To go along with post-game fireworks the team held Paw Patrol night. The show's characters Chase, Marshall, and Skye made an appearance at the stadium. I took a picture of them at the parking lot.

The look of the jerseys? Look at Edwin Diaz and Bryce Conley rocking them. It looks pretty awesome with the team name and the characters from the movie on it.

As for the game Jack Cushing (Rockhounds) and Kenny Hernandez (Sod Poodles) started the game. For Cushing its not only his first ever appearance with the team since he called up but his first ever Double-A start. Sod Poodles jumped to 4-0 lead before Rockhounds cut it down to 4-3 with a 3-run homer from Jhonny Santos in the 6th. Sod Poodles tacked on another run in the 7th as they beat Rockhounds 5-3. Sod Poodles left fielder Stone Garrett went 3-5 with a homerun and two RBIs. Did get the post-game fireworks which I saw at the parking lot.

The jerseys players wore that night got auctioned off online. The auction started the day before. Let's say I manage to snag one in the final minute before it ended. This is who I got.

I got batting coach and former MLB player Kevin Kouzmanoff. It cost me a pretty penny, but these jerseys look uniquely awesome. I love it when minor league teams come up with special jerseys.

Antique Store Finds

Went to local antique store here few a week ago. One vendor have an item I been wanting to pickup.

It was this Racing Champions diecast featuring wrestler Scott Norton who wrestled in WCW and Japan. The same vendor also have grab bags of cards ranging from $1 to $2. The bags contain baseball, football, basketball, hockey, and non-sport cards. I picked up a two $2 bags.

One contains 1992 Pro Set football while the other have animals. I never had any of those cards in my collection. I did research on animal cards and turns out they were Mundus Amicus Endangered Species cards. The set was produced in 1992. In fact it was entire set while several extra cards. Great find for $2!

The cards range from reptiles, big cats, avians, and panda.

Three zoos are mentioned on the set. I only been to San Diego Zoo once back in 2002.

1992 Pro Set grab bag contains 46 cards along with few repeats. I got the following: Herschel Walker, Dan McGwire, Mark Schlereth (both base and All-Pro), Mike Singletary (both base and All Pro), Webster Slaughter, Patrick Rowe (X2), Charles Mann (All Pro), Vaughn Dunbar, Troy Vincent, Calvin Williams, Rodney Peete, John Booty, Cleveland Gary, Willie Drewrey, Keith Jackson (X2), David Wyman (X2), Jerry Gray (X2 and in Reebok Pump), Tony Sacca (X2), Marquez Pope, Christian Okoye (X2), Greg McMurtry, Nate Lewis, Will Furrer, Jessie Tuggle, Sam Mills (All Pro), Quentin Coryatt, Richmond Webb, Mark Carrier, Bruce Matthews, Browning Nagle, Shannon Sharpe, Kevin Call, AFC-Spirit of the Game, Ricky Sanders, Brad Edwards, Alonzo Spellman

Not a bad haul out of it. Reason for me picking up Scott Norton diecast? He made a guest appearance at Danny DeManto's ICW No Hold Barred event in San Antonio. The results?

Now that's too sweet!

Appreciation of a Megastar Known as Angel Blue

For one independent wrestler it was not suppose to end this way. The self-proclaimed "Megastar" Angel Blue forced to call it a career two years after her final match. 

For over a decade she been down the roads and rings of Texas indy wrestling scene especially Austin-based Anarchy Championship Wrestling. She relished on being hated by the crowd. With a smug self-absorbed over-confident look, she would get in fan's faces claiming to be the greatest and hurl insults. Before getting in the ring she swept her feet back on the apron in direction of the fans. Fans responded to her with loud boos, arguing back with her, and on occasion tossing rolls of toilet paper when she gets introduced in the ring. She continues to antagonize the crowd with insults and singing "We are the champions!" off key. She worked the fans way too well having the fans boo her for everything she did in the ring. Fans wanted her get beat only for her to win in sneaky and nefarious ways.

She shows up at ACW ready to work and get involved. She even popped up not long after being in a bad car accident to talk on the mic giving a passionate speech on showing up despite not able to work because she loved this. She's a two-time ACW Joshi champion, a TV champion, a tag team champion with Jojo Bravo (now known as Jay Serious) and 2013 Queen of Queens tournament winner. Her tag team with Jojo Bravo will always be underrated and underappreciated. The chemistry between the two as reluctant tag partners who try to screw over each other only to get a miraculous victory at the end. She wrestled in Sabotage when it started up and feuded with current AEW wrestler Leva Bates. One of her victories over her was locking Bates inside trunk of a car. It lead to Last Woman Standing match between the two. In 2018 she made her Inspire A.D. debut being surprise tag team partner of Steve O'Reno and became Inspire A.D. Twin Dragons champions with him. Things were going good for her....

Til one Inspire show in Jan 2019. She was in a match against Jenna Lynn and current NXT wrestler Shotzi Blackheart when she took one spot. It was a spot I seen done many times, but this one caused a herniated disc in her neck. Everything she worked for comes crashing to a halt for an unfortunate injury. She had surgery to repair and endure hell trying to make it back. Despite bouncing back and working hard she couldn't able to be cleared for a comeback. Not the way she wants to go out.

Angel Blue is a textbook case on being a heel from going face-to-face with fans to finding hundreds of devious ways to break the rules and win a match. She always been a solid hand in the ring. Part of me want her in the middle of the ring to say goodbye only to go "Sike! I lied! I'm back!" to chorus of boos. It would be the most perfect thing for her. A fan can only dream. Thank you Angel Blue for putting everything in the ring. When I hear Queen - I Want It All I immediately think of you coming out to the ring. You are truly a Megastar.

Some matches of Angel Blue to view:

(Rare moment of Angel Blue working as a face)

Paper or Mobile?

Paper or Mobile Tickets?

Last month I went to Texas Motor Speedway for Indycar doubleheader weekend. Third time going, but its also first time of me doing this to get in: mobile tickets.When I purchased my tickets for the race online I didn't have a choice as it was only option available. On that weekend I've officially join the technological world of using mobile tickets.

Mobile ticketing have become the norm. With a few taps on your smartphone you can purchase tickets to an event and be received in mobile form. For venues it's cost effective and reduces the use of paper. There's an option on getting paper tickets paying a fee the venue charges on having it printed and sent to your address. (Hello Ticketmaster) It's only free if you get it at will call, but that's at certain venues.

My only experience on mobile tickets went like this. I have log on Texas Motor Speedway app to pull it up or save the ticket to Google pay app. That also means having to pull up my phone, punch in my password, and show it to the ticket taker as they scan it. The track did offer paper tickets, but that if you walked up to the booth and purchase a ticket on race day.

For me personally I prefer having paper tickets. It's mainly to collect, brag, and show off to your friends and family on the events and venues you been to. It's a good way to start a conversation. Also on back of ticket is a coupon to free meal or beverage at a fast food restaurant. I kept most of the tickets throughout the years. I still have the ticket from 1996 Texas League All-Star game. If I find a ticket lying the floor of the venue especially a sporting event I'll pick that up. Often I wind off with few extras and using those tickets to get a free meal out of it. I spent 2018 dining at Zaxbys using a previous game ticket which had BOGO combo meal especially before going to Round Rock Express games.

What is your choice of ticket? Paper or mobile?

Rockhounds Opening Day

It's been long time coming. After 20 months of not having a minor league baseball played at the stadium it came back to life last week on Tuesday. Midland Rockhounds had their first homestand of the season last week. I went to their opening day game despite being windy cold. Things have changed with new stadium name (From Security Bank Ballpark to Momentum Bank Ballpark because the banks merged) to going cashless with all concession stand purchases require credit/debit card. 2021 Rockhounds team now managed by former A's infielder "Bullet" Bobby Crosby who played here in 2002 as well coached in 2019. Kevin Kouzmanoff and Juan Dilone serves as hitting coach and Steve Connelly remains as pitching coach.

They took on returning San Antonio Missions who spent 2019 in AAA ball. San Diego Padres return as their AA affiliate. Crowd still coming in as the game started. Long line at the gates and still trying buy tickets. Brady Fiegl (Rockhounds) and Adrian Martinez (Missions) started the game. Rockhounds scored first with Tyler Ramirez doubling to score Nick Allen in the first. Nick Allen had a sac fly to score Jhonny Santos in the third. Kyle Overstreet would get Missions on the board with a solo shot. It turned out to be only run for Missions despite 10 hits in the game. Rockhounds would tack on 4 more runs in the game as they won 6-1 to a crowd of 3230. Not bad for a week day night game.

In "It happens in the minors" Missions trot out a pitcher name Henry Henry in relief.

After missing a year going to a ballgame its feels great to be back at the stadium. This going be first of plenty of games I will go to this season.

In Memory of the Infamous One

I was out of town spending few days in Fort Worth. It was late Saturday night when I logged on and heard the news I didn't want to hear. Shontez Montgomery known to Texas indy wrestling fans as Shawn Vexx passed Saturday morning. His passing left wrestling colleagues and fans in deep sadness. Next few days fellow wrestlers and fans talked about their memories of him. From the stories he would believe in wrestlers giving out advice to be a good soul all around along with funny stories.

I have so many memories of shooting photos and watching him go out and wrestle in the ring. When I started going to Anarchy Championship Wrestling shows I would buy DVDs of their past shows to catch up the storyline on how they get to point A to point B. Few months before December 2011 show (my first ever ACW show) Vexx, while as a face, would cut promo foreshadowing his heel turn which he completed at Lone Star Classic becoming leader of The Children of Pain 2.0 with Jason Silver, Sky de LaCrimosa, Jeff Gant, and Killah Kash (now known as Remedy). My first match I saw of him was opening card match of Dec 2011 show when he beat Gregory James (now known as Isiah/Izzy James). Later in the show he would take out Donnie Davis with a vicious chair shot. He spent 2012 feuding with A.C.H. and Davey Vega. It's this feud with Vega I got invested in booing at him for making moves and seeking affection of Athena (now known as WWE wrestler Ember Moon). It was "You homewrecker!" type wrestling storyline. He would win TV title from Vega at Beyond Good and Evil. The feud came with end at Guilty by Association 7 with both fighting for affections of Athena. Athena joined the match and beat both to win to show she's not property to anyone and is her own person. I love good wrestling storytelling. After spending a year getting booed he would hear cheer from the fans completing a face turn when he chose to fight Evan Gelistico for ACW Heavyweight title instead being given to him. This would lead to a match at Guilty by Association 8 which he would beat Gelistico for ACW Heavyweight title inside steel cage. He would hold it for six months before losing it to Masada and call it career after the match. He would return back to the ring four more times with his final known match against Jeff Gant in a last man standing match.

Thank you Shontez for the many memories and moments I witness throughout the years. You killed it in the ring every time.

Shontez Montgomery is a fighter battling adversary in and outside the ring. He survived and bounced back from it. He's a kind person willing lend a helping hand to everyone around him. He will be missed by everyone.

In honor of him his wrestling theme

RIP Shontez Montgomery. 2/17/79-5/1/21

Trying Chip Away the Block

 It's been two months since I posted. I stumbled upon a block I been trying chip away. Nothing creative comes bursting in. Stores have no trading cards in stock to too many shows and matches but so little time to discuss it. Today is first I actually found card packs in stock at Target in two months. Last time I was there I got disgusted at people waiting in line waiting for vendor stock that I left. I enjoyed Wrestlemania weekend as both main events on Saturday and Sunday shows delivered. Walter and Tomasso Ciampa from NXT Takeover Night 1 top match within those two nights of Takeover. It reminded me of 1990s All Japan Pro Wrestling match. Indycar season started with Alex Palou getting his first ever career win. I'll be at doubleheader race weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. I think today that block of mines have split apart.