Roman Reigns

I'm not a fan of Roman Reigns. I booed the living hell out of him even when he was good guy. I did the wave in person at two Wrestlemanias I attended and trying start bunch of random chants such as "We Want Cena!" and "This match sucks!" I pretty much loathe his main event existence because WWE gave me no reason cheer for him other than he's just the big dog and using hundreds of superman punches because its one of two moves he only got. All that change on Monday night of October 22. Something wasn't right when he came to the ring not dressed his gear. Then he addressed the crowd announcing after being 11 years in remission his leukemia came back. Wait did I just hear what he just said? He has leukemia? Is this real or some sick angle? He went up the ramp meeting with Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins giving him hugs. The look on Seth's face told the story as he was balling with tears. Dean being tough holding back his tears as best as he can. After the break I can hear tears in Corey Graves voice. The news is true as leukemia return back in Roman Reigns body. I was floored and so was every wrestling fan in the universe. The stunning announcement sent waves as news sites such as CBS Sports, Fox News, ESPN, and Yahoo Sports made mention within first hour of RAW. Whether we like or do not like a wrestler we do not wish anything horrible happen from medical to travel. Every wrestler like him risk their lives to entertain us the fans. They have families to feed and look after. It's not a glamorous life but they enjoy it and do it for us, the fans. The year been rocked with shocking wrestling moments with 90% of it been bad. Reigns leukemia announcement shocked the wrestling world because he's the top guy in WWE. The fact he kept on working during his remission showed he got his heart in the business.

It's best to say cancers of any form suck. It's a life threatening disease people fight hard to beat. Some will win the battle against cancer but some will lose. I have lost a friend to cancer. Another friend, Texas woman wrestler, Ruthless Lala battled it as well. There been medical advances but no cure. We hope there be cure for cancer in the future. Watching friends go through it is hard enough and not to mention skyrocketing medical bills to battle it.

Best of luck to Roman Reigns. He beaten leukemia before. He will beat it again in round 2. The fans will wait for his return.

Another note if you want donate to American Cancer Society for cancer research. Also donate bone marrow to see if you are match for leukemia patients.

That was depressing visit

Yesterday I drove up to panhandle Texas city with my mom on a day trip. While there I decide visit local card shop and all I can say it was depressing. They are filled with autograph jerseys, pictures, funko pops, single cards, and coins. What I usually go for are packs and so much for selection of it. I went gone through their selection of packs from early 90s to mid-90s of baseball, football, and basketball. Current stuff? Just only hobby packs of this year and last year's Topps, no jumbos. Bought myself handful of junk wax era because I'm still a sucker for those. Just can't help but feel how much depressing visit that is. Still its not bad as the one store around southwest of Pittsburgh few years back.

Welcome to Toyota Center

I knock arena off my bucket list few days ago. I went to Houston Rockets preseason game taking on Shanghai Sharks. Outside the arena they got statue of Hakeem Olajuwon jersey with his accomplishments.

The logo on display at the main entrance.

Rockets team motto for the season is "Run as One" as it splashed in front of the arena. Can they with James Harden, CP3, Melo, Gerald Green, and maybe James Enthis III?

The doors opened hour before the game. No program or even a roster sheet was given out. The rafters filled with retired jersey numbers of Rudy T, Calvin Murphy, Moses Malone, The Glide, The Dream, CD, and Yao. Also along where two champions they won in 94 and 95 and the defunct WNBA Houston Comets.

The upper level of arena featured encased lockers of former star Rockets which includes Elvin Hayes, Ralph Sampson, Steve Francis, T-Mac, and former owner Leslie Alexander. They still have the hardwood floor from The Summit (which is now Joel Osteen mega-church).

Since they didn't have roster sheets only way fans figure who's playing for the Sharks from the announcer. Two notable players on Sharks were former Rockets player Luis Scola and BYU star Jimmer Fredette. Scola got a welcome back video tribute during the game. Melo and Clint Capela didn't play.

Once tipoff happen it was no contest as Rockets blew through the team hitting 3s everywhere especially Harden along with JE3 and PJ Tucker. Zhou Qi of the Rockets left the game with sprain knee. Jimmer Fredette was a machine playing the entire game scoring almost half of Sharks points but was missing more his share. They were up so big that they gave Harden, CP3, and Enthis entire 4th quarter off and it was preseason garbage time for the Rockets. Meanwhile I moved down from upper level to lower level and ushers didn't mind due to amount of empty seats. Then again it was preseason game.

As usual Rockets defeat Sharks in dominating fashion. Nice to see international team even if its exhibition game.

It's a good arena to catch a game. Like to watch a regular season game there some day.

What's in that repack?

I was on my way San Antonio for WWE Hell in a Cell stopping by at Buccees in New Braunfalls. Across the street was a shopping center with a Target I decide to venture there to check out card station. While going through I notice this on front of Fairfield basketball repack that I have to buy it.

Yep a 1981-82 Topps Julius Erving card. Having the card of top is worth $5 buy to me. As for remaining cards.

Hoops inagural set breaking in Fleer stranglehold. Follows up to......

 Hoops second year set.

Skybox inagural set. They were hottest cards and high end back then. They went different route with artsy background.

A very clean 90-91 Fleer cards

91-92 Hoops card

 Full of 91-92 Upper Deck which I got two Bo Kimble out of this. Also what was James Worthy doing in the photo? Saving a ball out of bounds or a leaping toss?

A very bland design from Fleer

92-93 Fleer of Mark West with cameo of Hakeem Olajuwon and Vernon Maxwell

The premium Fleer Ultra with a Charles Barkley slam dunk

92-93 Skybox stepped away from the graphics art to action shots with graphics whoosh on the ball. 

93-94 Hoops with two players made their return back to NBA. Both would team up as members of San Antonio Spurs

93-94 Hoops

After being bland for couple of years Fleer with simple slam dunk design. Hey look its The Glove

93-94 Skybox including a checklist.

93-94 Upper Deck with Don McLean who won 6th Man of the Year

95-96 Signature Rookies. Both would have journeyman career.

 Cards I never seen before. Score Board produced these cards.

A nice Dennis Rodman card

Upper Deck Collector Choice card featuring UCLA star Ed O'Bannon who sued NCAA. 95-96 UDCC set was start of rookie photo shoot.

Fleer Metal card with Steve Smith

 1996-97 Topps Finest of Michael Williams

Jermaine O'Neal rookie card who would break out after he traded from Trail Blazers

 Player I never heard of

Aussie Luc Longley who picked up rings with Bulls dynasty

Felipe Lopez card mentioning what team drafted him

Skybox/Hoops when different with team logo in the background of a player

Kareem from Topps NBA 50th Anniversary set

Second to last Topps set featuring Brandon Roy whose career cut short by injuries

Topps final set before Panini got NBA exclusive on trading cards

Jeremy Lamb from Upper Deck Authentic

Last card is Rajon Rondo from Panini Prestige

The pack from the pack is Panini Complete and these are the cards

That was kinda fun for me to open up