Time for the Medal Ceremony

With the 2016 Paralympics set to begin September 7^th and run through September 18^th, but the winner of the contest decided, I thought you might like to see who won.

Blaster 1 athletes earned 73 medals and have 7 paralympian cards to earn more.

Blaster 2 athletes earned 57 medals with 6 paralympican cards remaining.

Blaster 3 athletes earned 61 medals with only 3 paralympian cards to go.

That means that Blaster 1 is our winner and since no one got close to the total, I’ll award the Gold, Silver and…Silver prizes right now.  That’s right, we had a tie for 2^nd.

Tim B is your gold medal winner with a guess of 30 medals, with Night Owl and Fuji coming tying for the silver medal with guesses of 28 medals.  I’ll be working on prize packs for you guys.

Thanks for playing along!

Olympic Contest - Final Packs

There are 75 base cards in the Olympic set.  I’m going to list the athletes that did not make the Olympic team so everyone will know.  There are 16 out of 75 that didn’t make the team, were injured, retired, or are former Olympians.

5 Candace Parker – Basketball

17 Holley Mangold – Weightlifting

21 Matt Grevers – Swimming

27 John Orozco – Gymnastics

30 Tyler Clary – Swimming

39 Natalie Coughlin – Swimming

40 Abby Wambach – Soccer

52 Cullen Jones – Swimming

58 Summer Ross – Beach Volleyball

59 Emily Day – Volleyball

61 Bob Beamon – T&F

62 Rulon Gardner – Wrestling

63 Jenny Thompson – Swimming

65 Carly Patterson – Gymnastics

66 Gary Hall Jr. – Swimming

72 Leo Manzano – T&F

Final packs coming up…standings will be posted once I reconcile the numbers. Then we wait for the Paralympics to start. 

Blaster 1 Pack 8

Carly Patterson - Gymnastics

Alana Nichols – Para-canoe

Jenny Thompson - Swimming

Lex Gillette – T&F

Cullen Jones - Swimming

Brad Snyder - Swimming

Conor Dwyer- Swimming

Nathan Schrimsher – Modern Pentathlon

Michael Phelps bronze - Swimming

Nathan Schrimsher silver – Modern Pentathlon

Blaster 2 Pack 8

Matt Stutzman bronze - Archery

Sue Bird silver - Basketball

Ryan Lochte RELIC - Swimming

I wish this was an orange swatch so I could pretend it's from the Brazilian prison uniform he'll get if he gets extradited down there.  Dumbass.  

Blaster 3 Pack 8

Emily Day – Beach Volleyball

Gary Hall Jr. - Swimming

Megan Rapinoe silver - Soccer

Brad Snyder bronze – Swimming

Adeline Gray  TEAM USA PATCH #48/99 - Wrestling

Like this one a lot.  Team USA Patch, numbered /99 and it's Adeline Gray.  What's not to like?

Good luck everyone and GO TEAM USA!

Olympic Contest - Rollin' 7s

There are 75 base cards in the Olympic set.  I’m going to list the athletes that did not make the Olympic team so everyone will know.  There are 16 out of 75 that didn’t make the team, were injured, retired, or are former Olympians.

5 Candace Parker – Basketball

17 Holley Mangold – Weightlifting

21 Matt Grevers – Swimming

27 John Orozco – Gymnastics

30 Tyler Clary – Swimming

39 Natalie Coughlin – Swimming

40 Abby Wambach – Soccer

52 Cullen Jones – Swimming

58 Summer Ross – Beach Volleyball

59 Emily Day – Volleyball

61 Bob Beamon – T&F

62 Rulon Gardner – Wrestling

63 Jenny Thompson – Swimming

65 Carly Patterson – Gymnastics

66 Gary Hall Jr. – Swimming

72 Leo Manzano – T&F

Time for Pack 7s.

Blaster 1 Pack 7

Courtney Mathewson – Water Polo

Galen Rupp – T&F

David Boudia - Diving

Merrill Moses – Water Polo

Brady Ellison - Archery

McLain Ward - Equestrian

Haley Anderson - Swimming

Margaux Isaksen – Modern Pentathlon

Aly Raisman silver - Gymnastics

Gabby Douglas Gold - Gymnastics

Blaster 2 Pack 7

Brittney Griner - Basketball

Perry Baker - Rugby

Kami Kraig – Water Polo

Gary Hall Jr. Swimming

Emily Day – Beach Volleyall

Casey Patterson  - Volleyball

Melissa Stockwell - Paratriathlon

Justin Gatlin – T&F

Kim Rhode bronze- Shooting

Kim Rhode insert – Shooting

Blaster 3 Pack 7

Michael Phelps silver - Swimming

Claressa Shields RELIC – Boxing

Nathan Schrimsher bronze – Modern Pentathlon

Not a bad relic.  She has a real shot at the Gold Medal.

Good luck everyone and GO TEAM USA!

OIympic Contest - The 6 packs

There are 75 base cards in the Olympic set.  I’m going to list the athletes that did not make the Olympic team so everyone will know.  There are 16 out of 75 that didn’t make the team, were injured, retired, or are former Olympians.

5 Candace Parker – Basketball

17 Holley Mangold – Weightlifting

21 Matt Grevers – Swimming

27 John Orozco – Gymnastics

30 Tyler Clary – Swimming

39 Natalie Coughlin – Swimming

40 Abby Wambach – Soccer

52 Cullen Jones – Swimming

58 Summer Ross – Beach Volleyball

59 Emily Day – Volleyball

61 Bob Beamon – T&F

62 Rulon Gardner – Wrestling

63 Jenny Thompson – Swimming

65 Carly Patterson – Gymnastics

66 Gary Hall Jr. – Swimming

72 Leo Manzano – T&F

Here we are at pack 6…just like the Olympics, we near the end.

Blaster 1 Pack 6

Kim Rhode - Shooting

Danell Leyva - Gymnastics

Tatanya McFadden – T&F

Summer Ross – Beach Volleyball

Joe Kovacs – T&F

Ryan Lochte - Swimming

Jake Dalton - Gymnastics

Matt Stutzman - Archery

Megan Rapinoe bronze – Soccer

Conor Dwyer silver - Swimming

Blaster 2 Pack 6

Michael Phelps  - Swimming

Megan Rapinoe – Soccer

Maya Moore - Basketball

Leo Manzano – T&F

Jake Gibb – Beach Volleyall

LaShawn Merritt – T&F

Matt Stutzman - Archery

Aly Raisman - Gymnastics

Ryan Lochte bronze- Swimming

Mariel  Zagunis gold – Fencing

Blaster 3 Pack 6

Allison Schmitt - Swimming

Tyler Clary - Swimming

Jenny Arthur - Weightlifting

Tom Shields - Swimming

Phil Dalhausser – Beach Volleyball

Matt Grevers - Swimming

John Orozco - Gymnastics

Holly Mangold - Weightlifting
Cullen Jones bronze - Swimming

Natalie Coughlin insert - Swimming

Good luck everyone and GO TEAM USA!

Olympic Contest - How about a round of 5's

There are 75 base cards in the Olympic set.  I’m going to list the athletes that did not make the Olympic team so everyone will know.  There are 16 out of 75 that didn’t make the team, were injured, retired, or are former Olympians.

5 Candace Parker – Basketball

17 Holley Mangold – Weightlifting

21 Matt Grevers – Swimming

27 John Orozco – Gymnastics

30 Tyler Clary – Swimming

39 Natalie Coughlin – Swimming

40 Abby Wambach – Soccer

52 Cullen Jones – Swimming

58 Summer Ross – Beach Volleyball

59 Emily Day – Volleyball

61 Bob Beamon – T&F

62 Rulon Gardner – Wrestling

63 Jenny Thompson – Swimming

65 Carly Patterson – Gymnastics

66 Gary Hall Jr. – Swimming

72 Leo Manzano – T&F

Let’s move on to the second half of these blasters. 

Blaster 1 Pack 5

Aly Raisman - Gymnastics

Maya Moore - Basketball

Rulon Gardner – Wrestling

Kayla Harrison – Judo

Diana Taurasi - Basketball

Simone Biles – Gymnastic

Missy Frankin - Swimming

Claressa Shields - Boxing

Missy Fanklin bronze – Swimming

Michael Phelps insert - Swimming

Blaster 2 Pack 5

Sue Bird - Basketball

Mariel Zagunis - Fencing

Jake Dalton - Gymnastics

Elena Delle Donne - Basketball

Ryan Lochte - Swimming

Carlin Isles – Rugby

Abby Wambach - Soccer

Missy Frankin - Swimming

Natalie Coughlin – Swimming

Jake Dalton gold – Gymnastics

Jake Dalton silver – Gymnastics  It’s a Jake Dalton hot pack…why not Aly Raisman?

Blaster 3 Pack 5

Justin Gatlin – T&F

Casey Patterson – Beach Volleyball

Melissa Stockwell - Paratriathlon

Elizabeth Beisel - Swimming

Sarah True - Triathlon

Katie Meili - Swimming

Tori Bowe – T&F

Connor Fields – Cycling BMX
Conor Dwyer bronze - Swimming

Rulon Gardner gold - Wrestling

Good luck everyone and GO TEAM USA!

OIympic contest: Halfway through with the 4th packs

There are 75 base cards in the Olympic set.  I’m going to list the athletes that did not make the Olympic team so everyone will know.  There are 16 out of 75 that didn’t make the team, were injured, retired, or are former Olympians.

5 Candace Parker – Basketball
17 Holley Mangold – Weightlifting
21 Matt Grevers – Swimming
27 John Orozco – Gymnastics
30 Tyler Clary – Swimming
39 Natalie Coughlin – Swimming
40 Abby Wambach – Soccer
52 Cullen Jones – Swimming
58 Summer Ross – Beach Volleyball
59 Emily Day – Volleyball
61 Bob Beamon – T&F
62 Rulon Gardner – Wrestling
63 Jenny Thompson – Swimming
65 Carly Patterson – Gymnastics
66 Gary Hall Jr. – Swimming
72 Leo Manzano – T&F


Sorry for the delay in posting.  Two huge projects due at work this week.  And I’m done with one of them.  So here we go.


Blaster 1 Pack 4

Sam Mikulak - Gymnastics
Sue Bird - Basketball
April Ross – Beach Volleyball
Michael Phelps - Swimming
Steve Lopez - Taekwondo
Nathan Adrian - Swimming
Mariel Zagunis - Fencing
Carlin Isle - Rugby
Abby Wambach bronze – Soccer
Brad Snyder silver - Swimming

Blaster 2 Pack 4

Nathan Adrian – Swimming
Steve Lopez - Taekwondo
Claressa Shields - Boxing
Paige Salenski – Field Hockey
Kayla Harrison - Judo
Simone Biles - Gymnastic
Rulon Gardner – Wrestiling
Natalie Coughlin – Swimming
Claressa Shields bronze - Boxing
Sam Mikulak insert - Gymnastics

Blaster 3 Pack 4

Leo Manzano – T&F
Matt Stutzman - Archery
Maya Moore - Basketball
JakeGibb – Beach Volleyball
Perry Baker - Rugby
Kami Craig – Water Polo
Brittney Griner - Basketball
LaShawn Merritt – T&F
Margaux Isaksen bronze – Modern Pentathlon
Claressa Shields insert - Boxing


Good luck everyone and GO TEAM USA!

Olympic contest: The third packs

There are 75 base cards in the Olympic set.  I’m going to list the athletes that did not make the Olympic team so everyone will know.  There are 16 out of 75 that didn’t make the team, were injured, retired, or are former Olympians.

5 Candace Parker – Basketball

17 Holley Mangold – Weightlifting

21 Matt Grevers – Swimming

27 John Orozco – Gymnastics

30 Tyler Clary – Swimming

39 Natalie Coughlin – Swimming

40 Abby Wambach – Soccer

52 Cullen Jones – Swimming

58 Summer Ross – Beach Volleyball

59 Emily Day – Volleyball

61 Bob Beamon – T&F

62 Rulon Gardner – Wrestling

63 Jenny Thompson – Swimming

65 Carly Patterson – Gymnastics

66 Gary Hall Jr. – Swimming

72 Leo Manzano – T&F

Here we go with round three.  I’m thinking that some of the medal count guesses were too low, especially if you have a bunch of swimmers in your blaster.

Blaster 1 Pack 3

Tom Shields – Swimming

Abby Wambach - Soccer

Candace Parker - Basketball

Gabby Douglas - Gymnastics

Elena Delle Donne - Basketball

Natalie Coughlin - Swimming

Megan Rapinoe - Soccer

Paige Selenski – Field Hockey

Carlin Isles bronze - Rugby

Abby Wambach silver - Soccer

Blaster 2 Pack 3

Bob Beamon – T&F

Adeline Gray - Wrestling

April Ross – Beach Volleyball

Gabby Douglas - Gymnastics

Sam Mikulak - Gymnastics

Diana Taurasi - Basketball

Candace Parker - Basketball

Madison Hughes - Rugby

Natalie Coughlin silver - Swimming

Missy Franklin bronze - Swimming

Blaster 3 Pack 2

Carlin Isles - Rugby

Abby Wambach - Soccer

Ryan Lochte - Swimming

Missy Gardner - Swimming

Ally Raisman - Gymnastics

Megan Rapinoe - Soccer

Michael Phelps - Swimming

Elena Delle Donne - Basketball
Ally Raisman silver - Gymnastics

Haley Anderson bronze - Swimming

Good luck everyone and GO TEAM USA!

Olympic Contest - Pack 2

There are 75 base cards in the Olympic set.  I’m going to list the athletes that did not make the Olympic team so everyone will know.  There are 16 out of 75 that didn’t make the team, were injured, retired, or are former Olympians.

5 Candace Parker – Basketball

17 Holley Mangold – Weightlifting

21 Matt Grevers – Swimming

27 John Orozco – Gymnastics

30 Tyler Clary – Swimming

39 Natalie Coughlin – Swimming

40 Abby Wambach – Soccer

52 Cullen Jones – Swimming

58 Summer Ross – Beach Volleyball

59 Emily Day – Volleyball

61 Bob Beamon – T&F

62 Rulon Gardner – Wrestling

63 Jenny Thompson – Swimming

65 Carly Patterson – Gymnastics

66 Gary Hall Jr. – Swimming

72 Leo Manzano – T&F

Blaster 1 Pack 2

Allison Schmitt – Swimming – One Silver

Jenny Arthur - Weightlifting

Tyler Clary – Swimming

John Orozco - Gymnastics

Holley Mangold - Weightlifting

Phil Dalhausser – Beach Volleyball

Matt Grevers - Swimming

Ryan Lochte bronze - Swimming - One Gold

Margaux Isaksen silver – Modern Pentathlon

1992 Closing Ceremony insert

Blaster 2 Pack 2

Nathan Schrimsher – Modern Pentathlon

Cullen Jones - Swimming

Conor Dwyer – Swimming – One Gold, One Bronze

Brad Snyder - Swimming

Lex Gillette – T&F

Jenny Thompson - Swimming

Carly Patterson - Gymnastics

Alana Nichols- Para-Canoe

Simone Biles bronze – Gymnastics – One Gold

Carlin Isles gold - Rugby

Blaster 3 Pack 2

Paige Selenski – Field Hockey

Simone Biles – Gymnastics – One Gold

Kayla Harrison - Judo

Rulon Gardner - Wrestling

Mariel Zagunis - Fencing

Jake Dalton - Gymnastics

Sue Bird – Basketball

Natalie Coughlin - Swimming
McLain Ward bronze - Equestrian

Maya Moore gold - Basketball

Good luck everyone and GO TEAM USA!

Olympic Contest - Pack 1 from each blaster

Let's get these packs busted (well, posted). 

I'll post the athlete, their sport, and whether they are on the team and in Rio.

Blaster 1 Pack 1

Melissa Stockwell – Paratriathlon - YES

Casey Patterson -  Beach Volleyball - YES

Connor Fields – Cycling BMX - YES

Elizabeth Beisel – Swimming - YES

Justin Gatlin – T&F - YES

Katie Meili – Swimming – has a bronze medal

Sarah True –Triatholon -  YES

Tori Bowie – T&F – YES

Elena Delle Donna bronze – Basketball – YES

Sarah True insert – Triathlon - Yes

Blaster 2 Pack 1

Haley Anderson – Swimming – YES (marathon swimming..wth?)

Margaux Isaksen – Modern Pentathlon - YES

McLain Ward – Equestrian - YES

Brady Ellison – Archery – Already has a silver medal

David Boudia – Diving – has a silver as well

Courtney Mathewson – Water Polo – Yes (this is where people legally try to drown other people)

Galen Rupp – T&F – YES

Diana Taurasi bronze – Basketball – YES

Mariel Zagunis silver – Fencing – YES

Blaster 3 Pack 1

Claressa Shields – Boxing - YES

Nathan Adrian – Swimming – Already has a gold medal

Steven Lopez – Taekwondo - YES

Diana Taurasi – Basketball - YES

April Ross – Beach Volleyball - YES

Gabby Douglas – Gymnastics - Yes

Candace Parker – Basketball - NO

Sam Mikulak – Gymnastics – YES
Brady Ellison bronze – Archery – has a silver

Missy Franklin – Swimming - YES

Good luck everyone and GO TEAM USA!

Olympic Contest is Underway

The Olympics Contest is underway of course.  Starting tomorrow, I will post pack 1 from each blaster.  I'll do this each day until the blasters are done.  I’ll score the blaster packs as I go, but of course those numbers will change as more events are completed.

Here are your blasters and the people who chose them, along with their predictions.

Blaster 1

CommishBob – 7

Billy Kingsley – 11

Fuji – 18, 24, 28

Jafronious – 22

B Man – 26

Nightowl - 28

Tim B – 30

Blaster 2

Captain Canuck – 8

Defgav – 10

Capt Kirk – 15

Greg Zakwin – 18

GCRL – 19

Arpsmith – 22

John Miller – 22

Blaster 3

Raz – 12

Bo – 14

Matthew Scott – 14

Lost Collector – 24

Wilson – 30,35, 40

Admin – 32

Jupiterhill – 34

Richard Nebe Jr. – 37

Good luck everyone and GO TEAM USA!

I'm back...with a contest

Guess who is still alive and kickin’?  That’s right.  It’s me.

I’m a big fan of the Olympics.  I love Team USA and currently, I’m spending more time and energy on that than baseball to be honest with you.  Not that those of you who even remember me haven’t realized I’m barely around.  I have a number of PWE’s that I need to send out, the top two on the stack being to GCRL and Night Owl. 

That’s not why we are here.  We are here for a contest.  An Olympic contest.

I literally just got back from Target where I went to buy a blaster of 2016 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team Hopefuls.  As I was standing there, eyeballing the three blasters they had, something struck me.  No, I don’t have the Zika virus.  What struck me was 1) I haven’t posted anything on the blog in a long time and 2) I could buy all three blasters and have a contest.  Brilliant, right?  I know, I know. 

Here’s the deal.  This contest has two parts. 

First, I numbered the three blasters.  All you have to do is tell me which blaster will have the highest medal count for the 2016 Summer Games, both regular and paralympic.  Mind you, some of these people didn’t make the team.  That’s why they call it Team Hopefuls.

Second, pick a total number of medals for your blaster. 

It’s that easy.

Everyone who picks the correct blaster will be entered into a randomizer where the top 3 people will get a Gold, Silver and Bronze size package from me.  I haven’t traded in a while so I have some goodies to throw in. 

If anyone gets the total number of medals for their blaster correct, they will get the $20 blaster of their choice as a prize.  If more than one person does this, I’ll randomize the blaster, but reward the other person or persons something. 

So your guess will look something like this:

Blaster 3, 42 medals. 

Make sense.  Thanks and good luck.

By the way, if you feel like plugging this contest, I will allow you to have 2 additional guesses at the number of medals for your chosen blaster. 

GUESSES MUST BE IN BY MONDAY MORNING!  Then I'll start showing the packs.  

Good luck!