Kelpfactor Cards

Ain't that the truth.

Definitely ordering a Nick Kurtz Topps Now card tomorrow.

A ★★★★★ review of Dogfight (1991) Film #2 in my Nancy Savoca triple feature. I absolutely loved this film. Lili Taylor and River Phoenix are perfect and the film is just lovely. I added it to my Favorite 100 Films list at #65 and my Favorite Films of 1991 list at #2, behind only Hal Hartley's TRUST. I bought the Criterion Blu-ray and am so glad that I did. It's not streaming on the Channel, but it is available for digital rental. The Criterion disc is the way to go, though, as it has a supplement with Mary Harron interviewing Nancy and Lili that is delightful.

Watched and loved Nancy Savoca's DOGFIGHT tonight. I have posted my review on Letterboxd. boxd.it/aetwPT

Clayton Kershaw sucks It was Pride Night at Dodger Stadium on Friday evening. As is usually the case on Pride Night, the home team wore a rainbow version of their logo on their cap. Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw donned the rainbow cap but he made an addition to it: [photo of Kershaw and his cap]

That writing is a citation to Genesis 9:12-16, which is a passage in the Bible which is commonly used by homophobic Christians who are part of what they call the "Take Back the Rainbow" movement. They claim that the LGBTQ+ community stole the rainbow symbol from God and they view it as their mission to "rescue" gay people from what they consider to be a sinister movement. Clayton Kershaw has been around long enough and he's a big enough deal to where (a) vanishingly few reporters would ask him about this; and (b) even if they did, he'd have some canned response on which no one would follow up, but he knows goddamn well what he's doing here. Whether or not Kershaw actively adheres to the Take Back the Rainbow movement, he's endorsing it with that bit of Sharpie on his cap. It's in keeping with his past sentiments surrounding Pride Day in which he decided to police those who could or could not take part in it and used the controversy he himself created in order to get the Dodgers to commit to moving up a Christian identity promotion in response. It was shitty behavior then and this is shitty behavior now.

As was the case with those Tampa Bay Rays players who, a few years ago, tore the rainbow logos off their caps and jerseys in protest to the team's Pride Night, I expect nothing to happen to Clayton Kershaw for blatantly undermining the team's public-facing messaging and violating selectively-enforced rules about defacing one's uniform with personal messaging. Indeed, it would not shock me if people in and around the game defend Kershaw on a "hey, everyone has a right to freedom of speech" basis. Not that he even needs the defense. He pitched on Saturday night after I and others had pointed out the thing he did with his cap. As far as I can tell, not a single person asked him about it after the game. It was all "Kershaw tosses seven scoreless innings against the Giants!" But ask yourself: what would happen if a player wrote a message of protest next to the American flag-logos or the camouflage logos teams wear on their Fourth of July or Memorial Day and Military Appreciation caps? If you think the response to such a thing would be benign – if you think people would ignore it and merely focus on what the player did on the field – then Colin Kaepernick has a bridge to sell you.

For those unaware of what I'm talking about: www.cupofcoffeenews.com/cup-of-coffe...

Deadloch review – ripsnorting whodunnit pumps new blood into old tropes Australian comedy duo Kate McLennan and Kate McCartney are behind this dark and funny series about a series of murders in a small Tasmanian town

Finished the Australian series DEADLOCH last night. It's on Prime Video. It's very funny and very satirical, but the series only works if the mystery is compelling over 8 episodes. It definitely is. Once you get drawn in you'll want to keep watching.

Man, I miss Upper Deck. I know the company had issues as a company, but its cards had a style that was just different than Topps. Topps is fine; they have their own style. But I wish we could have both, and I hate that one company now has a total monopoly on trading cards.

A ★★★½ review of Eephus (2024) I've always loved baseball. I don't know why exactly, but I became a fan at a very young age. I loved listening to games on the radio and collecting cards. I loved going to games, both minor and major...

Watched EEPHUS tonight. Here is my review.

I hate most of the MLB alternate uniforms. But I really like these. They would look even better with the players wearing stirrups.

Really wish we could have region and team issues today. Topps is fine but their monopoly is a drag.

A large banner depicting the state of Minnesota in the colors of the transgender flag and the words "You Belong Here" is displayed above the supporters section at Allianz Field.

Today and every day,

You belong here 🏳️‍⚧️

#TransDayOfVisibility

Baseball Reaches Its Breaking Point An elbow-injury epidemic has become an existential threat to the sport, prompting the M.L.B. to brainstorm new solutions, such as the use of a heavier ball.

This story for the New Yorker is the culmination of many years of reporting on and thinking about one thing: What's the deal with pitching? It was nice to reconnect with people I know from the baseball world, and I have now seen the inside of a person's elbow.

www.newyorker.com/sports/sport...

Keep protesting Tesla.

Cal Raleigh was great well before this, but even after reports came out that he was signing a massive $105 million extension, he still honored his commitment to show up to @simplyseattle.bsky.social today to meet with fans. A lot of dudes would have canceled. Not him. Awesome dude.

Just because he wants to destroy your family is no reason to make his family slightly uncomfortable.

I can't believe we're only on Day 13.

Sure seems like that's the direction we're headed.

good post

The BBWAA requested that all of our votes were made public. It was the Hall of Fame, not the BBWAA, that opted to make it so that voters have to opt in to having their votes revealed. The overwhelming majority of BBWAA members want transparency.

Dick Allen: Baseball Card Legend YouTube video by Phillies Baseball Cards: Story, Legend, and Lore

Here is an excellent video on Dick Allen and his run of Topps baseball cards. youtu.be/jHVqBso_v1I?...

Curt Flood deserves a place in the Hall of Fame.

Wow!

This is awesome.

Photo of a card pack

Happy New Year!

2025 card packs are now available at gummyarts.bigcartel.com!

If these sell out, more will be available soon…

Love this image.

Yes! Congratulations to Dave Parker!

Hooray! Very deserved honor for Dick Allen!

Essential reading for anyone interested in baseball card history.

Put SMU in the playoff. Without question.

Good deal for the O's. Would have been a great fit for the M's, but their management has a loser mentality.