Fantasy Football: The Coca Cola Kids Football Club Playoffs

Fantasy Football Playoffs start this week.  The Coca Cola Kids Football Club finished the regular season on a three game win streak after Joe Burrow returned from the IL, but it wasn't enough to make the playoff bracket as the Kids ended with an 6-8 record finishing in 8th place in the We Are United Fantasy Football League.  So the Kids open the Consolation Quarterfinals with a Bye Week.  Not exactly how you want to start the playoffs after coming off of a three game win streak.  

Nevertheless, here is the playoff roster of the Coca Cola Kids: 

QB: Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay

WR: Courtland Sutton, Denver

WR: Jauan Jennings, San Francisco

RB: Derrick Henry, Baltimore

RB: Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburg

TE: Brock Bowers, Las Vegas

W/R/T: Rome Odunze, Chicago

Q/W/R/T: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati

K: Jason Myers, Seattle

DEF: Los Angeles Chargers

Bench: 

WR: Troy Franklin, Denver

QB: Geno Smith, Las Vegas

QB: Cam Ward, Tennessee

WR: Kayshon Boutte, New England

RB: Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta

RB: Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville

IR: Garrett Wilson, New York Jets

Check in each week of the playoffs to see the results for the Coca Cola Kids.  

Want to look back on the season?  

Weeks 1-8

Weeks 9-14

Fantasy Football: Kamino Clone Kids Playoffs

The Fantasy Football Playoffs are here and the Clone Kids should be happy...but they aren't.  Two weeks ago, the Kids were flying high in first place of the division and the league.  After losing two straight weeks, they now sit in 2nd place in the Light Side Division and 4th in the league.  

Time to wrap the sore joints, tie up the pads, and strap on the helmets as we head into the first week of the playoffs against the 5th place team in the league and division foe, Pabu Porgs.  The Kids split the season with the Porgs winning one early and losing in Week 13.  It should be a good game for the first round of the playoffs, but the tension is high to prove the good season wasn't a fluke.  

The Kids bring three of the top 5 Wide Receivers in the NFL into the playoffs.  Here is the playoff roster for the Kamino Clone Kids: 

QB: Dak Prescott, Dallas

RB: Chase Brown, Cincinnati

RB: Jaylen Warren, Pittsburg

WR: George Pickens, Dallas

WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit

TE: Jake Ferguson, Dallas

W/R/T: J. Smith-Njigba, Seattle

W/R/T: Darius Slayton, New York Giants

W/R/T: Tyler Warren, Indianapolis

DL: Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas

LB: Edgerrin Cooper, Green Bay

DB: Jordan Battle, Cincinnati 

Bench: 

QB: Sam Darnold, Seattle

QB: Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville

RB: Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles, Chargers

WR: Keon Coleman, Buffalo

TE: Jonnu Smith, Pittsburg

DL: Jonathon Cooper, Denver

DB: Budda Baker, Arizona

Want to check out the season for the Kamino Clone Kids? 

Weeks 1-8

Weeks 9-14

Top 5 Star Wars Card Trader Base Cards 2025

Rounding out the Top 5 base card series (last week Marvel, two weeks ago Bunt), I bring you my top 5 Star Wars Card Trader (SWCT) base cards.  I "hoard" way to many category of cards in SWCT like animated cards, droid cards, vehicle cards, and Grogu.  I haven't counted, but it is probably in the ball park of 21 or so cards that I don't workbench.  

I mention all of this because my list actually comes from all cards not just the hoarded ones listed above.  Anyway, here we go!  My top 5 base cards of 2025: 

5.  Grogu - 2025 Base, Series 2 - Tier 1 - White  Card Count: 100

It is no secret that I absolutely adore Grogu, so sorry, not sorry, he will probably always be on a SWCT card list.  I do love the sweet action shot of him raising his arms up for someone to pick him up.  

4.  Black One - 2025 Base, Series 3 - Tier 1 - White  Card Count 40

While the X-Wing may not be my top star ship in Star Wars, the have always looked super cool and battle ready.  They had to be cool, because Lucas wanted something to be fast, real fast like his car racing in Petaluma, CA.  No one flies an X-wing like Poe Dameron.  Gutsy, non-standard, daring, you name it, he tried it.  I can hear you all say, he is better than Luke?  I didn't say he was better, I said, "no one flies and X-wing like Poe."  We see the potential right here! 

3.  AT-ST - 2025 Base, Series 3 - Tier 1 - White  Card Count 38

Classic!  My mind flashes back to 1983 with this card image from The Return of the Jedi.  I remember thinking it was so cool to see those little walkers we got snippets of on Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back.  Here we see that they aren't only used in tundra invasions, but in all relevant moments of power.  Actually, I just thought it was cool to see one so close up and in a forest.  It wasn't until years later that I realized they transported Luke to Vader in an AT-AT.  So cool! 

2.  Millennium Falcon - 2025 Base, Series 1 - Tier 1 - White  Card Count 226

I have a three-way tie for my favorite ship in Star Wars.  Why a three way tie you ask?  It depends on what day and what I've most recently watched whether I say The Ghost, The Razor Crest, or the Millennium Falcon.  Since this card has the ship that has been #1 for the longest and it has a sweet explosion behind it, I go with the Millennium Falcon as my #2 card for 2025.  Tell me it doesn't look awesome!  

1.  Darth Vader - 2025 Base, Series 2 - Tier 1 - White  Card Count 89

I bet you thought my #1 base card for 2025 would be a ship.  You bet wrong.  I had to go with the greatest villain of all-time, Darth Vader.  I had three base card choices for Vader, but I could not deny how impressive, most impressive this card from the Obi-Wan Kenobi series looks.  Clean, shiny armor and dark imposing eyes.  The shattered glass behind him just screams power from this imposing character.  We can feel the power of the Dark Side coming through.  

I hope you have had a chance to take a look at all three Top 5 Base Card posts, Topps Bunt and Marvel Collect.  Let me know what your favorite base cards of 2025 are especially if they are from the Disney or WWE sets.  

Stay tuned in just a few weeks, I will share my favorite "insert" cards of 2025 for each of the three platforms I collect.  May the Force Be With You

Top 5 Marvel Collect Base Cards of 2025

Two weeks ago, I shared my Topps Bunt Top 5 Base Cards of 2025.  This week, I am sharing my Top 5 Marvel Collect Base Card of the year.  If you remember from my July post of my top base cards from 2025 so far, two of the Marvel Collect base cards I highlighted there will show up here.  Don't remember reading that? Check it out here 

Throughout the year, I "hoard" my favorite base cards.  I quote hoard because I don't go after trades to fill the hoard, but I don't workshop them, so they will always stay at the top of the collection when I look the collection by quantity of cards.  

There are 16 cards I found interesting enough not to workshop away and let them move to the top of the base collection.  Here are my favorite 5 of those 16 and I will leave a list of the characters portrayed of to fill out the remaining 16.  

5. Hawkeye, Series 1, White, Tier 1 - Card Count 107

I like how this shows a superhero in a common location, a theme park.  It is a setting to which we can all relate.  The fun spirit is what I like about this card. 

4. Kate Bishop, Series 1, White, Tier 1 - Card Count 107

Let's stay with Bishop's world and take a look at the card highlighting Kate Bishop.  Where, Hawkeye's card is fun and relatable, Kate's card is dramatic and filled with movement.  She looks powerful and invincible taking aim with her bow and arrow standing in a field of flying arrows coming right at her.  This is a card that will stick with me for quite some time.  

3. Spider-Man, Series 1, White, Tier 1 - Card Count 88 

You know this character's card will likely show up in a top 5 for me either in base card collections or in "insert" card collections, probably both.  There is a reason a character in comics becomes a favorite, and for me it is the look, the power, the personality.  For Spider-Man, it is all of those, but the look is why he always shows up on my lists.  Here he is, swinging through the New York night sky with webs all around him and Spidey in some contortion of swing.  The best...well, almost the best this year!

2.  Magik, Series 1, White, Tier 1 - Card Count 100

This card depicts power in full display.  From the pages of the X-Men, Magik holds her soul sword into the ground with the power of light pouring out and the souls of her sword writhing and screaming to get out of the ground.  So much of Magik and her power is on display here.  

1.  X-23, Series 1 - White, Tier 1 Card - Count 99

The theme of this list seems to be power on display, but my favorite part of it is they are all women with power.  X-23 displays it in the most unique and artistic ways.  It is in a point of view from above and her hair is flowing out wildly from her as she crouches flexing her muscles and blades.  This card is perfect!  

It wasn't hard for me to find my top cards when the set was released, but narrowing it down to five was a bit of a challenge.  So, I want to give all 16 of the cards I have been hoarding a shout out.  Here is the remainder of the list:  

Thor

Wolverine

Spider-naut (I discuss in the July post linked earlier)

Spider-Girl

Polaris (beautiful card that uses shading so well)

Emma Frost

Captain America

Elektra

Spider-Gwen

Psylocke

Miles Morales

Top 5 2025 Bunt Base Cards

The Major League Baseball season has come to a close which means we are in the final quarter of 2025.  It is time for my annual series of Top Base Cards from Bunt, Marvel Collect, and Star Wars Card Trader.  This week I will cover 5 of my favorite Bunt base cards. 

In December and January, we will take a look at the insert cards of Common, Uncommon, Rare, Super Rare and Epic rarities.  I do not get Legendary cards in my collection.  But today, we focus on what makes a card set special...it is the base cards.  

With no further delay, here are my Top 5 Bunt Base Cards in no particular order: 

5.  Gunner Henderson 2025 Bunt Base - Series 1

Anyone who has read my past assessments of digital baseball cards knows I love cards that show action.  Action makes this card of Gunner Henderson a top card of the 2025 Base Set. 

4.  Josh Winckowski  2025 Bunt Base - Series 1

This card really catches the moment.  In this case, an intense moment of Josh Winckowski looking in for the sign for his catcher.  This is a great card to play "What Happens Next."  

3.  Julio Rodriguez  2025 Bunt Base - Series 1

A good base card catches the personality of a player as in this card of Julio Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners.  Cards like this really make the game and players likeable.  

2. Alexis Diaz  2025 Bunt Base - Series 1

That wind-up!  What a leg kick from Alexis Diaz!  This is what a baseball card is all about that action moment that shows us the moment something great is about to happen.  That moment when the baseball is about to be up in play.  Magnificent! 

1.  Lawrence Butler  2025 Bunt Base - Series 1

The cool factor.  Lawrence Butler looks super cool in his wrap-around mirror glasses.  By the way, there is no sarcasm in that statement.  He does look really cool in this card (even with his neon green and pink mittens).  Look at the full seats in the background.  This is a great card.  It caught my eye from the release of the set.  

Veteran's Day

This is just a little note to honor our veterans.  There are only a few people in my family who have served in the US Military.  My brother-in-law (husband of my wife's sister) served in Germany for the US Navy.  My dad served in the US Army during the Korean War.  My wife's grandfather served in the Pacific theater in World War II for the US Navy.  And the man for whom I am named, Tom, served in the US Army during World War I.  I have many friends who serve and have served in the Army, National Guard, Air Force, and more. 

I am usually a stickler about Veteran's Day is for living veterans, and Memorial Day is for those who have fallen or passed.  What I think doesn't matter, we honor all.  We live in a country where we can read what we want, say what we want, share what we want all because of our service men and women.  They protected and continue to protect this union of 50 states.  I am grateful for that.  Republicans, Democrats, Independents, undecided, in-between and upside down, it shouldn't matter, because as Americans we have the right to believe what we believe.  

To our soldiers, pilots, captains, Marines, high ranking officers, medics, logistical staff, office staff, communication officers and all that are involved in keeping our land, air, space, International interests, cyberworld, space and water safe.  Thank you and Happy Veteran's Day. 

The Flat Soda Bombers Basketball Club Fantasy Basketball (updated 12/9/25)

I needed another fantasy sports team like I need a sharp rock in my shoe when running a marathon, but here I am taking the reigns of a new Fantasy Basketball franchise in the newly formed league, The Library.  Allow me to introduce the newest franchise of mine from the sport of NBA basketball: Flat Soda Bombers

Yep, you might think does this have anything to do with my library?  You bet!  This league is made up from employees in the library including myself, Benjamin the library clerk, Heidi and Ryan (league commish) from the IT department, Dan and son Mason (English Dept), Nate (World Languages), Brian (Social Studies) and someone who I think is Ryan's friend.  

Confession: since the Jordan era, I can probably name about as many players as I have fingers and toes.  I can pronounce even fewer of them, and that last item (about names), only shows my own cultural ignorance.  I have really come to lean on saying, "that guy from Milwaukee."   Anyhow, we did a live draft and I actually drafted this team shown below.  I feel like it is a good collection of players, but the first week didn't go so well.  The Bombers dropped the first week to a team named by my youngest daughter (14 yrs) for Heidi a self proclaimed team owner who only joined because we couldn't find anyone else to even the league out and has no idea who she drafted.  Yeah, the Flat Soda Bombers lost to them.  That feels real good.  Oh, their name you ask?  67 Dino Nuggets (of course!).   Anyone who has a teen in the house or works in a middle or high school can appreciate that name.  Well, here is the Flat Soda Bombers.  

Week 1: Flat Soda Bombers vs. 67 Dino Nuggets 5-8-1"Flat Soda is a Good Description of Week 1" (5th in League) 

Week 2: Flat Soda Bombers (5-8-1) vs. Forum Blue and Gold ( 9-4-1)  3-10  "The Bombers Forgot the Season Started"  (6th in League) 

Week 3: Flat Soda Bombers (8-18-2) vs. Mello Ballerz (6-21-1)  8-5  "Bombers Win Battle of the Bottom"  (6th in League)

Week 4:  Flat Soda Bombers (16-23-3)  vs. Less than Lucky (10-30-2)  2-11 "Bombers Banged Up...But is that the Excuse?"  (7th in League)

Week 5: Flat Soda Bombers (18-34-4) vs. D's Dominate Dunkers (34-21-1)  2-11 "Flat Soda Bombers = Embarrassing"  

Week 6: Flat Soda Bombers vs. Ryan's Gametime Nachos 2-12  "Bombers Consistent with Three Weeks Scoring only 2 Points: Well, That's Something"  (7th in League)

Week 7: Flat Soda Bombers (22-57-5) vs. Siddy's Neat Team (53-30-1) 5-9 "Bombers Take a 9-4 Lead into Sunday and Go, well, Flat" 

Week 8: Flat Soda Bombers (27-66-5) vs. 67 Dino Nuggets (69-27-2) 

Here is the line-up and roster of the Flat Soda Bombers (updated 12/1/25): 

PG:  De'Aaron Fox (Spurs)

SG: Zach LaVine (Kings)

G:  Devin Vassell (Spurs)

SF: Jerami Grant (Trail Blazers)

PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)

F: Anthony Davis (Mavericks)

C: Nikola Vucevic (Bulls)

C: Myles Turner (Bucks)

UTIL: Zion Williamson (Pelicans)

UTIL: Jaden McDaniels (Timberwolves)

Bench: 

PG/SG: Dyson Daniels (Hawks)

PG/SG: Ausar Thompson (Pistons)

PG/SG: Coby White (Bulls)

IR:  Ja Morant (Grizzlies)

Dropped: 

Jalen Suggs (Magic) 

Cam Thomas (Nets)

Tari Eason (Rockets)

Keon Ellis (Kings)

Jalen Green (Suns)

Brandon Miller (Hornets)

Okay basketball fans, the Flat Soda Bombers could use some advice.  Who do I pick up and who do I drop.  Leave a comment and help the Flat Soda Bombers get a little fizz going.  

This post will update each week until further notice.