Lindy's '25 Is Here

Look what arrived in the post yesterday morning.

The first American football yearbook for 2025.

And it's fitting that it's Lindy's.

That's because in a little over a month from now, it'll be the thirtieth anniversary of picking up my first-ever copy of a Lindy's yearbook.

Actually - strike that: it was the first-ever American football yearbook I read. EVER.

I'm sure I've relayed this story many times over the years, but I'll repeat it again: I was on my way home from spending a fortnight with my relatives. I had to get a coach home on my own, so I walked into a newsagent shop to see if there were any wrestling magazines to read on the journey back. I cannot recall whether they had mags I already owned or they didn't have any at all. Either way, I chose to pick up the American football magazine instead. 

So, I read the 1995 Lindy's annual on the coach back here. It was the first trip I took alone, so I'll always remember Lindy's as being a small part of that experience.

As you can see, the 2025 edition I was sent has Saquon Barkley on the cover. As is typical, the editions we get over here in the UK are always those with the current Super Bowl Champions on them. Unless, of course, we had the special UK editions which were a thing for a few years.

I'd like to close this post with something I always write when the yearbooks hit the shelves: it's the first sign that the season is just around the corner.

Yay!

Rick Moranis Is Back!

It has been almost one year since I published a post noting that there was a Spaceballs sequel in the works. I shared my concerns that it would be impossible to do it without the late John Candy and the retired Rick Moranis.

Well - half of my fears were relieved yesterday when it was confirmed that Moranis will reprise his role as Lord Dark Helmet. 

I had seen a video of Moranis recently, so maybe I should have guessed his coming out of nowhere should have been a good sign for Spaceballs 2. I suppose his conspicuous absence from any of the Ghost Busters sequels threw me off.

It isn't just Moranis confirmed for the new film, though. Bill Pullman is also returning as is Mel Brooks, who was already announced last year (if I recall correctly!).

As of right now, I remain sceptical about how much I'll enjoy the new movie when it's released in 2027. 

There was a brilliant teaser for it yesterday with a space scroll mocking how many Star Wars movies and spinoffs there have been since Spaceballs came out. That was followed by Brooks saying a few words.

You really should check it out. 

Mel Brooks will be 101, give or take a few months, when this thing sees the light of day. Wow.

Rippin' Off A Tim Horton's Chicken Sandwich

The other day, whilst watching YouTube, I came across a video of a man somewhere in England filming from a Tim Horton's store.

It was a review video. The presenter bought some Tim Horton's products and shared his thoughts on the meal. One of the items on the list made me sit up.

Yes, you are not seeing things. They made a chicken burger with two doughnuts instead of a bun. And they're drizzle in maple syrup.

'I have gotta try that!' I exclaimed. 

One problem: the video was from a few weeks ago and the product was available for a limited period.  Or that's my assumption anyway. It's not on the Tim Horton's menu of my local store.

I really wanted to try it. And so I decided I'd make my own.

I used a chicken fillet and sliced a glazed doughnut (mine is already healthier because it uses only one doughnut in contrast to the original!).  Once that was done, I poured maple syrup over the sandwich.. or burger.. or whatever you want to call this thing.

I am biased, so of course I'm going to say I thought it was nice. It had the obvious clash between sweet and savoury that I expected going in.

As for the rest of my family? Well - that's another story. The best I could get was 'it was okay'. Fair enough.

I don't think I'd go out of my way to try it again. That's mainly because it didn't receive high praise at home. With that said, I will try the original if I see it pop up on the Tim Horton's menu.

A Story Before I Uncovered Today's GPK

This morning's song of choice, as I was taking my shower, was Regulate by Warren G and Nate Dogg.

It wasn't the usual version though. I enjoy listening to the 'Jamming Mix' which was the first track on the song's single.

The single is a story in itself. 

Because 'Regulate' featured in the movie Above The Rim, the song came out as a single with the Jamming and Radio mixes as well as a couple of songs featuring 2Pac.

Anyway, I love the entire single. It's what introduced me to 2Pac. But, I also have a lot of time for it because of the already mentioned version of Regulate.

As I listened today, it got me thinking to how popular that song was for its time and how Warren G followed it up with This DJ a few months later.

This DJ features on Warren G's album - Regulate.. G Funk Era. I have a story about that album as well. When I opened a bank account as a student, I was given a £10 HMV gift voucher. I used it towards buying that album!

And the story doesn't end there. 

As I was sitting here, at the PC, wondering what to write for today's post - I decided to tear off today's page on the Garbage Pail Kids page-a-day calendar. 

A Garbage Pail Kid naked D. Jay after listening to Warren G and thinking about This DJ?

You couldn't write it. Well, you could.. so, I did.

The Project Is Getting There

I have been working on something American football betting related for a few months and - even though I am far from finished - I can almost see the end point of this project.

I'm not going to announce anything just yet because I don't want to jinx it. Even writing this  is making me anxious about things screwing up before I break the news.

It's getting there. And it could be big. Well, I hope it turns out to be big, anyway.

Back To '98

I had one of the best sleeps in a long time last night.

It's all because I had a few hours the night previous, due to staying up late watching WWE Money in the Bank. 

I did so with some weird - yet soothing - background sounds, however.

There's a YouTube video called 'Chill Nights 1998' and it plays something which is supposed to resemble taking the listener back to that time (I suppose).

I read through some of the comments as I was preparing to write today's post. A lot of people have written nice thoughts about that time. Some wish they could go back. 

1998 isn't the year I'd head back to if I had the opportunity to do so. Not that I have any dislike towards it! If I had a choice of a period in the 1990s, it would be further back than that.

Or I'd get off the stop before 1998. Maybe.

Gripes About MITB '25

I watched WWE Money in the Bank last night. I have gripes about the results.

Going in, I sensed Seth Rollins would win. It was a strong feeling considering he has been the most pushed wrestler on the entire WWE roster following WrestleMania. It made complete sense for him to become this year's Mr. Money in the Bank even though I disliked the idea of him doing so. Any Rollins cash-in will be crap in contrast to the one when he interrupted the WrestleMania 31 main event and left with the WWE Championship in what has now been called 'The Heist of the Century'. Nothing can beat it. Ever!

The women's Money in the Bank ladder match winner was Naomi. She wasn't my favourite to win the match, BUT - she was THE favourite from a betting perspective.

My gripe with the results is simple: both winners have a plethora of title reigns under their - if you pardon the pun - belts already.

The Money in the Bank - as a concept - has been a vehicle to bring midcasrders up a level and for them to either win a major title or compete against titleholders for feuds.

Rollins is already in the main event picture. Naomi also, to a much lesser extent.

Both didn't need to win last night. 

I wouldn't have cared if Rollins or Naomi won a briefcase and then somebody on the rise - per the spirit of the Money in the Bank concept - won the other briefcase. Both of them doing so.. well, like I've stated, it's just not in the true spirit of the Money in the Bank gimmick.