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Washington Post
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Five words that today are gratingly misapplied or worn out
I'm pickin' up good vibrations/ She's giving me excitations — The Beach Boys, 1966 'When we Americans are done with the English language,' wrote Finley Peter Dunne (1867-1936), 'it will look as if it had been run over by a musical comedy.' Let's survey some recent damage. The fifth-most misused word in what remains of the tattered language is 'massive.' It is an adjective applied to anything big, even if the thing has no mass. There cannot be a massive increase in consumer confidence. Similarly, it would be wrong to say there is massive illiteracy in many uses of 'massive.' The fourth-most shopworn word is 'unique.' It is applied to any development that has happened since the person misusing 'unique' was in high school. As in, 'There is unique polarization in America today,' a judgment that cannot survive even a cursory reading about the 1850s. Often the misuse is compounded by tacking 'very' onto it. Saying that something is 'very unique' is saying that something merely unique is less so than something 'very unique,' with uniqueness varying by degrees. The third-most gratingly misapplied word is 'only,' but only in the phrase 'one of the only.' As in, Mickey Mantle is one of the only switch hitters in the Hall of Fame. One of the only is a wordy way of avoiding 'few.' The second-most worn-out word in contemporary discourse is 'iconic.' This adjective is, it seems, applicable to anything or anyone well-known in a way different from the way anything or anyone else has become well-known. New Jersey urges tourists to come and enjoy its 'iconic boardwalks.' Hulk Hogan, a professional wrestler, was, a story on his death said, iconic. Meaning he was somewhat famous and somewhat distinguishable from other professional wrestlers, every one of whom strains to be very unique. Today's most promiscuously used word is 'vibe.' It probably is used so often by so many because trying to decipher its meaning is like trying to nail applesauce to smoke. Having no fixed meaning, 'vibe' cannot be used incorrectly. So, it resembles the phrase 'social justice,' which includes a noun and a modifier that does not intelligibly modify the noun. From the American Enterprise Institute: 'Zohran Mamdani Won the Vibe War.' Vibes at war? Supporters of the New York mayoral candidate like 'the idea of mood.' City Journal on 'Mamdani's Vibes Campaign': The candidate 'didn't just run a campaign; he curated an experience,' blending 'culture and politics into a lifestyle brand' featuring 'aspirational consumption,' whatever that is. Roll Call, which covers Capitol Hill: 'Vibe Shift in House.' Some members of Congress were changing their votes. The Wall Street Journal: 'Luxury Brands Are Hit by a Vibe Shift.' Wealthy shoppers are skimping. Maybe. The Financial Times: 'Unapologetic brands lean into the vibe shift.' No more 'quiet luxury,' more 'maximalism, conspicuous consumption, opulence.' The New York Times: 'Can Walmart Drop Its Discount Vibe?' National Review on 'The Land Where the Vibe Doesn't Shift,' a.k.a. Ireland, which has mostly missed 'the vibe shift' of a conservative backlash against progressive overreaching. A Times obituary of a photographer: 'Marcia Resnick, Who Captured 1970s New York Vibe, Dies at 74.' A Times columnist asks: 'Should You Be Able to Copyright a Vibe?' ('Should stealing someone's vibe be against the law?') The Wall Street Journal: ''Vibe Coding' Arrives for Businesses.' This has something — the story is murky — to do with artificial intelligence. Shakespeare used 28,827 different words without resorting to 'vibe.' He could have written that Lear gave off a bad vibe while raging on the heath, and that Falstaff's vibe was fun. But the Bard did as well as he could with the limited resources of the Elizabethan English he had. Modernity means being constantly blindsided by progress. Most Americans sailed through grade school without the benefit of what some pupils can enjoy in third grade these days: classroom discussions about gender fluidity. Now Americans who want to be journalistically literate must master the taxonomy of the various vibes. And pity the senior citizens who began receiving Social Security payments before realizing that all their lives they have been living surrounded by people emitting vibes, and in vibe-soaked situations. These seniors have been radiating their own vibes. They are like the startled character Jourdain in Moliere's play 'The Bourgeois Gentleman' who exclaimed: 'My God! I've been speaking prose for over forty years and didn't even know it.' Talk about excitations.
Fox News
27-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
The Quiz #479
What was Mickey Mantle's primary position for the majority of his 18 year career? Play. Share. Listen with Senior NFL Writer at Outkick, Armando Salguero.
New York Times
23-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
The Michael Jordan cards every '90s kid seemed to have, and how much they're worth now
Michael Jordan's rise and domination of the sporting world with the Chicago Bulls happened to coincide with trading card companies pushing their printing presses to unprecedented extremes. As a result, there might be more Jordan cards in existence than of any other athlete. And since this 'junk wax era' was also a time when people started to realize that sports cards can have some long-term value, a huge number of those Jordan cards were saved from the garbage bins that ate up a previous generation's Mickey Mantles. Because of that, as children of the '90s have been dusting off their old Jordan card binders over the last few years, hoping to discover that their preserved collections are now worth millions, they're faced with the reality that everyone else saved their many Jordan cards too, and so the vast majority of them are worth very little. Advertisement Even though Jordan remains the most searched athlete on eBay month after month long after his retirement, the supply of his cards is just too large for all of them to be worth significant money. Granted, there are still a great many Jordan cards that are quite valuable today — and those values are starting to surpass what many believed were insurmountable pandemic peaks — but those don't fall within the core cards that every '90s kid seemed to have in their binders upon binders of Jordan cards. So what were the Jordan cards that every '90s kid seemed to have and what are they worth today? There are way too many to list in full here, but let's take a look at some standouts. This is the most graded sports card and by far the most graded Jordan card by leading grader PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator), with a population over 63,000. Why is that? Well I'm pretty sure the government mailed this card out to every kid in America in 1990. I haven't ruled out that this card could multiply on its own like a Mogwai if you got it wet or fed it after midnight. You could go to bed with one and wake up the next morning with 15. Ungraded, this card usually sells for less than $10, but gem-mint PSA 10 graded examples are selling for north of $200 even though there are over 8,000 of them. While that's a large number for a PSA 10 population, it's just 13 percent of the total number graded, so you can't assume the one you've had sitting in a binder page for 35 years will be a 10. And yes, this is just one of many mid-career Jordan base cards, but it features a cool image of him dunking and collectors seem to have a soft spot for it, so it carries some value in peak condition. This is the second most graded Jordan card by PSA with a total population of about 35,000 and it shows what an anomaly the previous card is. So with a significantly smaller graded population, surely this card is worth more than the 1990 Fleer card, right? Not so fast. This one you can get for around $5 ungraded and $170 in a PSA 10 (population 6,200+). Why? For starters it's just a much more mundane image of Jordan and it isn't nearly as ingrained in the minds of an entire generation like the aforementioned Fleer card. Advertisement This is the third most graded Jordan card by PSA and yes, it's a baseball card. Except this card predates Jordan's first retirement from basketball and foray into minor league baseball in the Chicago White Sox organization by a few years. It was a 'short print' — a card produced in more limited supply than the others in the set — with a photo that was snapped while Jordan took batting practice with the White Sox the previous season. The card caused a stir among collectors at the time, but since this was the early '90s, even the short prints were overprinted and there are now more than 30,000 in PSA's total population. Ungraded, this card sells for between $15-$20, but in a PSA 10 (population 2,500+) it's selling for around $500. That's because this card is tougher to find in gem-mint condition than the previous two. Of course, many more Jordan baseball cards would soon follow. This one holds a special place since it was the first, though. There were a lot of great USA Basketball cards in this set, so #579 partially just a placeholder for all of them — but come on, this was Jordan's Dream Team card! Surely it would be worth millions one day! Nope. This card sells for about $5 ungraded and just $80 in a PSA 10 (population 2,300+). Turns out even Dream Team cards depicting awkward poses don't carry the same premium that cards featuring Jordan dunking in a Bulls uniform do. I don't think there was anything that people in the '90s were more certain of than the fact that holograms were the most futuristic thing imaginable. And now that we're in the fantastical year of 2025, we can confirm that they are vital to passing the time while riding around in our flying cars. Despite possessing this mind-blowing technology, this card sells for $5-$10 ungraded. However, in a PSA 10 it sells for $800-$1,000 because only 147 of the more than 7,000 graded have achieved gem-mint status. The surface of these cards is just so susceptible to damage, yet it really did feel like something special when you pulled one out of a pack. There were other Jordans in this insert set, but the scoring champ one seemed to pop up the most. This is a strong contender for best Jordan base card image ever. Just majestic. Ungraded it sells for $3 or $4, and in a PSA 10 it's selling for around $200 after jumping up from about $150 earlier in the year. It's a popular card and a lot of Jordans are on the rise again. This is another instance where the number of PSA 10s is relatively small (1,633 of over 11,500 graded). These cards were odd — college cards produced long after Jordan turned pro. I have a few in my old Jordan binder but I have zero recollection of ever purchasing these cards. I've seen these in many '90s kid Jordan collections, but does anyone remember buying them? It's like if dozens of Jordan cards were left together in one place long enough they would combine to grow these Collegiate Collection cards amongst them. Ungraded, they sell for a couple dollars each and even PSA 10 examples of these cards sell for less than $100. But, 1,000 of each card were printed with a special gold foil border around the image and those sell for a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. This is my all-time favorite Jordan card. It's the ultimate representation of the early '90s. From the primitive computer generated abstract background to the floating hoop, it's just spectacular. Ungraded it sells for a few dollars and in a PSA 10 (population 2,700+) it goes for around $90. Fleer Metal sets produced some of the most popular cards of the mid-to-late '90s. It felt like you needed to put on a pair of Oakleys just to look directly at their metallic goodness. This Nuts & Bolts card seemed even more common than Jordan's #13 base card in the set, and the grading data supports that. The Nuts & Bolts card has been graded a total of nearly 8,000 times by PSA and the #13 card has been graded just over 3,000 times. Ungraded, the Nuts & Bolts card sells for around $10 and in a PSA 10 it sells for about $180 (up from around $120 earlier this year), with a population of almost 1,700. Meanwhile, #13 sells for about the same ungraded, but it's climbed to over $1,000 in a PSA 10 since the population is just 82. Jordan's #13 base card in this set wasn't the most flattering, so maybe people gravitated toward this Hardwood Leader card instead? Whatever the case, this is a card that lives in a great many '90s kid collections and, keeping with the trend we have going here, it only sells for a few dollars ungraded. The 208 PSA 10s, however, are rising in value rather quickly right now. One last sold for $480, according to Market Movers, which tracks online trading card sales, up from $165 at this time last year. Advertisement A passing of the torch that didn't quite work out because of Penny Hardaway's eventual injury woes, but at the time, this card was set aside as something special. Now? It sells for a dollar or two ungraded. The last PSA 10 sold for just $65, but that was in 2023 (there are only 28 of them). A PSA 9 sold for $89 earlier this month, though, which may indicate a jump in value for the next PSA 10 that hits the market. Again, this is by no means a complete list — there were also cards like the 1992-93 Fleer Ultra #216, 1991-92 Upper Deck #44, 1992-93 Topps Archives #52, and the gold-foil-laden 1996-97 Jordan Collection, to name just a few more. Nineties kids had a lot of Jordan cards and the vast majority are only valuable today in borderline impossibly perfect condition given the shortcomings in print quality of the time. But there were others that were coveted by many yet only a lucky few were able to obtain, many of which hold far greater value (monetarily — all Jordan cards are priceless when it comes to nostalgia value) today. So next time, we'll look back at the Jordan cards that '90s kids wanted most. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission. (All images: eBay)
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mariners' Cal Raleigh Makes MLB History After Yankees Game
Mariners' Cal Raleigh Makes MLB History After Yankees Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Catcher Cal Raleigh is in his fifth major-league season after debuting with the Seattle Mariners in 2021 and has established himself as a formidable force in Seattle's lineup. Advertisement Raleigh joined the organization when he was selected in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Mariners out of Florida State University. In March, Raleigh agreed to a six-year, $105 million contract extension that features a full no-trade clause. The deal covers his three arbitration seasons and three years of free-agent eligibility, beginning this year. The Mariners committed to Raleigh after back-to-back 30-home-run seasons and commended his defensive work behind one of MLB's top pitching staffs, where his framing metrics ranked among the game's best. In 2025, Raleigh has emerged as a superstar, making the extension look like a bargain. Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29)Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images After obliterating his MLB-leading 36th home run against the New York Yankees on Tuesday, he joined Mickey Mantle—who hit 39 in 1961—as the only switch-hitter to reach that mark before the month of August. Advertisement With 22 days remaining in July, Raleigh will have an opportunity to chase down Mantle's mark over the next few weeks and further cement his place in the record books. Through 89 games this season, Raleigh is hitting .268 with a 1.029 OPS, 76 RBIs and the major-league lead in home runs. His production has placed him into the AL MVP conversation alongside Aaron Judge, a two-time award winner. Raleigh was named to his first All-Star Game last week and has decided to participate in the Home Run Derby this year to showcase his power. Related: Mariners Make Historic Cal Raleigh Announcement During Cubs Game Related: Orioles Facing Trade Decision After Gunnar Henderson's Message This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mantelpiece Stories: When a junk‐wax binder turned into vintage gold
Last month, collector, reseller and Mantel user Chris B., who goes by AllSet24 online, swung by a client's attic on a real‐estate referral — and in just a few frantic minutes, he walked away with one of the most surprising vintage hauls we've ever seen. Here's how a seemingly ordinary binder, bought blind, revealed Hall of Famers and prospect gems from the golden age of cardboard. (Via Mantel) (Mantel) 'I almost didn't go in,' Chris said. His mother‐in‐law, a real‐estate agent, had sent over a handful of blurry photos, and they all looked like mid‐'90s junk wax. But when he stepped inside the nearly empty house, he spotted two binders tucked behind a dusty workbench. 'I saw a Mantle All Stars page and a couple of low‐grade Willie Mays cards, made a quick offer, and then hurried back to the car, my kids were ready to melt down.' (Via Mantel) (Mantel) (Via Mantel) (Mantel) (Via Mantel) (Mantel) A few days later, Chris spread the binder on his dining room table and flipped through page after page of 1950s and 1960s treasures. 'My first thought was, 'Wow, there was better stuff in here than I expected,'' he says. He then posted the finds on Mantel. Among the low‐grade commons lay a 1958 Topps Mantle All Stars card, a 1971 Hank Aaron, a crisp 1968 Topps trio featuring Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, and Harmon Killebrew, and even a 1976 Kareem Abdul Jabbar. For a modern‐card guy, this was a crash course in vintage history. (Via Mantel) (Mantel) (Via Mantel) (Mantel) (Via Mantel) (Mantel) Though he's not planning to build a vintage set, Chris has a soft spot for the binder's standouts. His top three cards? 'Definitely the Mantle All Stars, the Mays-Mantle-Killebrew card, and that 'The Catch' Mays. I'll probably never handle another Mantle in person.' (Via Mantel) (Mantel) (Via Mantel) (Mantel) Chris funds his hobby by reselling, and this blind buy was pure upside, proof that even seasoned collectors can still stumble onto a forgotten stash. These days, his focus has shifted back to modern parallels: 'I'm chasing every unique Stevie Johnson card, 44.4 percent of his print run so far. Reach out if you spot any extras!' (Via Mantel) (Mantel) (Via Mantel) (Mantel) (Via Mantel) (Mantel) Above all, the binder reminded Chris why collecting is as much about the thrill of discovery as it is about the cards themselves. 'Blind buys are a one-off for me,' he said. 'But this one sure paid off.' Have you ever found something incredible at an estate sale or have a unique collecting story that you think would be perfect for Mantelpiece Stories? Post it on Mantel — we'd love to see it!
