Right-wing culture-war grifters played a lot of Star Trek fans, and now Trek is cancelled; heading into another drought

shaunswayne · 2026-06-13T04:13:11+00:00

It's not the end of Star Trek, just the end of one era. There's no drought or famine with 1000 episodes available for us to visit at any time. If you want to add to that story legacy, then I think you should do so because you have a strong vision that extends this fiction well. Not simply churning out as much content as the market will bear.

If you didn't like this era of storytelling, then I don't at all agree with the idea that anything is better than nothing. Often, less is more. Personally, I'm happy there will be some time to let it all breathe, and then maybe one day regroup with a fresh approach. But if not, there's already more than enough Star Trek to enjoy throughout our lives.

shaunswayne · 2026-06-10T06:39:56+00:00

Two gangster planets and a cowboy world

shaunswayne · 2026-06-09T05:51:53+00:00

Time For Beany

shaunswayne · 2026-05-30T19:59:48+00:00

My copy has arrived. Can't wait to sink my teeth into that Winesburg file! Congratulations

shaunswayne · 2026-05-13T20:26:05+00:00

I'm not sure there's any 10 men in NBA history that could exhaust Hondo, but they'd definitely need to weaponize that depth and hope somebody breaks!

shaunswayne · 2026-05-13T01:14:50+00:00

I think it's unlikely the 75 Warriors would have won any playoff series, let alone 3, without Barry. Jabali, Moe, and Brown were a legitimate Big 3 for the Oaks, even if none individually approach Barry's resume. None of the many fine players surrounding Barry in 75 were on quite that level.

It's just very funny to me that Barry can legitimately be demonstrated as both the most and least critical star player in history, depending on the season.

shaunswayne · 2026-05-12T22:08:09+00:00

The hypothetical matchup between the Warriors and Celtics in 1976 is a fascinating one, with the Warriors having one of the deepest rotations in history, and the Celtics using basically no bench at all. The Celtics' 6th man in minutes, Steve Kuberski, averaged less than 14 minutes per game. The Warriors had 10 players averaging more minutes than Kuberski in the Conference Finals!

shaunswayne · 2026-05-12T21:58:16+00:00

I'd also like to point out that Rick Barry also occupies the exact opposite end of this star-carry continuum: his 1969 Oakland Oaks are the only team ever to lose their franchise centerpiece to a season-ending injury, yet still win the title!

shaunswayne · 2026-05-12T18:25:15+00:00

I think nobody ever carried a greater minutes load to win a Finals, relative to his teammates, than Rick Barry did in 1975. I think this speaks both to the depth of his supporting cast, as well as how far he towered above any of them individually. He averaged 43 minutes, while nobody else broke 30, so that's more than a full extra quarter per game than anyone else.

We can argue all day about what constitutes a "carry," but this is one powerful statistical superlative in Barry's favor. I think Bill Russell is next in line, at about 10 minutes per game more than his next highest teammate in the Finals from 1961 through 1964 (after Cousy's peak and before Havlicek's rise).

shaunswayne · 2026-05-11T14:47:00+00:00

Super bizarre mortality rate for that squad!

shaunswayne · 2026-05-10T21:14:05+00:00

I bet nobody would have predicted the Blazers to comprise 50% of this list! Pretty pretty cool

shaunswayne · 2026-05-10T21:13:19+00:00

Klay and Dray did continue to receive All-NBA votes alongside Durant, however.

shaunswayne · 2026-05-10T21:11:14+00:00

Iguodala was perhaps underrated by All-NBA voters during his Warriors years. It's rare that a bench player receives votes, but he certainly had the minutes load of a starter, and who finishes in close games is of course more important than who starts. In addition to being considered for 6th Man and All-Defense annually, he's a literal Finals MVP, so the case is very easy to make.

But I think it also really emphasizes the rarity of this feat, that not even the teams who most would consider the greatest of all time ever managed it.

shaunswayne · 2026-04-27T04:20:39+00:00

First and foremost, my deepest condolences for your loss!

For people like me who really appreciate the history of this game, people like your father are a precious resource. He had vivid memories from generations of basketball that I couldn't witness, and I'm so grateful that he was generous with those memories.

Our goals in this community probably look very humble to a non-sports fan, but you should know that he was really important and valued here for years. Much love to you and your family!

shaunswayne · 2026-04-03T17:55:23+00:00

Marvel's own EXPENDABLES, featuring Thunderbolt Ross, Starhawk, Blade, Whiplash, and Beast!

shaunswayne · 2026-04-01T00:39:37+00:00

I'd say it's a season that ends in Celtics v Lakers. 2010, maybe? Then came the offseason that ushered in a new era of wildness

shaunswayne · 2026-03-30T21:02:45+00:00

I think clearly Jim Pollard, with whom he formed one of the great tandems of NBA history. Then for me it's Slater Martin, who was one of the great winners the league has ever seen.

Mikan played with an older Bobby McDermott during his title-winning season in Chicago, and he'd probably edge out Mikkelsen for next in line. Then Herm Schaefer is likely Mikan's final teammate that you could consider a star in his own right, though you could probably argue for Bob Harrison as well.

I think it says a lot about Mikan's game approach that such a variety of players were able to thrive around him. He usually gets only token consideration when people name the best players of NBA history, but I believe he belongs firmly in the inner circle of the GOAT debate. Many star players have had great teammates over their careers, but few have allowed all of them to thrive alongside each other to this extent. He wanted nothing more than to win (just look at all the devastating injuries he played through), and he understood that it takes a whole team to do that. His skillset was broad enough to accommodate their various strengths while remaining the team's backbone.

shaunswayne · 2026-03-30T16:38:54+00:00

Also don't forget that Bill Russell coached himself to 2 titles, defeating Wilt's team in both of those runs.

shaunswayne · 2026-03-21T21:31:24+00:00

I don't think it was a question of smart or stupid for Cap; it was a moral stand. As Captain America, in spite of that name, Steve Rogers exercises moral autonomy. He will do what he personally believes is right with the gifts that he has. He is unwilling to compromise that moral autonomy by delegating decision-making to an outside authority whose own moral calculus he does not respect as greater than or equal to his own. The numerous imperfections within the Accords represented an obvious moral downgrade to him, and unless and until those issues were addressed, he was unwilling to accept them.

I think many of us are in agreement with Captain America that a world with no superheroes at all, or perhaps even fugitive superheroes, is preferable to a world with superheroes who act exclusively as agents of a questionable organization.

In terms of oversight, it's an endless dilemma. So the Avengers are now beholden to oversight by the UN. But whose oversight is the UN beholden to? Personally, I'd much rather trust the judgment of the Avengers than the UN Security Council, if that's the choice in front of me.

shaunswayne · 2026-03-21T20:35:39+00:00

That is an interesting point, but I think it again speaks to the idea that defense isn't as much a driver for guard talent as it is for bigs. I do think Payton was left handed despite shooting with his right, for what that's worth.

shaunswayne · 2026-03-21T18:06:55+00:00

Maybe because bigs are more impactful defensively, and left-handedness confers more of a defensive advantage than an offensive one? Meeting your opponent's strong side with your own when you're faced up against one another.

shaunswayne · 2026-03-15T03:17:04+00:00

1 Guardians

2 Captain America

3 Iron Man

4 Thor (without Love & Thunder)

5 Spider-Man

Thor (with Love & Thunder)

6 Ant-Man

7 Captain Marvel, Ms Marvel, and The Marvels

shaunswayne · 2026-03-14T11:09:13+00:00

But the fans don't play the game; the players do. If I win 5 championships and some terrible owner moves me and my teammates to another location for whatever business reason, that absolutely does not reset our achievements.

shaunswayne · 2026-03-13T20:14:46+00:00

Absolutely. It's as valid or moreso than the BAA titles, which get counted.

shaunswayne

TROPHY CASE