X-Men '97 TV Series

X-Men '97:  Marvel has an animated hit with X-Men '97.  Animation was one thing DC had done better than Marvel for many years.  Now Marvel seems to have figured it out.  Marvel goes back to a 1997 X-Men look and it really works.  I enjoyed the first season.  The look and the characters are really good.  It has all the X-Men characters that are big parts of their story arcs.  I'm not the X-Men expert so don't crucify me if I'm on wrong on that.  The plot can be a bit complicated at times but to be fair, the X-Men comic books can be complicated.  I think any comic geek will enjoy this one.

Random Wax: 1991-1992 SkyBox Basketball - 3 Packs

91-92 SkyBox:  Chuck was a 11X All-Star and 11X All-Pro.  He retired with career averages of over 22 points per game and 11 rebounds per game and is one of the best power forwards in league history.

Two of the three players who made up Run TMC in Golden State and Vernon Maxwell who won two championships in Houston.

Excellent points guards from their eras in Maurice Cheeks and Derek Harper as well as Vern Fleming who as a solid point guard as a starter with the Pacers.

Steal to-turnover-ratio is not a stat I remember ever really being talked about.  I'm sure there is value to it, but it is just a stat you won't hear referenced.

The backs are just as fun as the fronts, if not more.

The subsets here are fun including the All-Star Weekend, Stats, and NBA Finals cards.

Stay in School people!  This was a big campaign back in the day and a worthy one no matter my jest.

Ron Harper won five championships.  Three with Chicago and two with the Lakers.  Horace Grant was right behind him with four - three with Chicago and one with the Lakers.

I enjoy the write-ups.  I was in basic training during the 1991 Finals so much of this is new to me.  These packs are so much fun.  So many great memories and players.

BREAKDOWN:

45 – Total Cards

2 – Stats

2 – Stay in School

1 – Finals

1 – All-Star Weekend

 

2024 Upper Deck Marvel Studios Series 1 Blaster

UD Marvel Studios Series 1:  I really like the Yelena Belova character in the Marvel cinematic universe.  Played by Florence Pugh, she's similar but very different at the same time, from Scarlett Johansson who played Black Widow.

Found these recently at Target (toy aisle where they also have cards).  I like them.  The design on the first 50 cards come like this Baron Zemo card.  Looks similar to Upper Deck's 1997 Legends Football set.  The next 50 look like the Star-Lord and Hulk cards.

We get horizontal offerings as well.  This design isn't a favorite of mine, but it is simple and works okay.  I do like how the actor's/actresses' names are part of the fronts.

We get some shiny type cards in the form of Dazzlers and HoloGrFX inserts.  I like Dazzlers but the HoloGrFX cards don't do much for me.

I really like this card.  Might be the colors within the scene and the design.  Whatever it is, I like it.

The Debut cards make up cards 101-130 of the base set.  Then we get Canvas and Portraits inserts.  All three of these are fine with Canvas being my favorite.  I'm still not sure about Portraits.

Series 1 of Marvel Studios focus on Marvel television series while Series 2 is focused on their latest movies.  I'll definitely pick up a box of Series 2 when I get a chance.

The backs are pretty simple, but I like the information provided including appearances in the cinematic universe.

There is a Jumbo insert in each blaster about the size of the blaster.  They are okay but I'm never sure what to do with oversized cards.

These are fun.  Having watched all the television shows these take you back which is enjoyable.  There are autographs possible if you get the hobby boxes.  I may pick off singles here.  A few more characters/actors I'd like to have.  

Looks like Wanda is getting ready for Valentine's Day...

BREAKDOWN:

35 – Total Cards

2 – Debut

2 – Dazzlers Green

1 - Jumbo

1 - Canvas

1 – Footage

1 – Portraits

1 - HoloGrFX

Random Wax: 1994 Ted Williams Baseball 4 Packs

1994 Ted Williams:  What can't you say about Ty Cobb?  4,189 hits and a career .366 batting average which is tops all time.

I'd like to see team logos here but I my only complain is being able to read the players names.  Even in hand it's rough.  Otherwise, it's just fun seeing so many players you may not see on new cardboard today.

They did show off some youngsters including Billy Wagner who was recently announced as part of the 2025 MLB Hall of Fame class.

Cliff Floyd and Tim Salmon each had their own inserts sets.  Salmon is a player I collect so this was a win for me.  I like the variety of photos that included some from the minor leagues.

The backs are good.  Seeing some of the player's top years in stats is fun and the write-up works.

Going North shows off players when they were ready to go to the majors.  I like the inclusion of the  All-American Girls Professional Baseball League players.  Bob Horner is my favorite all-time favorite player so his inclusion on the Swingin' for the Fences inserts is great.

We also get a great look at players from the Negro Leagues.

These are fun cards and there are so many greats from the game.  I got these for less than $1 per pack last year so these were a big win. 

BREAKDOWN:
48 – Total Cards
8 – Dawning of a Legacy
4 – Negro Leagues
4 – The Campaign
2 – Women of Baseball
2 – Swinging for the Fences
1 - Checklist
1 – Goin’ North

NBA Trade Craziness: Doncic to the Lakers and the Spurs rob the Kings

The Luke-AD trade really is perplexing.  If you don't want to pay Luka the super max extension and would rather trade him, I'm okay with that.  But no way what they got from LA is the best package they could get for a 25 year-old superstar in Luka.  Why not go into the offseason and start a bidding war and not get a massive haul.  Really, why not?  At worst run it back this season.  Doncic will be back from injury this month.  Let the season play out and then get everyone in the league on the same page - we're open for business.  I keep hearing how Dallas was ticked about Doncic's conditioning, but while that isn't petty, it isn't the reason to take less.  It just feels like a knee jerk reaction. 

I do give all sides props for keeping this quiet though.  If word had gotten out, LA and Dallas lose momentum and the whole deal could have been torpedoed.  Not saying it was a good deal.  Just props on not letting anyone know and letting players or agents drive the bus.

I'm not sure this works for the Lakers short term.  They are the #5 seed today, but does this screw up the chemistry?  And they still have no big.  But assuming Luka signs with them long term when he is eligible in the offseason, this is massive.  They have the franchise's long-term star and direction set.  Until now there was no succession plan to LeBron leaving.  Sure, they have to build around Luka still but that's just what you do.  

And somehow Luka is being painted as a victim in all this.  Yes, he'll lose ~$50M because he won't be eligible for the super max contract extension, but he'll be in LA.   He'll make that up in spades with endorsements and LA is the mecca of basketball.  If he doesn't resign with the Lakers, he can take his talents to free agency and go wherever he wants.  This is a huge win for him, period.  

Feeling left out Sacramento then trades De'Aaron Fox for very little in my opinion.  They get Zach Lavine, who Chicago hasn't been able to give away for a year due to his play, injuries and huge contract.  They get some first-round picks but Charlotte's won't convey and will turn into two second rounders.  The Spurs didn't have to give up one of Atlanta's first round picks which are much more valuable than what the actual Spurs pick.  The Timberwolves pick may be the only pick worth something in the long run.  I know Lavine is having a good year, but I can't see him being a difference maker in Sacramento.  

I know folks are in love with the idea of Fox in San Antonio but I'm not sure if it really works as well as everyone wants it to.  That said, the Spurs are in a great spot.  They have time on their hands here.  Wemby is so young that if it doesn't work out, they can move on from him after his contract ends in 2026 or trade him before that.  And Wemby will still just be reaching his prime.  If it does work out, you extend Fox and it's a good thing.  And Wemby would still be in his prime after that contract.  They'll also have flexibility in all this to add a third star if they want to.  The Spurs should be arrested for this deal.  Craziness!

CBS Sports .com does a great job breaking trades.  Hoopsrumors.com is a great site for anything basketball but especially analyzing things from a calmer perspective.

As part of a 3-team trade, traded by the Los Angeles Lakers with Max Christie and a 2029 1st round draft pick ( was later selected) to the Dallas Mavericks; the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers; the Los Angeles Lakers traded Jalen Hood-Schifino and a 2025 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected) to the Utah Jazz; the Utah Jazz traded cash and a 2025 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected) to the Dallas Mavericks; and the Utah Jazz traded cash to the Los Angeles Lakers. Los Angeles also received a trade exception 2025 2nd-rd pick is LAC own Dallas also received multiple trade exceptions 2025 2nd-rd pick is a right to swap 2029 1st-rd pick is LAL own

 

Spurs get: Fox, Jordan McLaughlin

Kings get: LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, three first-round picks (2025 via Hornets, 2027 via Spurs, 2031 via Timberwolves)

Bulls get: Zach Collins, Tre Jones, Kevin Huerter, their own 2025 first-round pick from Spurs

Random Wax: 1990 Pro Set Football (4 Packs)

1990 Pro Set:  Joe Montana knows a few things about the playoffs and the Super Bowl.  4X Super Bowl champion and 3X Super Bowl MVP.  I hated watching him carve up my Falcons back in the day but his decision making and accuracy were next to impossible to beat.

I was able to see Joe Montana play once while he was with Kansas City.  The greatest players I ever got to see live.

Great photo on that Barry Sanders card.  His eyes.  The intensity.  Classic look.

I love the Super Bowl Collectibles cards.  The art was pretty cool.

We get a good synopsis of the big game as well.  Well, this one wasn't much of a game.  John Elway is my favorite player all-time and man those Super Bowl losses were hard to watch.

Chuck Knox was a head coach for 22 years with the Rams, Bills and Seahawks winning 186 games, good for 11 all-time.

I'm a Jim Everett fan and this is a great photo showcasing those great Rams unis.  We also get some Creamsicle greatness. 

Two Hall of Fame and one award winner card.  Panini does a good job honoring Hall of Fame inductees, but we don't get award winners.

Actual Pro Bowl game photos on Pro Bowl cards.  Does it get any better?    

Such great cards and so much fun.  Chris Spielman is the only player of these four not in the Hall of Fame, but he was a 4X Pro Bowler and 1X All-Pro.  Dan Marino needs no introduction.  Like most fans I wish he could have at had more shots at a championship and a win.  That man could throw the ball like no other.

BREAKDOWN:
60 – Total Cards
5 - Coach
4 – Pro Bowl
4 – Super Bowl Collectibles
2 – Award Winner
2 – Hall of Fame Selection
1 – League Winner

  

Heart of Stone (2023)

Heart of Stone:  Gal Gadot stars in this film.  The plot is "An intelligence operative for a shadowy global peacekeeping agency races to stop a hacker from stealing its most valuable and dangerous weapon."  Plenty of action in this movie thriller that was exclusive to Netflix.  Heart of Stone is an easy watch.  I'd recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Gal Gadot or of the spy thriller genre.