Updates from Rosemont?
 

Anything?

one arrest so far. take a look at the game used universe site for details. Why am i always in the bathroom when something exciting is happening.

Why am I always at home:confused:

Here's a link:

http://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com...fraud-charges/

Wow... Risk everything for 3015$... Sounds like a great idea!!

Maybe he really believed the unis were the real deal... :p This hobby needs to do a lot of house keeping and this is probably not even going to make a dent in getting rid of the number of dishonest "game used" dealers there are. Bottom line is that "game used" is always going to be something that is suspect. How many "game used" bats and jersey's do we see advertised? There's so much garbage out there, kind of like autographs...... could go on for hours.....

Actually, there are several jerseys people are claiming as fake. If they were indeed knowingly selling fake game used jerseys, I'm sure they've sold quite a lot of them. Still, I do agree it was a very smart longterm decision.:rolleyes:

I wonder how many questionable items quickly disappeared off of tables after watching a dealer go out in handcuffs? :D

I was talking to Leon and Scott at their booth when they brought that scumbag by doing the perp walk. We all wondered what was going on and heard a few things, but the link clarifies everything. I hope, if he is convicted, that he does some serious time. I have no pity for crooks who rip off innocent folks.

I see he's wearing a vikes polo. That's not a good omen for my squad this year.

What became of the last law enforcement effort on the floor of the National, was it 3 years ago?

I am glad they busted this crook but I cant help but wonder how Coaches Corner continues to sell fake after fake. I sure wish someone would take them down.

It must have been embarrassing, getting arrested by the post office.

I'm glad that the Post Office is finally trying to "stamp" out this crap.

I agree with Scott, This guy gets busted and Coach's Corner rolls on. Unreal.

Sports Center Moment
 

This guy and his company are on the headlines of ESPN.com's baseball section! I was just on ESPNs website to check scores and in the MLB section it is on the right hand side as one of the major stories. Hopefully guys like this will be taken care of because they give all of the honest dealers a bad name in our industry. I may be naive, but I still believe that a majority of dealers in the industry are honest....at least I hope.

I mean, stopping him from continuing to sell fakes (though there's no way to be sure yet) is definitely a good thing. But when you see many people and companies selling blatant fakes, such as Coaches Corner or lots of eBay sellers you have to feel bad for the one guy who got caught. And after his face is plastered all over ESPN.com well....it's pretty much over for him.

I'll go on record and say that I don't feel bad for the "one guy who got caught"...the others will hopefully get their day, but for now at least one bad apple was picked off.

Agreed. And I feel pretty certain that there were plenty of auction house criminals on the floor today who shit their pants.

Exactly. The more dealers who get arrested for fraud the less people who will do it. (what a coincidence, right?)

Yeah yeah yeah just like three years ago. How many convictions/pleas have come out of that?

On a collecting note, I have found this year's National to be almost a repeat of last year's for me, picked up several press photos, nothing in the way of cards. The only "card" that I was intersted in was a Bid McPhee team cabinet card from 1885 which was priced at about double what I think it is worth/willing to pay. Special thanks to several Net 54 members who helped me add to my collection: Hank Thomas, Rhys Yeakley, Bruce Kasarda & John Rodgers (Sporting News Archive Photos).

It seems to be a few less dealers than the last time the National was here, but the crowd yesterday was good.

Convictions sometimes take time. And look at the bright side: at least one major criminal is out of the hobby. Good for us and good for those lepers in Calcutta who need their feet washed.

Great Thursday
 

We made the drive from Lansing and I had the best time at a show since I was a kid and I didnt even get to see the whole arrest hub-bub. I saw more kids/sons there than in a long time, a lot of independent females doing their own thing and it seemed busy everywhere, not like 15 yrs ago, but still busy. I was trying to replace 59 cards from various sets and got 52 of them. Made a great score a 34 goudey greenberg and my first real matty w/ his t206 portrait. Every dealer I talked to was very nice. Usually I mellow out after a couple hours there but I was bouncing off the walls until the other 3 members pulled me outta there...great day. For what its worth, I have NO sympathy for liars, cheaters and crooks and hope his butt is nailed to the wall and maybe a couple other scumbags will think about this, but Im not dumb either. Great show though!

As a Vikings fan I agree. At least he wasn't wearing a Mcnabb Vikings game used jersey.:eek:

The "few less dealers" observation can easily be explained. The word must have gotten out that there was going to be an arrest.

To me, an arrest of an alleged rogue dealer at the National was long overdue, yet at the same time the hoopla this has generated for selling a few bad jerseys to me is perversely comical. I'd compare this to the beach patrol removing a jelly fish from the water that just stung someone while there are dozens of great white sharks circling around with their dorsal fins in plain view and then telling the people it's safe to swim now.

Now now as Lichtman explained these things take time. Surely the fruits of 2008 are just around the corner.

National
 

I agree...these things take time.

However, regarding cards & prices....I am wondering if there is a good selection of cards at the National; and further, if the prices are what most would anticipate. eBay & their new policies seem to have skewed the collecting market such that I do not find as much of the "hard to find" cards on eBay auctions anymore.

It seems like the harder to find cards can only be found through auction houses or inflated BIN prices. Just my opinion.

ZWheat

Upcoming auctions?
 

Did anyone see any spectacular cards coming up for auction at the major auction house tables?

Tony

In this day of everyone having a camera on their cell phone, where are the pictures or video? Speaking as one of the poor unfortunates that couldn't attend, I'd like to at least get my fix by seeing some pics. Anyone?

Hey, don't ask me -- I fight the government every day. Far be it for me to explain away their incompetence. Regardless, I'm just happy the orphans are being cared for.

Good point Peter. I filed an IC3 complaint in July 2009 and still haven't received a response from the FBI. I'm sure I'll hear something anyday now - probably Monday. :)

hold it right there
 

Whoa,
Did someone say independant females at the show !..Im spalshin on the aqua-vela and gettin out there....I think I can complete with most male collectors... overweight,bald,cheap T shirt wearin, flip flop wearin,lookin for a cheap hotdog for lunch type , yet with that certain touch of something !

We had a talk at tonight's N54 dinner from the National's organizer. He said 2011 is the first time in 8 years that every single display space was sold. (At least that is what I think he said...I was drinking...)

I believe he did mention more corporate involvement, so I guess that could mean fewer "dealers"...but the impression he left was that things were on an upward trend.

Cheers,
Blair

He did say that at the Net54 dinner, but I had heard from someone on the National commitee that they were selling less booths, because if they had fewer booths they could potentially try venues in NEW, different cities. In other words, the National could then "fit" (be small enough) in more convention centers.

Hi Alan,

Nice to meet you today! I understand...they are all sold out b/c there are not as many booths offered.

Cheers,
Blair

The big difference that I saw was the room that housed the "Olympic Pavilion" this year was filled in 2008 with Card/Memorabilia dealers. It looks like they made room for the Olympic Pavilion. I took a browse through and there was some neat stuff, mostly pins. Tons of pins!

Did anybody bump into Mr. Bruce Dorskind at the National?

I took a ton of pictures of notable cards and memorabilia that I came across. I'll try to get some posted this week when i have a chance.

He wasn't there. Word is that he is in very bad health...

Bruce called me from the hospital a couple of days ago. His voice was weak and he said he was very ill. Please keep Bruce in your thoughts. Thank you.

National was fun as usual.....my 20th in a row since 1992 Atlanta. Sorry to hear about Bruce....somewhere in there one of his personalities has to be a good person.....

At the National, SCP auction had 2 framed groupings of T206s on display that were awesome to behold. Characterizing them as folk art, each frame contained 150 cards pasted side by side with Johnson and Matty portraits and lots of others. The items included provenance, like they came out of such and such bar where they hung for years.

I saw that too Pete and took a few pictures although a photographer I am not.
It is a cool display and many of the cards are in excellent condition.

And today, Monday I did receive a phone response from the FBI! Golly!