Mastro/Legendary Article in Today's NY Daily News

[rhettyeakley]

I in no way am defending what Mastro/Legendary has done in the past. They seem to have shot themselves in the foot several times, and are guilty of at least being terrible businessmen. That being said, I guess I'm not all that surprsed that Mastro/Legendary is in the middle of this thing. They certainly seem to deserve most of what is being heaped on them at this point.

However, when reading this story for the first time earlier today what WAS surprising to me was he Dave Forman/SGC thing. I literally thought to myself after reading it "Holy crap, this is NOT going to go well for Forman". The Mastro stuff isn't as surprising to me because none of what was in there was "new", most of it had been at least alluded to over the past several months. The SGC/Forman thing is "new" and it is rightfully being scritinized based on the information that we have. I must admit though it doesn't pass the smell test.

I am far from a PSA apologist but if this was Joe Orlando/PSA the pitchforks would already be out. It does seems like a bit of a double standard from many here.

[dennis]

"I am far from a PSA apologist but if this was Joe Orlando/PSA the pitchforks would already be out. It does seems like a bit of a double standard from many here."[/QUOTE]
who will start the thread i will not send in cards to sgc?

[JamesGallo]

So no one has addressed what impact Dave has on day to day activity. I don't think Joe Orlando is sitting grading cards or unpacking orders, I don't think Dave is either.

I am not saying he is without guilt, but to fry him without pretty much any facts would be getting very much ahead or ourselves.

I think each person will have to make a decision on if they really believe that the graders do not know who the cards belong to. If that is the case then it really doesn't matter who submitted the cards and therefore I think some of the conflict of interest is removed, not all but sum.

Like I said without knowing any facts or what Dave's daily duties are I certainly can't make a decision to fry him or not.

Sometimes owners of companies can make bad decisions that doesn't mean the company as a whole is a pile of crap. I am not happy about this news, but I don't think it is as damaging as not opening on Mondays :-)

In a way I hope this goes to court, but there are always 3 sides to a story and I am not sure we will ever really know what the truth is regardless of the outcome of the case. It is very possible that the person who is right could very well get screwed.

James G

James G

[rhettyeakley]

James, we are pretty much in agreement. I have no intention to "fry" him. It just looks really bad, and his explanation in the story (if accurate) is kinda disturbing. In the end it will all play out and those that have done wrong will bear the consequences of their actions/decisions so I agree 100% with you that no pitchforks are neded.
-Rhett

[JamesGallo]

Originally Posted by rhettyeakley

James, we are pretty much in agreement. I have no intention to "fry" him. It just looks really bad, and his explanation in the story (if accurate) is kinda disturbing. In the end it will all play out and those that have done wrong will bear the consequences of their actions/decisions so I agree 100% with you that no pitchforks are neded.
-Rhett

Rhett,

But in the story all your hearing is what the writer wrote and that generally in my mind isn't the whole story. Heck it might not even be the whole quote :-)

James G

[tbob]

The way things are going this might be a perfect storm for Mike Baker to regain a foothold for his new GAI company in the grading business. I'll guess we'll just have to see how this plays out.
Even though I have regularly used SGC for my card grading, I have to agree with the posters who state that if this story involved Orlando and PSA (instead of Forman and SGC) there would be a storm of outrage.

[Sean_C]

I seriously doubt that will ever happen. Baker won't give up the dream though, even if the company is toast.

Originally Posted by tbob

The way things are going this might be a perfect storm for Mike Baker to regain a foothold for his new GAI company in the grading business. I'll guess we'll just have to see how this plays out.
Even though I have regularly used SGC for my card grading, I have to agree with the posters who state that if this story involved Orlando and PSA (instead of Forman and SGC) there would be a storm of outrage.

[2dueces]

Seeing all that is going on, is this the hobby we all expected it to be? Is this how we thought collecting cardboard would turn out? A childhood passion tainted with everything that goes on. Really is a shame that a few ruin a great passion for everyone else.

[Mrc32]

Originally Posted by 2dueces

Seeing all that is going on, is this the hobby we all expected it to be? Is this how we thought collecting cardboard would turn out? A childhood passion tainted with everything that goes on. Really is a shame that a few ruin a great passion for everyone else.

Go watch Field of Dreams tonight while searching the ebay listings. Everything will be alright.

[HRBAKER]

"And I concur with those who say if these revelations had been made about Joe Orlando, the outrage on this board would be tenfold."

The righteous indignation would be suffocating!

[oldjudge]

Adam--Mastro Auctions didn't lend lots, they loaned money. I think you would lose that case in court.

So far, when discussing Mastro Auctions and Foreman, in my mind at least, there is only one who is clearly wrong--Foreman. Mastro may have done some horrible things, but nothing has been proven. I have more problems with what Legendary has done, based on what has been proven so far, than anything that Mastro Auctions has done.

[Peter_Spaeth]

This is why one must avoid not only conflicts but appearances of conflict.

Naturally, SGC says Dave cannot submit. Some will accept that reassurance, others will be skeptical and demand proof that won't be forthcoming because it is virtually impossible to prove a negative -- at least without access to records of all cards Dave purchased and all that he sold/consigned.

Dave may well have never submitted a card to SGC, directly, through his brother, or anyone else. But since he is the principal of the company, if he were inclined to do so, one imagines he could.

In my opinion, he should have avoided even the appearance of a conflict.

And I concur with those who say if these revelations had been made about Joe Orlando, the outrage on this board would be tenfold.

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

This is why one must avoid not only conflicts but appearances of conflict.

Naturally, SGC says Dave cannot submit. Some will accept that reassurance, others will be skeptical and demand proof that won't be forthcoming because it is virtually impossible to prove a negative -- at least without access to records of all cards Dave purchased and all that he sold/consigned.

Dave may well have never submitted a card to SGC, directly, through his brother, or anyone else. But since he is the principal of the company, if he were inclined to do so, one imagines he could.

In my opinion, he should have avoided even the appearance of a conflict.

And I concur with those who say if these revelations had been made about Joe Orlando, the outrage on this board would be tenfold.

Someone who used to work at SGC just posted on another thread in this forum that the graders were extra hard on Dave's submissions.

Dan

[Wite3]

Got my usual , "please consign with us email today" from Legendary...aside from the really poor taste in my mouth about their trustworthiness, the email had two different spelling errors...maybe they should use some of their stolen money and pay for a spell check program.

Joshua

[sox1903wschamp]

Originally Posted by rhettyeakley

However, when reading this story for the first time earlier today what WAS surprising to me was he Dave Forman/SGC thing. I literally thought to myself after reading it "Holy crap, this is NOT going to go well for Forman". The Mastro stuff isn't as surprising to me because none of what was in there was "new", most of it had been at least alluded to over the past several months. The SGC/Forman thing is "new" and it is rightfully being scritinized based on the information that we have. I must admit though it doesn't pass the smell test.

I am far from a PSA apologist but if this was Joe Orlando/PSA the pitchforks would already be out. It does seems like a bit of a double standard from many here.

This was the first thing that hit me about Dave Forman and I think I also exclaimed "holy crap" or something close to that. I do not know Dave but I sure know his company. Not ready to boycott them but I would like to see many more facts on this case.