Here are some tips for buying autographed sports memorabilia:
1. Buy from a reputable vendors- preferable from stores that offer a money back guarantee.
2. Watch out for Ebay- If its too cheap, its probably not the real deal.
3. Do your research, shop and compare prices from different stores.
4. Find out who has authenticated the product.
5. Find stores that do business with sports authenticators.
These tips will ensure that you're buying authentic sports autographs.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Basketball Autographs - What to Expect in This Year's Playoffs
The NBA season is fast winding down with the playoffs looming in a month. Most of the playoff teams are set with a few bottom dwellers competing for the last couple of seeds. Its playoff time that sets apart the clutch athletes and sky rockets their popularity. It's these athletes that drive the value of basketball autographs. This article will look at the athletes who have the potential to drive value to their basketball autographs.
Currently, the elite teams in the NBA are your usual suspects- Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, and Orlando Magic. Either one superstar or a collection of superstars defines these teams. From a basketball autograph valuation standpoint, players like Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kobe Bryant have seen most of their best days priced into the current market. There is very little to drive their value unless they start climbing the list of Hall of Famers who have defined the game and numbers for so long. That coupled with another championship would raise the value of their basketball autographs. The greatest reward lies in players like Derek Rose, Kevin Durant and Dwight Howard. Derek Rose and Dwight Howard are having MVP caliber seasons with numbers that are eye boggling. Rose has greater potential simply because his team is playing at a championship level.
Under the command of coach Tom Thibodeau, Rose has thrived and the Bulls are playing stifling defense. He looks like a solid basketball autograph investment not only because of the numbers he's putting up, but also because this team has the potential to win multiple championships. Dwight Howard, although individually, has put up MVP numbers, his basketball autograph will never reach soaring heights until he wins a championship. With Howard threatening to leave the Magic for greener pastures, his autograph potential is good, but carries a level of uncertainty. Kevin Durant's value rose significantly last year with their playoff success against the Lakers. He has put up great numbers this year and with the emergence of Russell Westbrook has a running mate to do some damage in the diluted West. Durant's value lies on how far he advances in the playoffs with getting out of the first round a must.
In conclusion, in evaluating basketball autographs, no time is more crucial than the NBA playoffs. Players can go from obscurity in the regular season to stars in the playoffs and gain instant popularity. Each round the player advances enhances his basketball autograph popularity. Continuous success and championships are essential for keeping the player's basketball autograph on the rise
Monday, March 28, 2011
March Madness is Mad
I wrote a post a week ago predicting winners of the remaining squads in the March Madness tournament. I should give up writing because every team I picked to advance has been ousted. Ohio St. Buckeyes- my no brainer shoe-in for the Final 4 got knocked out by the Kentucky Wildcats on a last second jumper. In my mind that game shouldn't have been close. The Buckeyes defense should have won this game going away.
The surprise of the tournament is of course Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). These guys, dubbed by many college pundits to be the least deserving of the tourney, are proving they belong. They shocked the nation by upsetting a Kansas team favored to win the matchup by 11 points by the wise guys in Vegas. Clearly this team is playing with a chip on its shoulder and now a force to be reckoned with in the Final Four.
Your Final Four teams- Uconn, Butler, Kentucky and VCU. Two Cinderella matchups with Butler and VCU squaring off ultimately will lead to one's improbably run to end. I give the slight edge to Butler. The other game, with 2 great coaches- Jim Calhoun and John Calipari going head to head is also intriguing. Uconn sports the best player in this tournament in Kemba Walker and I believe he will continue his amazing play in Houston. I look for a Butler | Uconn final. Of course, with the way things have played out, that is anything but a 50 |50 guess.
The surprise of the tournament is of course Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). These guys, dubbed by many college pundits to be the least deserving of the tourney, are proving they belong. They shocked the nation by upsetting a Kansas team favored to win the matchup by 11 points by the wise guys in Vegas. Clearly this team is playing with a chip on its shoulder and now a force to be reckoned with in the Final Four.
Your Final Four teams- Uconn, Butler, Kentucky and VCU. Two Cinderella matchups with Butler and VCU squaring off ultimately will lead to one's improbably run to end. I give the slight edge to Butler. The other game, with 2 great coaches- Jim Calhoun and John Calipari going head to head is also intriguing. Uconn sports the best player in this tournament in Kemba Walker and I believe he will continue his amazing play in Houston. I look for a Butler | Uconn final. Of course, with the way things have played out, that is anything but a 50 |50 guess.
Monday, March 21, 2011
March Madness- Another Year of Madness
So what do we make of the March Madness matchups? It seems every year the wise guys in the NCAA know how to seed these teams and year in and year out those seedings prove irrelevent. How does Morehead St upset Louisville and legendary coach Rick Pitino? That should not happen. I suppose its the reason why we watch the Madness and let's face it, everyone loves an underdog. Another huge surprise is Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). How have these guys, ranked number 11 in their region, steam rolled through the tournament winning by margins of 18 against a good Georgetown and Purdue squad? Who would've thunk that? I am interested to see who picked this team to go this far in the tournament other than the fans of VCU. My hats off to you if you did and can I get the name of your research company?
There are still 3 number one seeds left and right now Ohio St looks the strongest of the bunch. I am picking that they will have an easy time ridding Kentucky. As for the other guys, I do expect Richmond to give Kansas a tough time. If Kansas wins, it will be the slimmest of margins. Another nail biter will be Duke and Arizona. I expect Duke to win this game simply because Arizona has had 2 emotional victories in this tournament. I am predicting they will run out of gas against this seasoned Blue Devil team.
You can pretty much flip a coin and pick the winner of this year's March Madness matchups. You have just as much odds as those so called "college gurus" and they get paid to predict winners. The Madness is far from over. In fact, its just the beginning. Keep watching folks.
There are still 3 number one seeds left and right now Ohio St looks the strongest of the bunch. I am picking that they will have an easy time ridding Kentucky. As for the other guys, I do expect Richmond to give Kansas a tough time. If Kansas wins, it will be the slimmest of margins. Another nail biter will be Duke and Arizona. I expect Duke to win this game simply because Arizona has had 2 emotional victories in this tournament. I am predicting they will run out of gas against this seasoned Blue Devil team.
You can pretty much flip a coin and pick the winner of this year's March Madness matchups. You have just as much odds as those so called "college gurus" and they get paid to predict winners. The Madness is far from over. In fact, its just the beginning. Keep watching folks.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Lakers, Bynum Lead Second Half Surge
The Lakers are flourishing again winning 10 of 11 ballgames. Many of those games are against some of the best in the league including a rout of the San Antonio Spurs in their own gym. Coincidentally, the Lakers rise is directly related to the great play of Andrew Bynum.
Since the All Star break Bynum has put tremendous numbers. Not only has he been able to stay healthy, but he has renergized this Lakers defense. Since the All Star break Bynum has averaged 30.9 min, shot 62% from the field, made 73% of his free throws, grabbed 13 rebounds, and blocked 2.6 shots a game. Those numbers get even better during the last 7 games where he has gone 31.3, 64%, 71%, 14.6, 2.7. He is on the floor and the Lakers are winning. Usually its the Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol show, but having Bynum playing the way he has has enabled a lighter work load for their 2 key stars which could be invaluable come playoff time.
The Lakers have their swagger and Bynum is leading the charge. The Lake Show have allowed a paltry 88 points a game during their surge. The champs are back and they don't look ready to rescind their championship just yet.
Since the All Star break Bynum has put tremendous numbers. Not only has he been able to stay healthy, but he has renergized this Lakers defense. Since the All Star break Bynum has averaged 30.9 min, shot 62% from the field, made 73% of his free throws, grabbed 13 rebounds, and blocked 2.6 shots a game. Those numbers get even better during the last 7 games where he has gone 31.3, 64%, 71%, 14.6, 2.7. He is on the floor and the Lakers are winning. Usually its the Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol show, but having Bynum playing the way he has has enabled a lighter work load for their 2 key stars which could be invaluable come playoff time.
The Lakers have their swagger and Bynum is leading the charge. The Lake Show have allowed a paltry 88 points a game during their surge. The champs are back and they don't look ready to rescind their championship just yet.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Why Are We Obsessed With Sports?
I've been wondering for a long time- why do we care so much about sports? Our culture is so sports driven to the point we pay thousands of dollars to watch the games live, spend time from our day checking scores, statistics, reading articles, streaming videos and track the personal lives of athletes. Athletes make millions from our obsessions. They live the quality of life most of us dream of. So why are we so obsessed?
I've been a huge sports junkie for years. I've been watching sports, writing about teams and players to the point where I sell autographs of professional athletes. Athletes make millions of dollars by my and the rest of the world's consumption to the point where players can work 6 months of the year and feed their entire past and future family generations for decades. So what's the point of sports? Are we infatuated with the fame and money involved? Are athletes like movie stars where they take us to fantasy world where we can escape the mundane activities of our day to day lives? Quite frankly, I know more people who feel that actors and actresses are more deserving of the millions they make than professional athletes.
I'm an avid NBA and Celtics fan. I follow the Celtics deeply and watch their every move. In the end what is all for? An 18th championship? For me to be one of the 60,000 residents in the Boston area to claim our team is #1? The Larry O'brien trophy is worth approximately $15,000. Yet, you have hundreds of million dollar franchises spending millions to capture that trophy year in and year out. The taste of championship sweetness lasts about a week or 2 before normalcy takes over and a new sporting season is underway. The NFL is planning to boycott the season because the players and owners cannot come up with a way to amicably divide $9 billion dollars. In the end the fans suffer. Maybe we need a new obsession to fill the void.
I've been a huge sports junkie for years. I've been watching sports, writing about teams and players to the point where I sell autographs of professional athletes. Athletes make millions of dollars by my and the rest of the world's consumption to the point where players can work 6 months of the year and feed their entire past and future family generations for decades. So what's the point of sports? Are we infatuated with the fame and money involved? Are athletes like movie stars where they take us to fantasy world where we can escape the mundane activities of our day to day lives? Quite frankly, I know more people who feel that actors and actresses are more deserving of the millions they make than professional athletes.
I'm an avid NBA and Celtics fan. I follow the Celtics deeply and watch their every move. In the end what is all for? An 18th championship? For me to be one of the 60,000 residents in the Boston area to claim our team is #1? The Larry O'brien trophy is worth approximately $15,000. Yet, you have hundreds of million dollar franchises spending millions to capture that trophy year in and year out. The taste of championship sweetness lasts about a week or 2 before normalcy takes over and a new sporting season is underway. The NFL is planning to boycott the season because the players and owners cannot come up with a way to amicably divide $9 billion dollars. In the end the fans suffer. Maybe we need a new obsession to fill the void.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
What's Wrong with the Heat?
The Miami Heat were built with 3 of the best players in the basketball universe and favorites to win the NBA title. With tremendous star power and 2 players with Jordanesque type numbers in Dwayne Wade and Lebron James; a team committed to team defense, its no wonder the wise guys in Vegas have the Heat favored to win this year's title. So what's wrong with this team so many picked to steamroll through the regular season on its way to capturing the Larry Obrien trophy?
The Heat have the talent to compete with anyone, but from time to time they look like a team expecting to have the NBA title handed to them. On Sunday they blew a 14 point lead losing at home against the New York Knicks and last night squandered a 24 point lead to lose to the Orlando Magic 99-96. Watching the body language by Heat players, clearly disgusted by the performance, figured to play better tonight against the league best San Antonio Spurs.
The problem is the Heat dug themselves a huge hole 20 point hole and seem lethargic and uninspired at the start of the game. At the half, the Heat trail by 12. This team built on stars clearly has no vocal leader. Wade and James need to step up and motivate this team like Kevin Garnett does with the Boston Celtics and Kobe Bryant with the L.A Lakers. Watching these 2 guys play basketball one can see the animated body language and passion exhumed by these superstar players. Perhaps youth of James, Bosh and Wade is served causing uncertainty amongst the entire team. The Heat promised championships at the beginning of the season, but currently this team looks like a team unable to win the Eastern conference.
The Heat have the talent to compete with anyone, but from time to time they look like a team expecting to have the NBA title handed to them. On Sunday they blew a 14 point lead losing at home against the New York Knicks and last night squandered a 24 point lead to lose to the Orlando Magic 99-96. Watching the body language by Heat players, clearly disgusted by the performance, figured to play better tonight against the league best San Antonio Spurs.
The problem is the Heat dug themselves a huge hole 20 point hole and seem lethargic and uninspired at the start of the game. At the half, the Heat trail by 12. This team built on stars clearly has no vocal leader. Wade and James need to step up and motivate this team like Kevin Garnett does with the Boston Celtics and Kobe Bryant with the L.A Lakers. Watching these 2 guys play basketball one can see the animated body language and passion exhumed by these superstar players. Perhaps youth of James, Bosh and Wade is served causing uncertainty amongst the entire team. The Heat promised championships at the beginning of the season, but currently this team looks like a team unable to win the Eastern conference.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Autographed Sports Memorabilia, Sports Autographs, Vintage Autographed Sports Collectibles: Was the Celtics trade a good one?
Autographed Sports Memorabilia, Sports Autographs, Vintage Autographed Sports Collectibles: Was the Celtics trade a good one?: "The Celtics tweaked a roster that needed no such thing. They were first in the Eastern conference and playing solid consistent basketball. T..."
Was the Celtics trade a good one?
The Celtics tweaked a roster that needed no such thing. They were first in the Eastern conference and playing solid consistent basketball. Their defense ranked as one of the best in the NBA and players were getting up against top foes- Lakers, Bulls, Heat, Magic. So why make a move to shake up something that's not broken?
Very simple- The Celtics were playing just fine with Shaquille O'neal and rotating Kevin Garnett at the center position for the injured Kendrick Perkins. Now, thay have added Nenad Kristic and Jeff Green. Remember, Jeff Green was traded on draft day to the Seattle Supersonics for Ray Allen which led to the Garnett signing. The Celtics lose Perkins and more important than his numbers (which, by the way weren't too impressive) was his relationships with 'The Big Three'. Clearly the off court chemistry was what Perk brought to this team more than his interior defense. With coach Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett constantly preaching a defense first mentality, its hard to imagine other players not buying into their system.
The Celtics, in Kristic have a better shooter and longer arms that may not always block shots, but certainly he can disrupt shots. In addition, the Celtics have added Troy Murphy, a 6'11'' power forward who can shoot the 3. With a James Posey like scoring punch off the bench in Jeff Green, the Green are looking more like the team that won the championship in 2007.
Very simple- The Celtics were playing just fine with Shaquille O'neal and rotating Kevin Garnett at the center position for the injured Kendrick Perkins. Now, thay have added Nenad Kristic and Jeff Green. Remember, Jeff Green was traded on draft day to the Seattle Supersonics for Ray Allen which led to the Garnett signing. The Celtics lose Perkins and more important than his numbers (which, by the way weren't too impressive) was his relationships with 'The Big Three'. Clearly the off court chemistry was what Perk brought to this team more than his interior defense. With coach Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett constantly preaching a defense first mentality, its hard to imagine other players not buying into their system.
The Celtics, in Kristic have a better shooter and longer arms that may not always block shots, but certainly he can disrupt shots. In addition, the Celtics have added Troy Murphy, a 6'11'' power forward who can shoot the 3. With a James Posey like scoring punch off the bench in Jeff Green, the Green are looking more like the team that won the championship in 2007.
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