Sports Collector's Digest drops Coach's Corner.
From The NY Daily News - I-Team Blog:
Here's one sign that the scandal-stained sports memorabilia biz is getting serious about cleaning up its act: Sports Collector's Digest, the hobby Bible, will stop accepting advertising from Coach's Corner, one of its biggest advertisers.
Collectors and memorabilia industry leaders have complained about Coach's Corner for years, saying the autographed balls, game-used bats and other memorabilia offered by the Souderton, Pa., auction house appears fraudulent and doesn't pass the sniff test.
The marketplace certainly doesn't have much respect for the company's offerings. As the Daily News reported in a story last year, prices for items sold by Coaches Corner are often a fraction of the prices for similar items offered by other auction houses. In a January 2007 Coaches Corner auction, a Josh Gibson-signed ball sold for $1,158, a real steal, since the Negro League star's autograph is very rare and expensive. Robert Edward Auctions, meanwhile, sold a Josh Gibson postcard for $81,000.
Coach's Corner executives did not return calls; SCD publisher Dean Listle declined comment.
Robert Edward Auctions president Rob Lifson was one of those who urged SCD to purge Coaches Corner from its pages. "I think there was a groundswell of opinion that forced them to do something," Lifson said.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/iteam/2009/06/sports-collectors-digest-drops.html#ixzz0IKbz0CTM&C
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I would like to add my two cents: First off, I wish to Thank Tom Tresh, and his wonderful video blog for getting the message out that Coach's Corner was no good and the relationship with SCD was unacceptable. Please visit his site at http://www.youtube.com/user/TomTresh2 .
Second, I would like to commend and thank Sports Collector's Digest for doing the right thing and taking a stand. I realize it's easy for people like me to write and demand that you walk away from tremendous advertising revenue, and that Coach's Corner has never been convicted of anything and why should your company pass up an opportunity to accept advertising.
Without rehashing all the arguments from the last few months, I think it's great that Sports Collectors Digest took action. While a cynic might feel rejecting Coach's Corner advertising might have more to do with your new auction site and competing against them, I believe you heard our voices and listened and that some of you insiders (employees of the organization) stood up and was heard by ownership and upper management.
TS - I hope you will reconsider allowing comments on your blog again. I believe there will be much more intelligent dialogue. I have learned from this blog that it may be wise to review all comments before allowing them to post, but two way dialogue between you and your readers would be a great thing.
Last, I just want to say my fight is not over. The owners at Coach's Corner are corrupt but not stupid. I am sure they will continue their auctions. With all the money they are saving by no longer being allowed to adverte in SCD, they can apply those funds to internet search. This means anyone who google's sports auctions or Babe Ruth autographs will find the Coach's Corner web site. I am sure their auctions will continue and I will do everything I can to alert people that their products are garbage. Hopefully SCD and TS O'Connell will join the fight too.
Thanks Everyone!
Mike the ring guy.
posted by Mike the ring guy. at
1:16 PM
21 Comments:
I wouldn't get too excited or be praising SCD guys. I heard that the reasons this might happen is cause the FBI is really looking closely at CC. Also heard SCD is on it's last legs and doesn't want the law to see the tight relationship they're had for the last 14 years. SCD has known all that time...and did nothing!!
I think if the FBI is really looking closely at CC it would be a secret (did you read operation bullpen?) If the law wanted to see the tight releationship the two organizations had together, a parting of the ways now would not hide their past dealings. Yes SCD did nothing for years but they are doing something now. Let's see if SCD stays low-key or if they become a voice of the hobby again.
Honestly, you are doing fine work, but I'm with MEE here. I think there is more to this story...and SCD doesn't deserve all this praise just yet. Let's see how things play out over the next few months. They knew for 20 years and why do something now? How will they explain their departure to the readership? Stay tuned before you give them praise.
I do agree with the two of you. SCD has to apply some pressure on CC and spread the word that they are crooks. We finally have them taking a step in the right direction. I believe Tom and I will continue to put pressure on SCD if they ignorer this story. I am sure Tom and I will continue to discuss Coach's corner and their evil ways. I am looking forward to seeing how SCD handles their refusal to allow CC to advertise. It's going to be vey interesting!
I'm still not going back to SCD if this is true. Way too late. I would like the fine people at SCD to explain why they are doing this now and why didn't they do this 15 years ago. I would bet my life savings we'll never get an answer to those questions!!! At least some honest ones. Luvette
I agree with some of you that there is more to SCD dumping C.C. They have been supporting these guys for 20 years even back in the late 90's when C.C were auctioning off stuff with certs from Stan's Sports, J.Dimaggio and a few others that the FBI found there companies were selling fake stuff. I think the main reason is SCD or the parent company is starting there oun auctions now with certs from PSA,JSA, and the major ones and leaving out Morales and Stat so how can they support C.C. and say there stuff is real and SCD not use there authenticators. I don't see SCD appolize for anything but well see.
I wouldn't doubt that this collect.com venture played a little part of it too. They did start their own auction company.
Okay, you have been foolish enough to purchase from the for X amount of years. Now they are dumped. Don't you think collectors will want to know why, especially after the newspaper piece? There is no saving Sports Collectors Digest. It has to be of value to the readers and all the advertisers have abandoned it. What are we gonna get? Pages and pages of TS O'Connell reflectin'? Screw that. If it was a dollar a year, I'd still say NOOOOOOOOOOO! Great site dude.
I still haven't heard if this is offical yet. Has anyone heard a statement from SCD on whether this is true and why they decided this if it is?
I checked a few times today at the SCD website and also on Google news and other industry blogs. I did not see any mention of SCD parting ways with Coach's Corner. Nothing on the SCD web site and no mention of it in any TS O'Connell blog. I hope this "story", reported on a Daily News blog is not a misunderstanding, or worse, wrong. Hopefully we will hear something soon. The contributors to this blog are right - SCD has a lot of explaining to do.
I'll see it when I believe it. SCD has sat by and and watched them flood the market with shit for years. All they did was take cc's money and turn away! I will never let them back in.
SCD could never save itself. It's too late and there about done anyway. I bet if they're still around, Coach's corner will still be with them. They have had a tight partnership for quite some time. I even remember SCD and Ts O'connell handing them a fuckin award at one time. No joke.
There is one curious thing to note, and that is in the last SCD that I read there was only one page of CC advertising.
I saw a comment you wrote on another forum that directed me here. Nice webpage, but you are crazy if you think SCD is taking a stand vs Coach's Corner. They should not be commended like you wrote. You also write you believe TS O'Connell will "join the fight" against forgers. Are you serious?
Jesse,
thanks for visiting and for writing some sound comments. It is starting to look like you are right - this story appeared on Friday evening and here we are on Tuesday and there is no mention of this story in the hobby, on any web sites and especially on the SCD site. TS O'Connell who is quick to write about such important matters as his days as a card dealer and other unimportant essays has not written one thing on this important message.
I hope you are wrong, I hope O'Connell will join the fight and I hope SCD will too, but right now, I have to agree with what you wrote, it's not looking too promosing.
One thing for sure, I will keep up my fight with Coach's Corner and do what I can to stop them from putting all this crap in our hobby. If SCD does not do anything, I will be all over them too.
Please visit often and please do contribute to this important matter.
thanks
Mike The Ring Guy.
It already is over for SCD. It has been for quite some time Mike. I do commend people like you who DO stand up to this fraud. You are naive and kidding yourself if you think O'Connell will stand up when he has turned his back for years. Do you think he or anybody involved in this scam care about anything other than their paycheck?
I have also not heard this confirmed. People on Topps board are saying it to be untrue. That Daily news got some bad information it looks like.
You know the line from the star wars movies "I'm starting to get a bad feeling about this". Well I am getting a bad feeling so I just emailed TS O'Connell with a link to the NY Daily News story. I requested that he lets me know if the story is accurate or or inaccurate. He hates this blog and me but let's see if he will be kind enough to respond.
I emailed Dean Listle, Publisher of SCD about the NY Daily News Story and asked him if the story was accurate. Dean was kind enough to call me to disucss this matter. It turns out that the folks at SCD can not comment on the story at this point but it Dean did confirm the story in the Daily News Blog is accurate. Like a maritial divorce, this seperation will take some time but I believe it will happen. Dean, thanks for your time today, I'm sure I speak for many when I say it will be great to have SCD helping Sports Collectors.
PS - I also heard from Coach's Corner. They continue to threaten and harass me. Please write to them at ccsa@comcast.com and tell them to stop threatening us and to stop polluting our industry with their garbage. People we can win, we can do it!
Call me to discuss your problems baby
Lee
You can also meet Scott at Biggie's Place tonight to sort out your differences. He would love to meet you.
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