In this episode of Sports Cards Are Dope, Tyler ranks his top 10 predictions for how the hobby evolves in 2026, plus five honorable mentions, from AI reshaping grading to Topps owning the big three licenses to the hobby shifting into a full-blown experience economy.

Timestamps (approx.)

• 0:00 Welcome, what the episode is
• 1:33 5 Honorable Mentions (AI in grading, wax polarization, private deals, quality reset, kids re-entering)
• 5:29 #10 Live shopping gets organized (Whatnot, Fanatics Live, TikTok Shop, eBay Live)
• 6:44 #9 Grading companies polarize further (PSA vs the field, transparency pressure)
• 8:15 #8 Cross-sport concepts become normal (Topps “tests” ideas across leagues)
• 9:13 #7 Debut Patch becomes the “best card” for players
• 9:50 #6 Cards get treated like art (and more mainstream coverage)
• 11:25 #5 More athletes drive hobby growth (Fanatics effect)
• 13:44 #4 Card shops and shows become hybrid media spaces
• 17:16 #3 Creator-dealers become more influential than traditional dealers
• 18:53 #2 Topps football license reshapes the ecosystem
• 20:28 #1 The hobby becomes an experience economy (stories, access, community)
• 25:45 Giveaway + Chicken Nugget Nation plug, wrap-up

TAG got massive attention from the PSA 8 to TAG 9 Brady Kaboom crossover, now the question is simple, what do they do next? In this episode, I break down four practical moves TAG can make to grow sports card market share, without losing credibility, plus the playbook I’d copy straight from SGC (and why creators matter more than most companies realize).

Timestamps:

• 0:00 Intro, why this episode exists
• 1:25 Quick recap of the Brady crossover and why it mattered
• 3:00 Tip #1: Bulk and volume (without losing credibility)
• 5:45 Tip #2: Turn crossovers into public case studies
• 9:00 Tip #3: Earn trust in new communities (shows + creators)
• 13:40 Tip #4: Run the SGC playbook (service + turnaround time)
• 15:10 The wild idea, TAG grading “machine” at card shops
• 16:25 Chicken Nugget Nation giveaway + wrap up

A $660,000 Tom Brady Kaboom just crossed from PSA to TAG, and that single move says a lot about where the sports card hobby is heading. In this episode, I break down what actually happened, why transparency matters more than branding, and what this moment could mean for grading companies moving forward.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 – Intro & why this crossover matters
• 1:05 – What actually happened with the $660K card
• 2:45 – TAG’s grading approach vs PSA
• 6:10 – Why this was a vote of confidence, not a flip
• 7:30 – What this means for alternative graders
• 9:25 – The future of grading isn’t winner-take-all

What up, chicken nuggets? Today we break down the wild Wilt Chamberlain 1961 Fleer rookie that went from PSA 10 to PSA 9—and the ≈$800,000 value swing that followed. We dig into PSA’s insurance/upcharge logic, the fine print on compensation caps, how to protect yourself, and my own near‑miss with a 1997 Kobe “Score Board” auto.

Timestamps
0:00 Hook—PSA 10 → 9 on Wilt’s rookie
1:56 What actually happened (reholder → review → downgrade)
3:07 The ≈$800K difference (recent comps & context)
4:20 PSA terms: $250K per claim / $500K lifetime caps
6:00 My Kobe “Score Board” autograph scare (forgery risk)
10:12 How I exited the card + reallocated to a safer Kobe
11:58 PSA 9 Wilt comp, timing the market & risk math
12:55 FDIC analogy & practical takeaways
13:38 Giveaway + Chicken Nugget Nation shoutouts

#PSA #WiltChamberlain #1961Fleer #SportsCards #CardCollecting #PSA10 #PSA9 #SGC #PopReport

didn't have time for timestamps so i'm sorry but i love you

Suggested Timestamps:

• 0:00 – PSA Buys Beckett (Why This Matters)
• 2:10 – “Custodian” vs “Builder” Messaging
• 5:30 – What Happened to SGC?
• 9:00 – Is This Fake Competition?
• 13:40 – Could PSA Be Absorbing Resources?
• 17:50 – “All Grades Created Equal” Idea
• 23:30 – BGS 9.5 vs 10 Debate
• 29:20 – The Hard Truth About Market Behavior
• 31:10 – Final Thoughts + What Collectors Must Do

Suggested Timestamps:

• 0:00 – PSA Buys Beckett (What Just Happened)
• 2:20 – Why This Feels Like SGC All Over Again
• 6:30 – “Custodian” vs “Builder” (The Red Flag)
• 9:40 – What PSA Now Controls
• 10:35 – Three Things PSA Should Do
• 18:55 – Why I Still Send Cards to PSA (Hard Truth)
• 21:30 – Final Verdict + Community Question

Today on Sports Cards Are Dope, Dr. Tarver breaks down his biggest project yet, Project 122, ranking the 122 greatest NBA players of all time using a blend of NBA’s Top 75, Bill Simmons’ Pantheon, Bleacher Report analytics, and AI. Plus, how this turned into the most ambitious sports-card autograph chase he’s ever attempted.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 Welcome chicken nuggets
• 0:30 Why Project 122 exists
• 1:50 How the NBA Top 75 inspired this chase
• 3:00 The original autograph quest
• 5:10 The big flaw in the NBA’s Top 75
• 7:00 The three “pillar” lists used
• 9:15 How AI built the combined rankings
• 11:40 Why certain players were left off or added
• 13:25 Tier 1 Legends Revealed
• 15:30 Breakdown of tiers 2 through 10
• 20:40 What videos are coming next in the series
• 21:30 Shoutout Chicken Nugget Nation + giveaways

Suggested Timestamps:

• 0:00 – Cool, Kind, or Cringe?
• 1:45 – Buying the True Gold Rookie Card
• 4:20 – The Moment with Isaiah Stewart
• 6:30 – Why I Gave Him the Card
• 8:10 – Internet Reaction (Praise vs Hate)
• 11:00 – Giving Cards to Players Moving Forward
• 14:00 – Final Take + Community Question

PSA’s buyback just a glitch or a grift? We break down the Pokémon PSA 9 → 10 controversy, Nat Turner’s response, and what it teaches us about grading transparency and trust in the hobby.

Timestamps
00:00 Intro + Why Collectors Are Freaking Out
01:00 The Buyback Program Explained
02:10 When 9s Turned to 10s — The Twitter Discovery
03:30 Jeff Wilson’s Take & Community Reactions
04:40 The E4 Update + Nat Turner Clarification
06:00 Tyler’s Take on PSA Transparency and Trust
09:00 Personal PSA Grading Story (Zero 10s?!?)
10:10 The $5K Buyback Experiment Announced
11:00 Chicken Nugget Nation Giveaways + Community Shout‑outs
12:30 Closing Thoughts & Life Updates