National Sports Collectors Convention: HoopsHD interviews Les Wolff

Posted on July 7, 2022 by Jon Teitel

The National Sports Collectors Convention (https://nsccshow.com) is an annual summer gathering of collectors/dealers who have a passion for trading cards, autographs, and any other kind of memorabilia that you can think of. First formed in 1980, it is now the premier collectibles industry event that attracts a majority of the licensing agencies from around the professional sports world. The 42nd “National” will be held during the final week of July at the Atlantic City Convention Center, and next summer it will head back to the Midwest in Chicago. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel is unable to attend this year’s event in person so instead he will be interviewing as many of the dealers who will be there as possible. We commence our coverage with Les Wolff and his magnificent college basketball merchandise.

1. George Mikan autographed black and white photo: Mikan was the 1st dominant college basketball center even before the days of Bill Russell/Wilt Chamberlain, he was a 2-time national POY/3-time All-American at DePaul, he led his team to the 1945 NIT title en route to being named NIT MVP while also leading the nation in scoring that year with 23.9 PPG, this item is priced at $150



2. Bill Bradley autographed color photo: this dates from a Princeton-Syracuse game around 1963/1964, you can see Bradley’s autograph on the sock of his Syracuse defender, Bradley wore #42 in honor of his childhood hero Dick Kazmaier (who wore #42 while winning the 1951 Heisman Trophy at Princeton), he was a 2-time All-American/1965 national POY who scored an NCAA tourney-record 58 PTS in a win over Wichita State in the 1965 consolation game en route to being 1 of the rare players named tourney MOP despite not winning the title, he also won the 1965 Sullivan Award as the best amateur athlete in the US, he later joined the Knicks (who would not have won a pair of titles in 1970/1973 without his perimeter shooting), this item is priced at $100



3. Coach Lou Carnesecca autographed color photo: the longtime St. John’s coach had a record of 526-200 over his 24 seasons and reached the postseason every single year including the 1985 Final 4, he was a 2-time national COY and a nice guy who is full of fun stories, and for you fashionistas who were wondering: yes, he still has all of his famous sweaters, this item is priced at $50



4. Jayson Tatum autographed color artwork: he only played 1 season of college at Duke but put up some great numbers on both ends of the court (16.8 PPG/7.3 RPG/1.3 SPG/1.1 BPG) in 2016-17, he also scored 19 PTS in a 6-PT win over Notre Dame in the 2017 ACC tourney title game and was named to the ACC All-Freshman team, last month he helped lead the Celtics to the NBA Finals and is already 1 of the best players in the league, this item is priced at $150



5. Bill Walton autographed Sports Illustrated cover from 3/6/72: this turned out to be quite a month for the young UCLA sophomore, 4 days after this issue became available he led the Bruins to a win at USC to finish 26-0 in his 1st year on the varsity, then won 4 more games in the NCAA tourney to clinch the title 19 days after becoming a cover model and be named tourney MOP, the Bruins dominated that season with a perfect 30-0 record and an average winning margin of 30+ PPG, he averaged 21.1 PPG/15.5 RPG that season while shooting 64 FG% and was named 1st-team All-American, Les is a big UCLA fan and got this magazine autographed at the team hotel during Walton’s 1st trip to New York City, Walton snuck in/out of the side entrance because he was very shy and his handwriting was very tiny, this item is priced at $100



If you want to check out Les’ other merchandise you can go to his website: www.leswolffsportsllc.com
He is also happy to chat via email (lwolff1823@aol.com) or phone (516-933-7787).

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TBT Preview: HoopsHD interviews Azar Swain of The Nerd Team

Posted on July 7, 2022 by Jon Teitel

Kansas won the NCAA tourney in April and Golden State won the NBA Finals in June but there is still 1 more basketball champion to be crowned this summer. The Basketball Tournament (aka the TBT) kicks off on July 16th with 8 regions of 8 teams playing in Dayton/New Mexico/Omaha/Rucker Park/Syracuse/West Virginia/Wichita/Xavier. Each region will send 1 team to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place during the 1st weekend of August, and the winning team walking away with a $1 million prize. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the weeks ahead interviewing as many TBT participants as possible. We continue our coverage with Azar Swain, who will be playing for The Nerd Team after finishing his senior season at Yale as the best FT shooter in the conference and the best 3-PT shooter in school history.

You were born/raised in Massachusetts and were named state Gatorade POY as a senior at The Rivers School: what made you choose Yale? Ever since I was in middle school I had wanted to attend an Ivy League university. After my sophomore year I got offers from Yale/Brown so I had to choose 1 of them…and I loved my choice.

In the 2019 Ivy tourney title game you scored 15 PTS and had 0 TO in a win over Harvard: how unstoppable was Bryce Aiken (38 PTS in 35 minutes), and how do you describe the rivalry to someone who has never seen it in person? Every game in the rivalry is intense/ultra-competitive. Even before I went to Yale I looked up to Bryce as a small guard who had his way with Ivy League defenses. I am just glad we came out victorious and that I had a role in that championship.

In the 2019 NCAA tourney you scored 12 PTS in a 5-PT loss to LSU: how close did you come to pulling off the upset? That was 1 of the only games of my career that I have never gone back to watch afterward. A lot of things needed to go wrong for us if LSU wanted to win…and a lot of things went wrong for us. I wish that I could have done more.

In 2020 you finished 10th in the nation with 3.21 3PM and your 271 career 3PM is the most in school history: what is the secret to making shots from behind the arc, and do you think that anyone will ever break your record? My immediate thought is that I hope someone breaks it. What is so unique about my experience is that I was given a chance to play almost 20 minutes/game as a freshman. Coach James Jones trusted me to make plays, which built my confidence/freedom early on. The key to making threes is repetition: you need to be detailed and approach it in a game-like manner so that it becomes 2nd nature to you.

In 2021 the entire Ivy League season was canceled due to COVID: what was your reaction when you heard the news, and what did you do for 12 months? It was tough. We were the 1st league to shut things down. It was a very emotional time to end our season so abruptly because we thought that we could make some real noise that year. I took a gap year and was actually home for 18 months. I had some great work opportunities and also worked on my game with my dad.

Last January you scored a career-high 37 PTS/14-20 FG in a win over Columbia: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? Yes. They did not give me any sort of special treatment as a defense so I just tried to be aggressive. All league games matter, especially in the Ivy League, and once my shots started falling the rim looked like a lake!

In the 2022 NCAA tourney you scored 18 PTS in a loss to Purdue: where does Jaden Ivey (22 PTS) rank among the greatest players that you have ever faced? That is a tough 1. I would probably say he is in the top-5. I played against several future NBA players during AAU ball including Bam Adebayo/LaMelo Ball. I enjoyed the type of competitor that Jaden is, and he is a great person as well.

As a senior your 89.1 FT% was #1 in the conference: what is the key to making FTs? In addition to repetition, you have to stay true to your ritual and not try to change it up too much. FTs are the easiest shots you will get during a game so you have to capitalize.

This month you will be playing for The Nerd Team in the TBT: how is the team looking so far, and what will you do with your share of the $1 million prize money if you win it all? I have tried to not put any expectations on our team. We have been able to put a really good team together, including a lot of guys who I have played with/against, so I think that we have enough talent to win it all.

You majored in economics: what is the post-TBT plan either on or off the court? To be announced, very soon! I will most likely head to New York after the TBT.

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TBT Preview: HoopsHD interviews Bo Hodges of Bucketneers

Posted on July 6, 2022 by Jon Teitel

Kansas won the NCAA tourney in April and Golden State won the NBA Finals in June but there is still 1 more basketball champion to be crowned this summer. The Basketball Tournament (aka the TBT) kicks off on July 16th with 8 regions of 8 teams playing in Dayton/New Mexico/Omaha/Rucker Park/Syracuse/West Virginia/Wichita/Xavier. Each region will send 1 team to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place during the 1st weekend of August, and the winning team walking away with a $1 million prize. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the weeks ahead interviewing as many TBT participants as possible. We continue our coverage with Bo Hodges, who will be playing for Bucketneers after being named 1st-team All-SoCon at East Tennessee State and then leading Butler in RPG last year.

Your father Bo Sr. was your AAU coach: what is the best part of playing for your dad, and what was the not-so-best part (if any)? The best part was that he showed me the game of basketball and taught me everything that I know. There was no worst part: it was amazing to play for him.

In 2017 you led Maplewood High School to a state championship and were named state tourney MVP: what did it mean to you to win a title, and how were you able to play your best when it mattered the most? It meant a lot. As a junior we lost a home game to end our season so to come back as a senior and win it all was great. My teammates helped out a lot when I got into foul trouble during the 1st half of the title game, including my little brother.

You were born/raised in Tennessee: what made you choose East Tennessee State? I had a lot of offers but ETSU had a family atmosphere where I thought that I could go and just be myself. The coaching staff showed that they wanted me.

In 2018 you were named SoCon ROY: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? The coaching staff believed in me and pushed me every day. Coach Steve Forbes gave me the opportunity to play big minutes as a freshman and even start toward the end of the season so I could showcase my talents.

As a junior you scored 12.7 PPG and were named 1st-team All-SoCon: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It meant a lot. Our season did not end well in 2019 (losing to Wofford in the SoCon tourney and then losing to Green Bay at home in the CIT) but it went much better during my junior year.

That year you led the team to a school-record 30 wins and SoCon regular season/tournament titles: what was your reaction when you learned that the NCAA tourney was canceled due to COVID? Coach Forbes sat us down in the locker room and told us about the cancellation. Everyone was hurt because we thought that we could win a couple of games in the NCAA tourney: the community was hurting for us as well.

In 2020 you transferred from ETSU to Butler: why did you decide to transfer, and what made you choose Butler? I transferred after Coach Forbes went to Wake Forest. I could not take any campus visits during COVID so I just tried to find the best situation for myself.

You decided to return to campus last year with the additional season of eligibility provided by the NCAA due to the pandemic and led the team with 6.9 RPG despite standing only 6’5”: what is the secret to being a good rebounder? Want the ball! My dad would tell me all the time to be a ball-hog.

You missed the 1st half of last season due to a tibial plateau fracture in your left knee: how is your health doing at the moment? My health has been fine ever since I got back out there in January.

This month you will be playing for Bucketneers in the TBT: how is the team looking so far, and what will you do with your share of the $1 million prize money if you win it all? We have not gotten together yet but on paper I love our team. I know most of the guys and have even played with a few of them. I have a little daughter so I would use the money to take care of her, as well as my parents.

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National Sports Collectors Convention: HoopsHD interviews Jon English about his Antique Sports & Cards Shop

Posted on July 6, 2022 by Jon Teitel

The National Sports Collectors Convention (https://nsccshow.com) is an annual summer gathering of collectors/dealers who have a passion for trading cards, autographs, and any other kind of memorabilia that you can think of. First formed in 1980, it is now the premier collectibles industry event that attracts a majority of the licensing agencies from around the professional sports world. The 42nd “National” will be held during the final week of July at the Atlantic City Convention Center, and next summer it will head back to the Midwest in Chicago. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel is unable to attend this year’s event in person so instead he will be interviewing as many of the dealers who will be there as possible. We commence our coverage with Jon English and his magnificent college basketball merchandise.

1. Vintage basketball display case: this is the 8’ X 5’ showcase that Jon uses in his shop and everything that you see is for sale, most people have never seen laced-up basketballs before since they have not been used since the 1950s, you can also see some Converse tennis shoes and Spalding trophies, most of the basketballs are priced at $300-500 (and you can double the price if they are still in their original boxes)

2. Original 1949-50 Holy Cross basketball schedule featuring Bob Cousy: the Crusaders went 27-4 in Cousy’s final college season, he scored a career-high 19.4 PPG and was a consensus 1st-team All-American just 3 years after winning the 1947 NCAA title as a freshman, the schedule is in the shape of a basketball, on the front are photos of the entire team including the captain (Cousy) at the top, on the back is some heavy paper with that season’s schedule (half with the scores included, half with the scores not included, and a few scores printed in ink), it is priced around $300

 

3. Production booklet from the city of Los Angeles to the NCAA as part of a pitch to host the NCAA tourney around 1966 at the LA Memorial Sports Arena: the pitch did not work out for the Arena, although the NCAA tourney did make its 1st-ever appearance in Los Angeles in 1966 when Pauley Pavilion hosted the West regional rounds, these file copies were discovered when the NCAA moved its headquarters from its longtime home in Kansas City to Indianapolis in 1999, this item has not been priced yet but if you are a fan of LA history from the mid-1960s then you will find this fascinating

4. 200+ black and white NCAA tourney photos: these photos were taken during the late-1960s/early 1970s and include tons of famous names such as Lew Alcindor/Bill Walton/Larry Finch/Fly Williams/etc., there also plenty of other great UCLA players like 1975 All-American Dave Meyers, prices range from $10 for the non-stars to $200 for Hall of Famers like Alcindor/Walton, the photographer stamp on the back of each makes these 1-of-a-kind-items

5. Press kit from the 1973 Final 4 (UCLA/Memphis/Indiana/Providence): this Final 4 produced the legendary UCLA-Memphis title game where Hall of Famer Bill Walton set a record that still stands with 44 PTS/21-22 FG, 1973 also marked the 1st NCAA tourney appearance for Bob Knight as coach at Indiana, the media covering the games were given these press kits consisting of game stats and mimeographed sheets of blue ink, for college basketball historians the John Wooden era remains 1 of the best ever, Wooden finished this season 30-0 and stretched his winning streak to 75 in a row

6. 1913 Randolph Macon basketball pennant: the team went 8-5 in just its 3rd year of existence, it is very difficult to find basketball pennants that are dated…from a small school…in the early 20th century, so if this is not a 1-of-a-kind item it is still extremely rare, there is no price listed but if you want to buy it let’s just say, “It would have to be a really good offer!”



For those who want to visit Jon’s shop, it is located in Shelbyville, TN.
For those who cannot make it in person, his website is: https://vintagesportsantiques.com

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The Hoops HD Report: Conference Realignment Special

Posted on July 5, 2022 by David Griggs

Chad is joined by a full panel as they discuss all the conference moves coming up for next season, and of course the big moves that are taking place in the power conferences, most notably UCLA and USC recently announcing a move to the Big Ten.  We talk about what all this means, how college sports are changing, and how things may continue to change as this plays out.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

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TBT Preview: HoopsHD interviews Thomas Bell of Bleed Green

Posted on July 2, 2022 by Jon Teitel

Kansas won the NCAA tourney in April and Golden State won the NBA Finals in June but there is still 1 more basketball champion to be crowned this summer. The Basketball Tournament (aka the TBT) kicks off on July 16th with 8 regions of 8 teams playing in Dayton/New Mexico/Omaha/Rucker Park/Syracuse/West Virginia/Wichita/Xavier. Each region will send 1 team to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place during the 1st weekend of August, and the winning team walking away with a $1 million prize. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the weeks ahead interviewing as many TBT participants as possible. We continue our coverage with Thomas Bell, who is playing for Bleed Green after leading the Mean Green to an upset of Purdue in the NCAA tourney last year.

You were born/raised in Illinois: what made you choose North Texas? I was at a JUCO called Kaskaskia College about 1 hour away from my hometown of East St. Louis and we went to the national tournament. My mom was moving to San Antonio and after nationals I got 15+ scholarship offers. Being at North Texas allowed me to be close to my family, plus it is a good school with a great culture.

In January of 2020 you set a career-high with 15 REB in a win over UTSA and you ended up leading your team that year with 5.8 RPG that year despite standing only 6’6” and not starting a single game: what is the secret to being a great rebounder? It is how you do anything else on the court. You have to be aggressive and go all out for it, which will lead to good results.

You finished that season as the top seed in the conference tourney: what was your reaction when you learned that the entire postseason was getting canceled due to COVID? We were on top of the world when we were the top seed…and once everything got canceled we were at the bottom because we lost our chance to shock the world. At least I got a 2nd chance the following year: I just felt bad for our seniors who graduated in 2020.

In the 2021 C-USA tourney you scored 6 PTS in a 4-PT OT win over Western Kentucky in the title game: how were you able to win 4 games in 4 days? We always preached being mentally tough/together. We were a close group, which is what it takes to win 4 games in 4 days. Our coaching staff was on us to keep that belief in our minds so we just went out there and took the challenge head-on.

In the 2021 NCAA tourney you scored 16 PTS in a 9-PT OT upset of Purdue: how big a deal was it to get the 1st NCAA tourney win in school history? It was a good feeling and good for our school. I was really thankful just to be in that moment: it was really fun even though it was not as packed as possible in the arena. Purdue was a good team but we were able to make some history.

You only had 27 AST in 2021 but increased that to 85 AST in 2022: how were you able to improve your passing so much in just 1 year? If you really watch my game I am more of a pass-1st player who just tries to make the next pass. This past year I was in a lot of situations where the ball was in my hands more. We had a game plan and it came easy for me because I can see the floor well.

In 2021 you led your team with 33 BLK and in 2022 you made the conference All-Defensive Team: how do you balance your offense with your defense? Defense wins championships! To be the best defensive team in the nation is what we took pride in and where we hung our hats. I take it personally when I get scored on: the accolades mean nothing unless it also shows up in the win category. It is a blessing and I just tried to play the best that I could.

Last year you started the season 2-3, then won 21 of your next 22 games, then lost your regular season finale at UTEP while you shot 6-16 from the FT line, then your team only scored 36 PTS in a loss to Louisiana Tech in the conference tourney: was the season as much of a roller coaster as it looks like on paper? It was a rollercoaster after we got a lot of media attention with all of those wins. At the end of the day you just need to go out and win ball games so we tried to stay locked in to the task at hand and play our hearts out while still having fun. Our only goal was to win a championship so we just tried to stay balanced.

In the 2022 NIT you had an OT win over Texas State and then an OT loss to Virginia: what is the key to winning games in March that go down to the wire? Being together and relying on your defensive principles and remembering what got you there. If you do not get key stops when you need them it makes it a LOT harder to win games. When you work out every summer it leads to the ability to execute during the season. It gets tough down the stretch so you just have to keep doing what you have been doing.

This month you will be playing for Bleed Green in the TBT: how is the team looking so far, and what will you do with your share of the $1 million prize money if you win it all? We have some good guys on the team but I have not seen everyone in person yet. I like our team: we have scorers and good big men and are versatile so once we start practicing we will figure it all out because we have a good coach in Andre Shaw. We have a chance to win it all. I would use the prize money to take care of my family and make sure that everyone is good, then just try to do something else positive.

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