Are Game-Worn Jerseys the Most UNDERVALUED Assets in Sports?!

0:00You hold a very recognizable piece from my favorite player, Michael Jordan. Game 3 Jersey from the 98 NBA Finals has been in the headlines. I don't understand why a Basque Outer or a Warhol or Picasso 20 years from now will be more valuable than this particular Michael Jordan NBA Finals jersey. The passion for sports is so strong and it continues to get stronger and it's a way for you to own a piece of that game. What do we think the Jersey is going to go for? You got a number in mind? There's no reason why I shouldn't go for over a hundred million dollars. I'm Ryan Alford. And I'm Bella Schaefer. And this is Collector Nation. We are curating all of the content in the hobby just for you all in one place. All the videos, all the podcasts, all the reels, all those drops you want right here, right now. On today's episode of Collector Nation, I talked to Rob Goth, the owner of the 1998 Michael Jordan

1:05Jersey from Game 3 of the Finals. Yeah, that one that's been floating around talking about a hundred million dollars. That's it. We talk about how he got it. What he's doing. What he's up to. Let me put out a few collectibles or two that will, yes, you're dreaming. Let me tell you big numbers, big conversation right here, right now. I'll collect your nation. What's up, Rob? Welcome to Collector Nation. What's up, brother? Nice to meet you. Thanks for having me on. Yeah, man. Pumped to have you. You hold a very recognizable piece from my favorite player, one Mr. Michael Jordan. Game 3, Jersey from the 98 NBA Finals. That's been in the headlines lately for going to auction as I understand it, man. How the hell did you get that piece? It wasn't easy. The fun thing about collecting is finding the pieces that you want. And several years ago, this was something that I tried to hunt down. And I didn't know where it was to be honest.

2:09And it's just one person led to this person, which led to this person. And which led to a middleman, a broker, and that particular broker got it done. Initially, he said, I'm only going to charge $X. And then it comes to find out, you know, you made a lot more than that $X agreement. But I got the piece and I've been thrilled to have it in my life for many years now. Yeah, man. What made you decide to put it up for sale? It was in the house. And I got a lot of enjoyment out of it. Friends would come over for dinner and they would obviously enjoy it and get a look at it and things. And it's just been in the vault recently. And I feel like you're kind of a steward of these things. And if you're not enjoying it, maybe it's time to let somebody else enjoy it. And so, you know, it's all worth it. What if you did an investment, too?

3:09I mean, in some ways? Yeah, of course. I think these things are all great investments. Well, I wish you would buy what you want. But for me, I think if you buy the best to the best in my personal opinion, you know, that's how I've kind of structured things. If you buy the best to the best and in very rare pieces of the most iconic players, then, you know, I've always thought of it from my own personal portfolio. It's a good and sore value for sure. Doesn't hurt that all this stuff is like going through the roof here lately. I mean, the values. It's just been this market with the high end best of the best stuff in cards and merchandising collectibles and game worn and all that stuff. I mean, what's your perspective? I mean, like, everything can't go up forever, can it? You know, listen, when I bought the Mickey, the 52 tops Mickey Manel PSA 9 in 2021 for 5.2 million, everybody thought I was absolutely insane. I got against for whole record for paying the most money and being the crazy one. And it's, you know, now we're looking back.

4:12Everybody kind of says, oh, that was brilliant. So who knows? You know, I think for me, my own kind of thoughts are as, you know, governments print more and more cash and as things, you know, let's say Elon's correct. And there's going to be a billion robots producing five times more productive than humans. Then and everything is kind of, you know, able to be produced easily. I do think that rare items that are one of one and that can't be replicated. I think, you know, should go up and value who knows? But that's that's kind of what my thoughts have always been. Yeah. It seems like the appetite has increased. We went because it was, you know, the collectors and then finally main street investors come along and go, wait a second, they can no longer call it, you know, and with cards at least the cheap cardboard because, you know, that was sort of the dig forever. And then but when you line up, you know, a vintage classic vintage hall of fame cards,

5:16you know, the 30, 40 year history of their values and their what eight or nine, 10X, what even what the incredible stock market that has been lately. It's like they just can't, they couldn't classify it as worthless cardboard anymore, right? Yeah, if you look at other collectible assets, let's look at art because art is, you know, obviously more expensive than than carves or games and are really have sold for. But, you know, I have iconic pieces of art. Boscow, let's use it as an example. And when you look at people that come to the house, they walk right past the Boscow into the Jersey. So if you think of it the way that humans kind of that I've noticed, I don't understand why a Boscow or a warhol or Picasso in 20 years from now will be more important or more valuable than this particular Michael Jordan NBA finals Jersey. The passion for sports is so strong and it continues to get stronger and it's a way for you to own a piece of of that game.

6:19The only, you know, the Jersey off of a guy's back. There's not, it's not going to get too close to the game than that. So with art, there's really no, there's no passion. You didn't know the guy, you didn't watch him. You weren't at the game with your father. You didn't watch on television. So, you know, I've kind of been wondering in my head, why are these things so valuable? I'm saying the art side and so much more valuable than a game used Jersey. And I'm seeing a big disconnect. I think that the game used Jersey's. If it's an iconic moment and an iconic player, I think that they're highly undervalued. Now, I think that, you know, if the player loses the game, that I think that's a bigger disconnect. That's less valuable than a winning game Jersey, you know, because I told a friend of the day, it's, you know, if Jordan lost the game, I'm not going to point on the wall and say, remember that game that Michael Jordan lost? Like, even if it's his last game in Chicago, whatever, I'm just not like, I don't want that Jersey in the wall.

7:20I'm either talk about the excitement of the game and how important that game was and how exciting that moment was. That to me, I think is very important. What's the, talk to me about what do we think Jersey's going to go for? You got a number in mind? Listen, I was talking to a big, a big voice in the space. And, you know, he's like, listen, there's no reason why he shouldn't go for over $100 million. I don't really know the value. You know, you've got these logo man cards that are selling for $11 plus million. And it's a small piece of a logo from a Jersey. This is the actual Jersey, Michael Jordan War, of the most important game of his career. It changed the momentum of the last dance, you know. It's when it's tied one to one and an NBA finals, whoever wins game three has an 80 plus percent chance of winning the series. And so it's the most important game of the series. And not only did he win the game, but Jordan destroyed Utah.

8:21And there's two NBA finals records that are held still to this day, the largest blow in history. Imagine you're playing in that game and you blow them out. It changes the momentum. Like you just, you just feel more confident, feel more excited and it allowed them to go and win the series. And so I don't know what it could go for. I think it'll just, it takes, you know, two to tango. You know, if I'm going to pay $500 million, you're going to pay $10 million and it only goes for $11. So it just, who knows, you know, I think it'll be interesting. I think it's a piece of history. I don't, there's anything better. I think game-used jerseys are very undervalued at the moment. I don't think you will realize how important they are. You know, they're buying all these expensive modern cards with a piece of card, you know, piece of fabric on it. When you, you know, I just think that the actual Jersey is very cool. Yeah, man. What do you think it'll go for? I have an opinion on this because I've already shared it. We shared it on this show. Actually, before we got in touch with you, and I was, I said north of 35, I recall 30, 35.

9:22I just said north of there. Yeah. It was my call. Everyone else's call was somewhere between 15 and 30. I was the only one that was, I think it's north of that for a lot of the reasons that you said. And I just think there's, I don't know, some smart people out there that are recognized. You know, I mean, I mean, listen, game one, he lost that game, that sold years ago for 10.1 million at Salabees. The market was much different that time, meaning there were not, there are much less collectors in the space at that moment. Yeah. I know that person that bought that Jersey, fantastic person, you know, and that was a great purchase. I don't know, man, it just, you never know. But I do think that if these cards are selling for these crazy amounts and I just, who knows? Yeah. And they fun to watch. And listen, whatever goes for, it'll be great. Exactly. When is it going? Give me some of those details for the audience.

10:24And then a more transition to a couple things Rob. Yeah. So it's going, I think it goes live September 15th on Jupiter auctions, which is the Auction House for our Williams launched. They brought in a fantastic team from, you know, the big Auction House's Christie's and things. And then it ends, I believe, September 29th. I don't know if it's been announced, but there is a bid on it. Has that been announced? Not that we're, you announced it. You announced it yet. Well, so there's a bid at 10 million. So after fees, 12.3 million. So it already has broken the record for the large, you know, the most expensive NBA jersey. So that's it goes for that. I'll eat this microphone. I know me too. If it goes that, I mean, this person got the best deal of it in the lifetime. Yeah, it's not going for that. But good to have a bid. Hey, you know, start somewhere, Rob. Right, right.

11:25It's at least, you know, because it's at least shows that somebody's interested. Yeah. I hope you buy it. You should buy it. Oh, yeah. I'm going to buy it. I put a bid in. He's already got the way. I don't, this is also something that I think is interesting. PSA, they have a lending department. And they've said, hey, we'll lend against it. I think you're going to lend, you know, a big percentage of whatever it sells for. I don't know, the loan of value that they're saying. But so if anybody wants to have extra buying power, I know PSA will give it to you. And I'm sure Jupiter could set up that intro, or I can set the intro. Yeah. No problem. So anyone listening, because this will air in plenty of time for you to get that bid in or to take Rob up on you. We'll have all those in there. Rob, what did you do before you started buying priceless jerseys? You know, I grew up in Indiana. I've just had, you know, I've been an entrepreneur since I was young.

12:26Didn't grow up with money. So just kind of with bootstrapped things, grow it, sell it, bootstrapped something else, grow it, sell it, you know, invest in things or buy a business, grow it and sell it. So that was my background to be honest with you. And yeah, then I got into this. What were most of the businesses are in? Were they service businesses? Were they, you know, like what kind of business are we talking about? You know, it was, for me, it was always once I kind of beat an industry. I wasn't smart, like most people, whether it was like to go back to the same ministry and it's a lot easier the second time around and they have the relationships. And you know, that's the better route. I would always say, I'm going to go and try to conquer a new challenge in a new industry. It's just like if I played a video game as a child and I beat the level, I wouldn't go back and play the level again. Do it faster. I would go and try to play the next level. And so I've done it in multiple different industries. From the internet, you know, I had the largest coupon site. I had a clothing business called dope.

13:27Actually, still on dope.com. I had a recycling business, you know, just sold different, you know, different things. I had an auction site a long, long time ago. And then now I recently bought, you know, the World Highly League, which is a fantastic sport. It's a 500 year old sport. It's 100 years been played in Miami. It's the fastest ball sport in the world. Very dangerous. People don't realize the dangerous consequence. You know, you've got a ball as hard as a rock. And it's being thrown almost 200 miles per hour. You get hit by that. There's some dangerous consequences. But big gambling sport. It's life for gambling 25 states on all the biggest platforms. It's an amazing sport. It's just what happened, unfortunately. In the United States, it was very, very popular. 15,500 people filled the stands more popular than a Miami Heat game. And what happened was the players decided to strike. They wanted more money. Like everybody sometimes does. And they striked.

14:27And it was the longest strike in sports history three years. And when they came back, the audience left. And there was actually no money. So they striked. And they got no money, which I'm fortunate. But so it kind of crushed the sport in the United States. It's always been very popular in the vast country in France and Spain and just around the world. But this league is big. It's been around for a while in Miami and very excited to grow it and make it more popular than ever. Yeah, man. What? Tell for our audience, I've spent time in Miami in this, probably 15, 20 years ago. Whenever, like, it might have been longer than that, but got exposed to high-lie and was always fascinated from afar. But for our audience, like, explain the sport in the game a little bit for anyone that doesn't know. People say it's like Tron. You know, you have this wicker basket that they're handmade. It's called a Sesta.

15:28And you have to have it on your right hand. And you throw this ball that is harder rock against the wall. I recorded it at 126 feet. And so you throw it against the wall. And then it comes back and you have to catch in the Sesta or let it bounce once and catch it. Without bubbling it and then throw it back. And that's kind of the easy just of it. But you're jumping against a concrete wall. You're falling on a concrete floor or trying to catch this thing. You have no pads but a helmet. You're dodging this ball, going to a hundred miles per hour. There's other players launching and behind you. And it's bananas. Once you watch it in person, I didn't get it. I'm growing up in Indiana. We didn't have high-lie. And we never went to Miami growing up. So I actually bought a team first. And then once I went to the game, I'm like, this is insane. These guys are just crazy athletes and just putting their life at risk for,

16:30I'm like, what do these guys do? And this is wild. And so I had it by the lead because I think the television, you know, we're live streamed on ESPN a couple of places. But I don't think it looks as beautiful as it should. We're the fastest ball in the world, but we're not telling you how fast the balls are going. The lighting, I think, is off. I just think that it can be elevated. The stands, I've hired a great team to get people into the stands and create that energy and redo the uniform. I just got to want to redo everything. So it'll be a different experience next year. But once you go to a game, I was hooked. Maybe I'm crazy. But I understand why there used to be 15,000 plus people jamming into a stand and why there were celebrities. And I get it. Once I was there, I got it. Collector Nation is not just a podcast. We are your one stop shop for all things, hobbies. All the best creators, all the best reels, all the best content, curated for you every day.

17:31And if you're interested in learning more, go to thecollectorNation.com or download our app on iOS or Android. We'll see you there. What's to you, the gambling aspect that's always been heavily part of it? Is it just the nature of the game that lends itself to that? But talk to me about that later. You know, back in the day, well, the gambling aspect is there's so many points and it's so active, so you have a lot of things to bet on. The problem with back in the day is it was paramutual betting. And that's kind of a dying idea, which I believe, you know, it's basically, you know, let's say the odds right now are five to one, but as other people bet those odds switched, even though I've already bet, they switched, it's a way I kind of understand it. So the world highlight league is not the traditional gambling method that highlight always has been. It's the way that you gamble on highlight now and the world of highlight league, at least, is like a traditional sports bet, like an NBA or an NFL bet.

18:32And that's why it's on draft Kings of Pendule and hard rock, all these different things. So it's definitely different now than it used to be because back then it was just, you know, I think the way it is now, it's more fair for the gambler. It's just a more modern way to do it now than what it used to be. But yeah, it's always been a big gambling sport. People love to gamble on it. You know, it's good for engagement. It's a lot of fun. And when you're in the arena, you just got your, you know, hard rock app and you can just gamble right there. It's fantastic. Yeah, the interaction is key. And I think I do think there's something exciting. I always was fascinated that it seems so exciting the game itself. I think it has a lot of potential if it's executed the right way. Like you said, I think that's going to be the key. What is the plans for the league as far as, you know, expansion and those kind of things? Well, they've been selling teams on a year by year basis. It's not kind of like a rental.

19:33So Udhannas has load would get a team every year. Ray Lewis would get a team every year. And so when I bought the league, I actually bought all the teams. And so I'm, I'm curating these team owners. Well, I should start to announce the team owners in the next month or two. I haven't, you know, I'm still kind of interviewing different people and trying to find the right team owners. But got some really massive names that have come on and they're buying teams. And so I think that'll really help. We're going to add city names to the different teams and, and just make this thing more exciting for the fan experience, you know, it's I'm putting a lot of money and a ton of time into making the fans. I'm investing back into the sport and investing to make sure the fans have a good time and enjoy the sport more than ever. So where's it going to be? What cities? Well, right now we're all played exclusively Miami. Yeah. But, you know, I'm kind of I'm hoping that the the team owners will want to put it in the cities where they buy their, they're, you know, they're, they're team in.

20:35So for instance, one is an NBA team owner and, you know, he wants to put it in his, in his stadium where, where his NBA team plays, which is fantastic. It's great for the city. It's great for me, you know, a guy that owns an NBA team. Obviously has great experience with team ownership and so it'll be, it'll be, it'll be really nice. And once you next year, you should come out. I love the host here for a game. Yeah, man, I love that. Any time I would love that every Friday in Miami, it'll probably about 730 in the evening. But do you have any pieces, Rob? You can like show us or anything. You get anything? Is there a couple of pieces in that closet behind you there? What? I, I, I, I got the Gensper court record. I have the base, the card that actually Jordan is, we actually have something to help, right? Oh, okay. Here we go. We're on YouTube too, man. We got to show some stuff. Okay. So first of all, most important thing is the card that Jordan's, this is him wearing the jersey that's for sale.

21:39Wow. Yes. The card. But I'll tell you what I just got. And that is, and it's not displayed yet. But I just got from the same series from the 1998 NBA finals. I just got another jersey. I got Rodman's jersey. Oh, wow. Rodman's jersey from the same game. No, game four. Still, still series. That's sick. Yeah. So I just got that. So, you know, that was the most important series, you know, if you don't knock down a bell or something. At where? At the apartment store. I'm getting it. Yeah, it was great. I can't believe it. You can believe it. The good, the good wills really stuffed up their game. Yeah. No, it's trying to make these things. It's, it's great. I got it from, from Harry to Jocsons. Okay. Oh, yeah. Oh, here. I love that, Eric.

22:40Eric's probably what he's coming on the show. But yeah, that's all. I mean, I got so much. Everything in valuable is actually now at the house. This, this only got here. I don't know. I thought I was saying to the both and I guess he got sent here. But everything nowadays, I don't really keep anything at the house. It's all your favorite piece or cards, specifically, maybe what's your favorite card in the collection these days? You still have that PSA 9 or did we sell that? Sold the, sold the mantle. Yeah. Are you okay there? Did okay there. Yeah. Yeah. Sold the, sold the four, yeah, eight figures. You're the good on that one. Yeah. I, I'm actually the coolest, the things, I'm saying the two cards that I like the most of my collection now is the, the bird, bird magic, Irving PSA 10, 1980 tops. And then, and the car that I have, it doesn't have the, the 10, doesn't have the print effect in the corner, which is even a smaller percentage of the 10s don't have that, that dot.

23:44And then the 1996 Kobe credentials PSA 10, it's, it's a pop four that that card is so tough to get a 10 in. But, you know, it's the first time they numbered cards. It's Kobe's rookie card. I think it's the most undervalued Kobe card. I think it's more important than these, you know, even like a patch card or a load because it's, it's rookie card and it's first time they numbered them. And so I don't know for me that that card is so special. I think it looks beautiful. Even the green version is, I think it's called the X2000. It's also, I think, very cool because it's got the cloud in the middle. Yeah. I have a, I have a PC 10 of that too. But I'd say those are the two I think off the top of my head that I like the most right now, you know, my collection from a card standpoint. Yeah. How many cards do you have in your collection?

24:45Oh, man. I don't know. Lots. But I think it pivoted for me, you know, it's, it's, I think you got to buy what you love. And what's, you know, like I'm looking at a Reggie Miller PSA 10 rookie card. I grew up in Indiana. So, you know, that card's not that valuable. But, you know, as a kid, Reggie Miller was, was the man, you know, so I think you got a, you know, Michael Jordan for me as a child was, was the man. So to have, you know, the Jersey he's wearing in this car is, is cool for me, you know, and so that's what I think you got to, I think that's what's important. Yeah, you look at it now. I mean, I was just a wait for the weekend and kids were wearing, Jordan, you know, 23 on their back and it's just, it's amazing how he's still so popular to the youth. And also, I mean, obviously, LeBron is a fantastic player, but the crazy thing about Jordan is he never got political. And I think that was good also for his audience. He never alienated anybody.

25:47And where's LeBron, you know, shares his opinion. And I think that he only needs part of, part of his collector base. And so I think you got to look and be careful on what you collect because if, if they do, you know, you're kind of losing the party, the collectors, if you kind of go one way or the other. And I think just maybe not, you know, sharing your feelings like Jordan's done a great job doing, I think is, it helps protect his brand that he's done a great job with that. I just like it because he always seen business like, you know, like it's, and it's not even a comparison with LeBron as much as just my face with Jordan is like his intelligence within with business and understanding no matter what his opinion is. He doesn't need did everyone got to hear his opinion. You know, like he doesn't need that attention, you know, to be, oh, I mean, her, it's important that you share your opinion. Well, yeah, but sometimes not sharing your opinion is the big, the best move.

26:50Yeah. Like it just, just because your feelings, you know, want to be heard or people want, you know, you owe it to the people. Well, not, I mean, not necessarily brand. And it's, I think he always understood that he could have, you know, boundaries between profession and opinion and all those things at a level that, and look, and it probably, I mean, obviously he didn't turn off people, but there's a segment that's thinking of Michaels cold or like all that, but not sick. He's a smart businessman. Yeah. And I can't imagine how it is being that, that famous, you know, it's like, yeah, I'm part of it just after about the whole idea. It's like, I can't keep up with all the emails and people trying to give me their ideas and opinions, which I love. It's amazing. I want to be able to listen and talk to everybody, but it's tough in my, and what I'm going through, I can't imagine being the most famous and the best basketball player of all time.

27:57When everybody just wants a picture and to, you know, have a story with you, it would be, I don't know how you handle that. That'd be very difficult, but he's done a great job. Drop some details or websites, links, those kind of things with highlight and then anything else you've got going on that you want known and which thrift store you recommend picking up George. George, I got a George from Goodwill too. It was crazy. What an ROI. It's amazing. Gratiselling, I was crazy. Yeah, I mean, obviously I hope somebody incredible, whoever gets this jersey, congratulations, feel free to reach out, love to buy a dinner. And I hope you get it for $12 million, you got it, it's the Elk and work. So that'll be fun to watch. Highlight is in Miami at the moment. It's just highlight.com, which nobody will ever understand how to spell it.

29:01It's spelled wildly different than we're used to in America. It's J-A-I-A-L-A-I dot com. And then I was just on Instagram at Rob G. Feel free to message me or follow or whatever and keep in touch. Yeah, I hope to see everybody at Highlight. I love to host you and your family at Highlight Game anytime. You let me know and I'll fly down from Puerto Rico and see I'll be out there and game I'm sure. And yeah, I'm excited for this to come out and you're audience to hopefully buy the Jordan jersey. Yeah, man, we'll get it out there and we'll follow up Rob about, you know, maybe find out what you can with the auction house and see if there's some component that we could bring to life. With how that thing gets count down or you know, like how it, you know, it turns out if nothing else, maybe just even a five or 10 minute, like quick, you know, after the fact of, you know, the final gavel, so to speak.

30:03Yeah, I'll be crying because it's sold for only 12 or 12 or 12 or 12 or crying because it's over a lot. Yeah, I think you're safe on the above the 12 three. I would shock what isn't even a fair word. It would be in possible. I'll say this. I'll get a bid in. That's what it goes for. I just thought it's not going for that. I told you PSA will, you know, the lending instant. So it's perfect. I'm not letting you borrow any money. I'm not for not for a collectible. But the, but I don't think it's going for 12 or 3. I think it's north of 30. That's my opinion. Let's get it. I mean, it'd be great if it hits 100. I really think it goes. It has all the logic. It's total. Like I know where that number comes from. And I can get there mentally, like with, like comparing the car, everything we've talked about.

31:04So I, nothing would surprise me in this market. And I think the valuation would be justified. But I think I'm being conservative. I think it's north of 30. But let's go. Let's get it. Yeah. It's been fun, brother. And I'm going to take you up on that high lie. Next in the spring, I guess, or. Yeah. Next year. Come out. I think the season will start February 26th every Friday for like 26 weeks. So come out. I love that. We'll figure it out, brother. We'll wear Jordan jerseys. Exactly. We'll go to that. We'll stop in the thrift world. See where we find that. Robman on sale. Hey guys, the collector nation.com. You'll find all of the highlight clips, all of the info on this. We've already run some piece articles on this. We'll have more. We're going to hold Rob to some of these things were of counting down or at least recapping the end.

32:07But and if you've known someone interested, this is an amazing piece that is one of a kind and has the potential to be record setting. It already is and will be so own a piece of history. Check out Jupiter, check out Rob. And we appreciate you. We're number three in sports today. I just saw that on the Apple podcast and all of sports. So keep listening until others watch it. If you ain't listening, get on YouTube and get over there and see us because this is where collectibles, trading cards, all the action happens. We'll see you next time. A collector nation. Thanks for tuning into the show. Be sure to follow us on your go to podcast platform and catch the full video episode over on YouTube. Visit us at collector nation.com and follow Ryan on Instagram at Ryan Alford. Now get out there and collect yours.