My national review

[kukocitb]

**UPDATED WITH PICS on page 2*****

It was a dark and stormy night…. Not really. I have never been great at writing so just stick with me on this.

I got to the show around 11:45 on Wednesday. DajuanWagner was waiting for me patiently since he does not own a cell phone….LOL! He wore a shirt saying Got Panini? No thanks (I may have the copyright on this). Many people got a good chuckle out of this at the show. The people at the Panini booth didn’t seem to think it was funny.
DajuanWagner, Mgoblue, and Lietuvalabas got into the show a little after noon. It helps to know the right people. When we first started going through the back half of the show we were not finding too much. We were looking for dime to fifty cent boxes and there was not much at first. Security stopped me and asked me where my badge was because the show wasn’t open to customers yet…. Since I did not have a badge I told her that it was at my table and she bought it even though I am a terrible liar.
Food is NOT cheap at the national. It also has close to zero taste. After my 8.75 piece of pizza I could keep myself moving forward. My saying is “You know how many Kukoc cards I can buy for 8.75?!?!?!?”
There was not a lot of basketball at the national. I was happy with what I was able to find. When I saw a table with basketball I would ask if they had any Kukoc. Most said no then after I dug through their stuff I would find some.
When we were done at the show on Wednesday a bunch of guys went to dinner at Longhorn steakhouse. I got a 20 oz. Ribeye with the bone attached. It was GREAT! At my table were DajuanWagner, BDRR, Slamma, and Longbombers. We had great discussions and solved all of Panini’s problems and world problems, but after the shot of Jagr we forgot them all. There were around 18 of us that went to dinner together. I think we all had a great time.
When we got back to our room after midnight Wednesday Mgoblue, Labas, DajuanWagner and I had some great conversation. We quoted family guy for a solid hour. Labas leaves and we are all falling asleep and Labas calls Matt’s phone. He forgot his dinner in the room. He had been at steak and shake for like a half hour waiting for his shake. So not only did I take him his left overs… he didn’t even get me a shake….LOL! It was GREAT meeting you Labas, but you owe me a shake. HA!
Thursday was an exhausting day. I got a Bill Cartwright auto on a mini ball which was cool. There was a dealer in the back that had top loaded cards for 10 cents a piece. I found around 160 refractors and other numbered cards. Wish I would have spent more time there. Most of the people I was hanging out with left Thursday night. I was originally planning to stay until Friday but I feel like I saw a majority of the show. DajuanWagner and I hit up Giordano’s after the show and had some great pizza and conversations. I was in Iowa when DajuanWagner called me to tell me I had his luggage and cards were in my trunk. Hopefully everything arrives back to him safely today.

I will post pics of some of the stuff I picked up in the near future. Some of the highlights were: 1995 Sports Action Face to Face uncut sheet with Kukoc on it, 2012-13 Exquisite Kukoc auto #ed to 70 (unlicensed but a SWEET looking card), a red and green PMG in football.
I met a TON of people from Blowout and other forums. I think I met everyone I wanted to except one person….. Tward. Sorry man. Multiple times I told myself I need to hunt you down but kept getting distracted.
DajuanWagner: you are a GREAT man. I am glad I was able to roam the rows of the national with you. We were able to help each other’s pc out. I am pretty sure we were separated at birth. You are a brother from another mother and I hope you get your shipment of stuff you left in my car ok…LOL! Glad I was able to score you a jersey numbered Wagner jersey auto for your pc.
MgoBlue: Matt. You are HILARIOUS. Not as funny as me but pretty close. You are also just a SUPER nice guy. I am glad I was able to find you some Webbers for your PC. I at least got you one you needed. Really hope we can get together again in the future. Maybe even next year in Cleveland we can do all of this again. Thanks for sharing your room with me.
Lietuvalabas: It was GREAT meeting you. Thanks for laughing at all my jokes even though they were not that funny. I am glad we agree on the best American Dad episode.

Frisbee Steve: Had a great time chatting with you. I hope you were able to snag some monsters for your PC. You know your stuff and any one that is friends with Abra is alllll good in my book.

Longbombers: Really nice to meet you. Hope you were able to grab some nice stuff.

SPauthentic: It was great meeting you even if only for a second. Sounds like you had a pretty good national and hope to run into you again the future.

BDRR: You are right. There only can be one BDRR…LOL! Had a good time chatting with you at your table and at dinner.

Slamma: One guy I look up to… literally. Sounds like you had a good show. You had some major monsters at the national. Had a great time chatting with you at dinner Wednesday night

Bballcards4days: It was nice meeting you. Hope the National treated you well.

Spurfanattech: It was great meeting you. Hope the national treated you well. You had some real nice stuff in your case. You know your stuff and you are a real nice guy.

CroationTwins: Had a good time chatting with you. Hope you had a successful national. Thanks for the shot of Jägermeister.

Gslayton: You gotta leave some 90s stuff for the rest of us….LOL! Looks like you had a pretty good national. It was nice to meet you in person and hope we can meet up again in the future.

SammyJenkins: It was AWESOME meeting you. Wish we could have chatted more but it was great meeting you. Thanks for the autograph passes. It was really cool getting to meet Bill Cartwright.

PHDbeckett: it was nice meeting you! You have a great eye when it comes to cardboard. Sounds like you found TONAGE at the national.


I am sure I left out some stuff and people… If I did I apologize and hope we can do this again in the near future.

[spurfanattech]

It was great meeting you man. It was a great show full of good dudes and one or two chicks...maybe?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kukocitb]

Originally Posted by spurfanattech

It was great meeting you man. It was a great show full of good dudes and one or two chicks...maybe?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

LOL! Yeah not too many ladies. One of the booths had a bunch of ladies working. I am sure they had some at the benchwarmers area but i missed that section I guess.

[TWard]

Originally Posted by spurfanattech

It was great meeting you man. It was a great show full of good dudes and one or two chicks...maybe?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There was definitely more extreme body odor there than there were females. I don't think I've ever seen as many unhealthy people in one place than I did this trip.

Wish I would've met up with some of y'all but just didn't have as much time.

Edit: I remember seeing that Got Panini, No Thanks shirt. I didn't know that was Randy, otherwise I would've said hello! Oh well

[TWard]

After going back and reading the OP again, I have to ask you and labas... what's the best American Dad episode?! I love that show

[kukocitb]

Also forgot the story of the national. Randy and I were digging through a guys basketball cards. Randy finds 3 cards that are three bucks a piece. Here is how the conversation went:
Randy: would you do 6? (not outta line)
Jerk: no.
Randy: would you do 7?
Jerk: no.
Randy would you do 8?
Jerk: 10
Randy: (goes to put cards back)
Jerk: unbelieveable you can't put the effin cards back. Get the eff outta here. Except he didn't say eff.....
Randy: walks away without saying anything else
Me: I was PISSED. I wanted to give him a piece of my mind but wanted to stay in the show.

[kukocitb]

Originally Posted by TWard

After going back and reading the OP again, I have to ask you and labas... what's the best American Dad episode?! I love that show

Roy Rodgers McFreely...LOL! I said Roy Rodg and Labas finished my sentence. El gotto no es bueno..HA!

[Hallco]

I love this report!!! So glad you got to go man!!! Sounds like everyone had a blast. I have not been to a card show of any significance since the mid 90s...but when I was collecting coins several years ago, I was able to meet a lot of people at some of the big shows that came to Atlanta. With most of them, hanging out with the other people was more memorable than the shows!

[kukocitb]

Originally Posted by Hallco

I love this report!!! So glad you got to go man!!! Sounds like everyone had a blast. I have not been to a card show of any significance since the mid 90s...but when I was collecting coins several years ago, I was able to meet a lot of people at some of the big shows that came to Atlanta. With most of them, hanging out with the other people was more memorable than the shows!

Yeah the people made the show. I found Matt like 10 Webbers and he didn't get me nothing...LOL! I am going to give him a hard time about this for years. The people were definitely the best part.

[TWard]

Originally Posted by kukocitb

Roy Rodgers McFreely...LOL! I said Roy Rodg and Labas finished my sentence. El gotto no es bueno..HA!

Hahaha I find myself singing that song sometimes haha.. el perro, el perro, es mi corazon, el gato, el gato, el gato no es bueno! I'm a fan of that episode.

My favorite is probably Ricky Spanish or the Jenny Fromdabloc episode (you're just jealous I'm getting sniz on the reg).

[TWard]

Originally Posted by kukocitb

Also forgot the story of the national. Randy and I were digging through a guys basketball cards. Randy finds 3 cards that are three bucks a piece. Here is how the conversation went:
Randy: would you do 6? (not outta line)
Jerk: no.
Randy: would you do 7?
Jerk: no.
Randy would you do 8?
Jerk: 10
Randy: (goes to put cards back)
Jerk: unbelieveable you can't put the effin cards back. Get the eff outta here. Except he didn't say eff.....
Randy: walks away without saying anything else
Me: I was PISSED. I wanted to give him a piece of my mind but wanted to stay in the show.

Wait, what? Which douche was this?

My dad and I had something similar to that, except not as extreme. We walked by a booth that had some NASCAR Starting Lineup figures and he asked dude how much they were. Guy said if he bought all of the racing ones, they'd be $2. He said alright and walked away and then told me about 30 seconds later, "eh, they're only $2 each, what the hell", and then walked back to dude's booth and he had upped the price to $3 each. We just walked away.

[kukocitb]

Originally Posted by Hallco

I love this report!!! So glad you got to go man!!! Sounds like everyone had a blast. I have not been to a card show of any significance since the mid 90s...but when I was collecting coins several years ago, I was able to meet a lot of people at some of the big shows that came to Atlanta. With most of them, hanging out with the other people was more memorable than the shows!

Yeah the people made the show. I found Matt like 10 Webbers and he didn't get me nothing...LOL! I am going to give him a hard time about this for years. The people were definitely the best part.

[kukocitb]

Originally Posted by TWard

Wait, what? Which douche was this?

My dad and I had something similar to that, except not as extreme. We walked by a booth that had some NASCAR Starting Lineup figures and he asked dude how much they were. Guy said if he bought all of the racing ones, they'd be $2. He said alright and walked away and then told me about 30 seconds later, "eh, they're only $2 each, what the hell", and then walked back to dude's booth and he had upped the price to $3 each. We just walked away.

yeah not the same guy. I actually ran into a lot of nice dealers. There has always got to be a bad apple.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by kukocitb

It was a dark and stormy night…. Not really. I have never been great at writing so just stick with me on this.



I got to the show around 11:45 on Wednesday. DajuanWagner was waiting for me patiently since he does not own a cell phone….LOL! He wore a shirt saying Got Panini? No thanks (I may have the copyright on this). Many people got a good chuckle out of this at the show. The people at the Panini booth didn’t seem to think it was funny.

DajuanWagner, Mgoblue, and Lietuvalabas got into the show a little after noon. It helps to know the right people. When we first started going through the back half of the show we were not finding too much. We were looking for dime to fifty cent boxes and there was not much at first. Security stopped me and asked me where my badge was because the show wasn’t open to customers yet…. Since I did not have a badge I told her that it was at my table and she bought it even though I am a terrible liar.

Food is NOT cheap at the national. It also has close to zero taste. After my 8.75 piece of pizza I could keep myself moving forward. My saying is “You know how many Kukoc cards I can buy for 8.75?!?!?!?”

There was not a lot of basketball at the national. I was happy with what I was able to find. When I saw a table with basketball I would ask if they had any Kukoc. Most said no then after I dug through their stuff I would find some.

When we were done at the show on Wednesday a bunch of guys went to dinner at Longhorn steakhouse. I got a 20 oz. Ribeye with the bone attached. It was GREAT! At my table were DajuanWagner, BDRR, Slamma, and Longbombers. We had great discussions and solved all of Panini’s problems and world problems, but after the shot of Jagr we forgot them all. There were around 18 of us that went to dinner together. I think we all had a great time.

When we got back to our room after midnight Wednesday Mgoblue, Labas, DajuanWagner and I had some great conversation. We quoted family guy for a solid hour. Labas leaves and we are all falling asleep and Labas calls Matt’s phone. He forgot his dinner in the room. He had been at steak and shake for like a half hour waiting for his shake. So not only did I take him his left overs… he didn’t even get me a shake….LOL! It was GREAT meeting you Labas, but you owe me a shake. HA!

Thursday was an exhausting day. I got a Bill Cartwright auto on a mini ball which was cool. There was a dealer in the back that had top loaded cards for 10 cents a piece. I found around 160 refractors and other numbered cards. Wish I would have spent more time there. Most of the people I was hanging out with left Thursday night. I was originally planning to stay until Friday but I feel like I saw a majority of the show. DajuanWagner and I hit up Giordano’s after the show and had some great pizza and conversations. I was in Iowa when DajuanWagner called me to tell me I had his luggage and cards were in my trunk. Hopefully everything arrives back to him safely today.



I will post pics of some of the stuff I picked up in the near future. Some of the highlights were: 1995 Sports Action Face to Face uncut sheet with Kukoc on it, 2012-13 Exquisite Kukoc auto #ed to 70 (unlicensed but a SWEET looking card), a red and green PMG in football.

I met a TON of people from Blowout and other forums. I think I met everyone I wanted to except one person….. Tward. Sorry man. Multiple times I told myself I need to hunt you down but kept getting distracted.

DajuanWagner: you are a GREAT man. I am glad I was able to roam the rows of the national with you. We were able to help each other’s pc out. I am pretty sure we were separated at birth. You are a brother from another mother and I hope you get your shipment of stuff you left in my car ok…LOL! Glad I was able to score you a jersey numbered Wagner jersey auto for your pc.

MgoBlue: Matt. You are HILARIOUS. Not as funny as me but pretty close. You are also just a SUPER nice guy. I am glad I was able to find you some Webbers for your PC. I at least got you one you needed. Really hope we can get together again in the future. Maybe even next year in Cleveland we can do all of this again. Thanks for sharing your room with me.

Lietuvalabas: It was GREAT meeting you. Thanks for laughing at all my jokes even though they were not that funny. I am glad we agree on the best American Dad episode.



Frisbee Steve: Had a great time chatting with you. I hope you were able to snag some monsters for your PC. You know your stuff and any one that is friends with Abra is alllll good in my book.



Longbombers: Really nice to meet you. Hope you were able to grab some nice stuff.



SPauthentic: It was great meeting you even if only for a second. Sounds like you had a pretty good national and hope to run into you again the future.



BDRR: You are right. There only can be one BDRR…LOL! Had a good time chatting with you at your table and at dinner.



Slamma: One guy I look up to… literally. Sounds like you had a good show. You had some major monsters at the national. Had a great time chatting with you at dinner Wednesday night



Bballcards4days: It was nice meeting you. Hope the National treated you well.



Spurfanattech: It was great meeting you. Hope the national treated you well. You had some real nice stuff in your case. You know your stuff and you are a real nice guy.



CroationTwins: Had a good time chatting with you. Hope you had a successful national. Thanks for the shot of Jägermeister.



Gslayton: You gotta leave some 90s stuff for the rest of us….LOL! Looks like you had a pretty good national. It was nice to meet you in person and hope we can meet up again in the future.



SammyJenkins: It was AWESOME meeting you. Wish we could have chatted more but it was great meeting you. Thanks for the autograph passes. It was really cool getting to meet Bill Cartwright.



PHDbeckett: it was nice meeting you! You have a great eye when it comes to cardboard. Sounds like you found TONAGE at the national.





I am sure I left out some stuff and people… If I did I apologize and hope we can do this again in the near future.

Great to finally meet you Kukoc!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kukocitb]

Originally Posted by Ross

Great to finally meet you Kukoc!


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and I forgot you Ross! DARN IT! Hope the national treated you well! I know I saw one of your pick ups and I am still trying to pick up my jaw LOL!

[TWard]

Originally Posted by kukocitb

yeah not the same guy. I actually ran into a lot of nice dealers. There has always got to be a bad apple.

I'm sure it wasn't. But yeah, there were several nice dealers, but quite a few douches. But that's always gonna be the case, regardless.

Anyway, if you're going to Cleveland next year, I'll meet up with all y'all. Met a few and they were all nice guys - glad to put faces to names. Glad you had a good time! I'm sad it's already over.

[kukocitb]

ANother person I met was Roargan. SUPER NICE GUY! He had a box of cards that was ABSOLUTELY amazing. More one of ones than most people have. Hope you were able to find some good stuff.

[kukocitb]

Originally Posted by TWard

I'm sure it wasn't. But yeah, there were several nice dealers, but quite a few douches. But that's always gonna be the case, regardless.

Anyway, if you're going to Cleveland next year, I'll meet up with all y'all. Met a few and they were all nice guys - glad to put faces to names. Glad you had a good time! I'm sad it's already over.

I am sad it is over too but my feet, back, and legs say otherwise....LOL! Man I am getting old.

[kukocitb]

Originally Posted by Ross

Great to finally meet you Kukoc!


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Also thanks for pretending to know me to get me the Pistol Pete for free! LOL!

[DajuanWagner]

Great write up, Kukocitb. The pleasure was all mine to hang out with you all National. I haven't laughed that hard for a long, long time. You kept hitting quarter boxes that were gold and I was hitting boxes that were silver. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.

Next time we are going to have to hit all boxes. Hopefully we can do it all in 2 days.


It was great to hang around MGoBlue and lieutva-labas. It was also great to meet all the other Blowout members. Sorry I was a wienie and not take the Jaeger. Thanks CroatianTwins for buying the shot for myself and everyone at all the tables at Longhorn.


Looking forward to possibly Cleveland and definitely Chicago............

[byronscott4ever]

Great write up, sounds fun

[jdhaugh11]

I have to see or talk to Jeff on a daily basis, so I am either cursed or the luckiest guy in the world depending on how you look at it! LOL

[kukocitb]

Originally Posted by jdhaugh11

I have to see or talk to Jeff on a daily basis, so I am either cursed or the luckiest guy in the world depending on how you look at it! LOL

I am leaning towards lucky....HA!

[kukocitb]

Originally Posted by byronscott4ever

Great write up, sounds fun

it was a good time. I kept an eye our for you but didn't see anything.

[AbraCalabro]

Great write up, enjoyed getting the scoop on the show. If I ever attend one of these I will make sure to eat tons of Brocolli and Burritos and wash it all down with milk and I'll leave my Beano at home. Should make for some fun stories post-show. That way I can be hanging out with every one all day and night, even when I'm not there.