Tyler Tarver here — and just because I can’t attend The National this year (RIP, my early access ticket), doesn’t mean I’m not going to equip YOU with the best tips in the game. Whether it’s your first time or your fifth, these 15 card show tips — from packing a “grind kit” to trade night tactics — could be the difference between a legendary haul and hobby regret.

👟 Bonus: I even include weird tricks like how a Jordan Poole jersey got me more deals.

Timestamps:
0:00 – What’s Up Chicken Nuggets?
1:03 – Tip #1: Set a Clear Budget
2:34 – Tip #2: Bring Cash & Prep Your Apps
3:36 – Tip #3: Build a Focused Want List
4:38 – Tip #4: Don’t Waste Day 1
5:40 – Tip #5: Pack Snacks, Not Excuses
6:12 – Tip #6: Wear Comfortable Shoes & Deodorant
7:09 – Tip #7: Bring the Right Backpack or Case
8:04 – Tip #8: Scout Instagram at Night
9:24 – Tip #9: Ask Dealers for Hidden Cards
10:50 – Tip #10: Strap Your Case to You
12:26 – Tip #11: Daily Buying Themes
13:53 – Tip #12: Make a “Grind Kit”
14:48 – Tip #13: Crush It at Trade Nights
16:31 – Tip #14: Wear Player Jerseys to Get Offers
18:31 – Tip #15: Visualize the Deal Before You Commit

📩 Drop your National pickups in the comments — I want to see what y’all score!

this is crazy to me fr

this is a terrible situation for everyone involved. please have patience with people as they try to navigate this.

Reporting live from a creepy hotel room, Tyler breaks down his personal eBay data and what it reveals about the exploding popularity of WNBA cards — including Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese. Why are female athletes outselling NBA stars? Let's talk market momentum, culture, and how collectors are driving a shift that might be here to stay.

Timestamps:

• 00:45 – Why I was off the grid (Alaskan cruise + eBay settings)
• 1:45 – My exact eBay setup and pricing strategy
• 2:50 – 100% of sales = Female athletes?!
• 4:30 – Asia Wilson, Finn’s wall, and the cultural shift
• 6:15 – Caitlin Clark ≠ Best Player… but she’s the star
• 8:40 – Why narrative > stats in card collecting
• 9:50 – This is a Jordan moment for WNBA cards
• 10:45 – What you should be watching next

In this episode of Sports Cards Are Dope, Dr. Tyler Tarver breaks down the major shift eBay is making to their auction system: extended bidding. What does it mean for you as a buyer, seller, or investor in sports cards? Is this the end of last-second sniping? Or just the beginning of more fair pricing? Tyler dives deep with analogies, insights, and hot takes that’ll have you rethinking how you buy cards online.

🕒 Timestamps:

• 0:00 — What up, chicken nuggets! Why this change matters
• 1:45 — eBay’s extended bidding explained in simple terms
• 3:15 — How this compares to Goldin, PWCC, and other marketplaces
• 5:00 — Why buyers feel betrayed (and sellers don’t trust it either)
• 7:25 — Analogy time: eBay vs. the NBA shot clock
• 9:30 — Will comps even matter anymore?
• 10:45 — Wrap-up: Is this good for the hobby?

In this episode of Sports Cards Are Dope, Dr. Tyler Tarver breaks down how to spot players before they explode in value. We’re not chasing hype, we’re finding smart buys before the market catches up. From Cooper Flagg to Jordan Poole, from losing teams to playoff sleepers, we’re talking player movement, market psychology, and real stories from the trenches of the hobby.

⏰ Timestamps:
0:00 – What up, chicken nuggets
0:46 – Why Cooper Flagg may already be overpriced
2:15 – The “Young Star Dip” is real (Wemby, Zion, Ja)
3:54 – Situation is greater than Talent: The Austin Rivers Rule
6:01 – Jordan Poole, Wizards bias & false narratives
9:45 – Players to watch after trades (LaRavia, Hachimura)
11:00 – Buy these types of players now
12:18 – Final thoughts: sleeper teams, your comments matter!

In this episode of Sports Cards Are Dope, Dr. Tyler Tarver breaks down the Gym Rate data and the crazy grading trends from June 2025. From Pokémon outpacing ALL major sports combined to the possible downfall (and potential Fanatics acquisition) of Beckett—this one’s got it all.
Plus, how TCG may be the Fortnite gateway into our sports card Call of Duty world.

⏱️ Timestamps:

• 0:00 – Welcome, Chicken Nuggets 🍗
• 1:10 – PSA Still King, But CGC Is Climbing Fast
• 3:00 – Beckett Down BAD: 30% Drop in Grading
• 4:50 – TCG vs Sports Cards: Who's Really Winning?
• 7:15 – Is Pokémon the Taylor Swift of the Hobby?
• 9:00 – Why Fanatics Might Buy Beckett
• 11:45 – Rage Baiting, Social Media, and the Hobby
• 14:10 – How We Should React to the TCG Takeover
• 16:05 – Outro: “Be kind, have fun, and never stop collecting.”

What up chicken nuggets! I just got back from Fanatics Fest with my son Finn and we’ve got thoughts. Big ones. We talk about the real purpose of this event, the strategic media machine behind it, and why sports cards may just be the Trojan horse of the whole thing.

We also break down what Fanatics got right… and where they totally dropped the ball by not using card creators to host athlete experiences. This episode blends content strategy, card culture, and Kevin Durant dodging my autograph attempt.

Timestamps:

• (0:00) Intro + Kid's POV: Meeting Speed, the Rizzler, and Joey Chestnut
• (1:50) Was this actually a card show?
• (3:40) The genius FOMO social media strategy
• (5:50) “Trojan Horse” approach to card exposure
• (7:30) Missed opportunity: no card creators hosting athletes
• (11:15) The power of collab culture—why cards need a Travis Scott moment
• (13:45) Security drama: Almost met KD, then got kicked out 😂
• (18:00) What Fanatics should absolutely do next year
• (21:30) Final thoughts from Finn + peace out