Luka Nation Network

Every once in a while it make sense to talk about the temperature of the hobby. People are getting worried. Bitcoin is falling... but prices seem strong. What am I hearing Lets discuss!

A Card may have eye appeal- but try to make sure the price still has Brain Appeal!

What we don't know about our hobby friends might be the important stuff.This hobby attracts a certain type of person- and that person might need your help. Lets talk about some of the stuff that no one talks about- and maybe you will learn a bit more about me as well.

Recently, I have shifted my PC in a meaningful wayWithout getting too deep, let's discuss some of the reasons why I shifted my collecting focus from vintage to modern.

So much hobby drama-but its didn't impact my hobby day today.I opened packs with my kidsI had a random hobby encounterI watched fun hobby contentFor a day- the hobby drama didn't matter.

Lets talk about why we open products- and maybe if we understand what we are looking for going in, we can combine breaking for economic reasons with breaking for nostalgia and find a happy medium.

A message from a long time listener opens my eyes to a new idea to bring some nostalgia and fun back to collecting

If the cards are out of reach-- and nothing ids nostalgic, what is next? Easy: Pokemon. and it's already starting.

I used to be able to buy a box of any release and open it with my son. Not the case any more. So we are trying to find other ways to collect and have fun

Let's talk about the top players of each decade. Which ones have you even heard of? How many are relevant and collectable? and now- apply that to what is being paid for the players of today. Which ones will be relevant?

Its not time to buy Drake Maye... Its time to sell him.

300 EpisodesI Made it!

Lets talk about a mistake.. Dumping Mahomes cards because he didn't make the playoffs and there are a ton of great young QBs chasing him. Lets look at history and discuss why selling Mahomes now might be a huge mistake.

Its true- I was blocked.. But let's not talk about that. The Hobby is in a good place. There is good content, record prices and great publicity. I am having fun. Are you?

I am back with my "sell" your hype advice again. People always get mad at me- but I am always right in the end. And with Mendoza.. I will be double right!

The White Plains Show might have been slow- but on the other side of the Country- the Dallas show was on fire. Sometimes the health of the hobby depends on where you are looking.

If you have to call yourself the King- we already know you are not Him.The hobby is growing- but man the content is getting so cringe.To each his own I guess, but wow some of this stuff is awful.

Last week Caleb was Mahomes. Now Maye if Brady. Have you all learned nothing?Oh yeah- there is more to the hobby than the kaboom and downtown of this years Rc class.. if you are willing to do a bit of research.

AFC Playoffs.. Bills vs. Broncos. Two great young QBs. At least one is going to be playing in the aFC championship right? Wrong.Josh Allen is Fools Gold.

Big Contracts are signed.. Super teams are formed and it is going to lead to a work stoppage- That is not good for your cards.

It's a comp world in this hobby and when the comps matter so much- how can we be sure they are real? Truth is- I don't think we can.

PSA announces a label change- but why did they announce it now?I think its actually bad for Beckett that they announced it today!

So many big cards that have been hiding for so long- are coming up for sale. Why now?

I mean- he won his first Playoff game right? He has to be the next goat.Or is he TJ Yates?

Lebron is wearing a patch and the young QBs are doing their thing in the NFL Playoffs. All is right in the hobby!

For long term collectability- being great is not enough. KD just moved past Wilt on the all time scoring list... does anyone care? We discuss his collectability and why he is not thought of the same way as some of the greats he may pass soon.

My Dad said there would never be another Kareem. And people said there would never be another Joe Montana. No one would ever score as many goals as Wayne Gretzky. But- they were all wrong. Are we going to be wrong too?

So many people making conclusions about this top 50 list and they are all wrong.

Lets talk about the first list of Fanatics fest Attendees- and how they made the announcement!

Just one move- a simple one. And all of a sudden Beckett is cool again and PSA wins at the same time. You are welcome PSA.

Its not 1996.. Its not 1984... 2003? Nope.Let me know why I am wrong

Its a tale as old as time... A card sells for a ton. People immediately look for what's next and they jump on the next best thing. That move - more often than not- ends up being a mistake.

We all make resolutions. What are yours? My hobby resolutions- with a caveat.. I am going to let myself break one!

Topps Chrome NBA is great but everyone is making a big mistake with it... or am I the one making the mistake?

I am a big fan of Fanatics and Topps and what they have brought and continue to bring to the Hobby. BUT- there is one thing that really pisses me off...

It makes a great headline- but the data doesn't match.2025 was a record year for high end sales- but not many of them were modern cards.

Gold LogoMan everywhere... a $3M sale. The hobby is going strong!But- lets talk about some stuff that I didn't love.

Ring the bell... Its over.If you gave me the keys to drive this car- I would kill the Beckett 10 on day 1.

So PSA is buying Beckett? Who cares... How does it impact you? Is it a monopoly? How about you build your own monopoly- roll the dice and enjoy the trip around the board.

Loaded boxes? that's this week's hobby drama.Is that what brings you to the space? Drama?When the drama is louder than the cards- why stay?

I make mistakes?Don't you?

Its extended bidding.. The card you want has gone past the price you wanted to pay... do you keep going or do you let the card go? That is today's hobby dilemma.

How you noticed a change in your local show? Is it better? worse? A local show by me that used to always be packed- has started to lose some steam while other shows seem to be growing at a fast pace- why?

CT Scanning? That's old news...This week- its shill bidding and auction houses...But next week that will be old news too.The hobby loves drama.

So many negative hobby stories- and so much negative hobby content. I have done it myself- and it gets views. But- I have realized that the band plays longer at the "bull party" than the fleeting moment of being able to say "I told you so" with the bears. So- have fun. and if the sky falls- remember- there will be a higher sky to take its place very soon.

Topps NBA Chrome is coming- but maybe there are some under rated NBA buys right under our noses...

Shilling is bad- we get that.So they said- use a reserve.Now reserves are bad too??

Lots of Drama in the hobby-lets not forget the cardsI have a story that makes me bullish on the futureand- you might call it hobby positivity...

It's Ohtani's world. We are all just watching.And with 4 MVPS and 2 RINGS- he is in his own league already.

Will Panini actually sell? who knows- but its good for the hobby. I have some suggestions and a crazy idea. Let me know what you think?

I see a lot of people posting that this $3M Babe Ruth loss is a sign of things to come. The sky is falling- but is that really the case? I have another theory.