June 6, 2025 • 19 mins
Tony talks with Chris and Brian from Artsman Sport about their line of memorabilia and how their business came to be, on ESPN 1530!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
On ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Welcome back.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
It is since E three sixty on a Friday, rolling
along our number three on ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati's Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Austin.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
We have to transition here of something that is very
near and dear to both I know you and me,
and that is yes, this world of unique memorabilia. If
you've ever seen how my basement has set up, Austin,
you've been there. I know Austin, you're starting your collection.
But being a you know, a sports radio show, we
tie in a lot to the memorabilia side of things.
(00:38):
And there is something going on here in Cincinnati locally
that we have to share. And we've got Brian and
Chris in here today from Artsman to share with what
they have going on, which is unbelievable stuff. And they're
in studio with us today, Fellas.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
What's going on, Hey, Tony, and thanks for having us
in Man, really appreciate you guys. You guys have inviting
us into your amazing studio and uh, and let.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Us tell a story.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Yep, We're excited to be here. This is uh, this
is so unique. When I first learned about what you
guys are doing because I've never seen it before. You know,
I've I've seen trading cards, I've seen framed jerseys, assigned helmets,
different stuff. I memorabil You guys are taking it to
a completely different level. So for those that don't know,
(01:26):
explain what you guys do.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
So we so we we work with the lot of
n cua A teams and we work with the NBA.
We run a program inside the NBA called NBA Reclaimed,
So we take the basketball courts and we program them
into all kinds of memorabilia, not just for fans for retail,
but we do.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
It for internal programs for the teams.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
So everything from like furniture and installations and arenas to
we've done broadcasting tables like this, like that the Cavaliers
broadcasts are before pre and post game from and then
to the craziest stuff in people's homes.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
And it's a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
The memorabilia side that people can buy on our website
is just like it's holding a piece of history, right
you know, Like so I mean it's like you and
I have been talking about like getting field turf from U.
See right, so the retired field turf, like you touch it,
you feel it, you connect with it, and it holds
all the memories from everything that you've ever witnessed and
(02:27):
seen from that time period that was there in this
Kentucky floor that we have here in front of us
right now. Luckily, the Kentucky and the Oakview group that
runs Rapperina trusted us with this court. And there's actually
it's very rare that a college court lasts as long
as it did, sure, and so only two courts span
(02:50):
the past the entire fifty years of Rapperina, and which
is just insane, you know. So we have fifty years
of history of Reperena in our warehouse in Cincinnati.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
And not to mention, you know.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
The Nuggets championship floor and and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
We have Jerry West floor that he played out in
West Virginia.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
We have nine national championship floors for the men's, we
have three for the women's. We have the first ever
basketball court ever produced for Doctor Naismith that.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Hasn't gone for sale yet, you know.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
And and it just goes on and on and on,
and it's it's just a lot of fun for us
to work in a business where we can touch and
hold and and create these memories for other people.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Are you, when you're getting a court, are you charting
where different big time events have happened on the court.
I mean, are you if you have a court that
you're getting, or are you watching a NBA Finals game
last night and you know Halliburton hits the shot? Are
you marking that? Of Okay, that'd be a not only
(03:59):
to get the court, but that'd be a spot on
the court that obviously you'd want to have a piece of.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Absolutely, we do our research. We watch these games closely,
and we.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Have done a ton of research. A lot. He has
researched everything down. It's amazing.
Speaker 4 (04:15):
We'll go back and we do kind of programs we
call key shots.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
So again with the Milwaukee Bucks, you know you've got
the honest free throw, the honest block. Same with you know,
the Cash Championship. There's plenty of key moments there. So, yeah,
we we go back and identify those key portions of
the court and kind of allocate those for different.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
I would imagine basketball courts are a little bit different
because football, the turf just wears down so much. You've
got to change that more often. Our basketball courts wearing down.
If they do, I would imagine a lot of teams
will just refinish them until you eventually have to to
change the court.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Correct.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Yeah, so like, uh, you know there it's a standard
tongue and groove floor, and you know above the tongue,
you know, sometimes there are different heights. But you know,
they every time modern in the modern era, they want
to sand him down and repaint them more and more
and more to change out their logos, are branding, their sponsorships,
all that stuff. So the more they sand them down,
(05:16):
the you know, they could last for thirty years.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
We we took.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
Out Yukon's gamble pavilion that lasted thirty three years, which
was unusual, and I mean luckily they lasted that long
because there's like between the men's.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
And the women's there's you know, twenty what is it,
twenty two championship, there's a lot of championships and a lot.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Of Yeah, it's it was crazy, you know, and uh,
you know it was kind of funny because you know,
Brian was, uh, we were all there taking out that
Yukon court, and Brian's like there's like the last remaining
piece from center court, and Brian's like doing all kinds
of tripling on it. In one of our guys, Andrew,
who is there, He's like doing the xavior looks like
(05:57):
right of it, like and I'm like, yeah, cameraman, like funny.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
I'm proud to say I was the last person to
stand on that court. Yeah he was. He was. Then
we took it up.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
I was like, nobody else has a lot to stand
on this now.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
I would imagine not only what people are interested in
former players or coaches. I'm sure one would want a
piece of that, or or are there situations where you
are pulling up a court and then using that court
to give back to some of the players that have
played on in the past.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
We we have actually and so like it's it's actually
a lot of fun to get the players involved in it.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Brian.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Actually we had to deliver some tables that we made
for the Brooklyn Nets last year were a big suite
redesign that they were doing, and Brian gave me a
big piece of the Yukon court and to give to
what was her name of the player from Yukon.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Oh I cannot recall.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Yeah it's I should, we should know this, but like
it's okay, But I. I saw her and I tended
to see her, and she was going into the Liberty's Finals.
It was like the last game, and I as we
were dropping that off and heading out, she was coming
out of the out of the Uh.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
It's gonna kill me that I can't remember her, but uh. Anyway, so,
like she was one.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Of the big players from Yukon that graduated and so
I we gave it to the trainer that and she
walked out and she's like and she was like super
excited that she got that piece and and uh.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
And then they went on they won.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
What what was it about this that inspired you to
want to start and get into to join this It's
very unique. So I've never heard of I don't even
know existed. But what what inspired you to want to
get into this this field?
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Great question?
Speaker 1 (07:44):
So, like, you know, my background is as a designer,
industrial designer and and the background of business and and
so I love all things design and environments like everything.
So like I wanted to create a company that that
kind of you know, kind of met all those internal
(08:05):
things for me and I and so it was kind
of by accident actually how we got into this. We
were originally a group of like four guys who one
or two and all those guys have now since gone,
and I was I'm the last remain person. But the
we kind of we really thought we were going to do,
(08:27):
like man came furniture, and then we met with a
manufacturer who makes basketball courts here in Cincinnati and they said, well,
would you ever want to do any kind of like
game use court? And I said, well that sounds great.
I love to, but like how do we how do
we get that every time? And then we had that
meeting left. Two weeks later, Cleveland Cavaliers come back from
(08:47):
three to one down win the championship. They called this
manufacturer and they said they want to cut their floor
into twenty thousand pieces. They're like, oh, we can't do that.
And then so they call us and they're like can
you do it? And I said yeah, right, hell yeah,
we could do it. And so we did it and
like figured it out and like uh and it was
(09:07):
that was a whole very interesting story. The floor gets
shipped to us and we have it in our possession
and we're about to cut it and then they ordered
a new floor. They laid the floor down for the preseason.
Do you remember hearing the story, they laid the floor
down for the preseason, and Dan Gilbert made the sole
decision to take the Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Skyline out of the floor.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Yeah, and the fans protested so badly that I mean,
we were within a day of cutting that floor and
we had to pack it all back together, ship it
back to Cleveland. They had to lay it down. We
didn't even know where the gold post stands were, like,
so like, yeah, we had to figure this out and
like uh. And so they laid it down, they sent
(09:48):
the floor back to get it, sand it again, paint it,
add the skyline back in, and then the Republican National Conventions.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
Being held in Cleveland at the same time as the
I want to say, the.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Uh the Alcs, Right, it was the it was the
uh the World Series? It was was it the World Series?
I think it was the World Series. Yeah, it was
happening at the exact same time next door. And then
they're trying to get so they got the new floor in,
they got it back, and then they they're trying to
sneak the floor out in the middle of all this stuff.
(10:22):
We get it and they go, can we please cut
this floor up now? Because we had three months to
get this whole thing cut. Yeah, we didn't know what
we were doing, right, and we got the whole thing cut, manufactured, done,
and we got it made like I don't know, like
it was like thirty thousand pieces.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Wow. And they alsold that's crazy.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
Yeah, when when you're when you're talking about from the
flooring standpoint locally, I know you mentioned, uh West Virginia, Kentucky.
I know you guys do some stuff Xavier, stuff that
you guys have done as well that that you guys
make available yet UCS court. Yeah, also man and the
Huggins here court. See that's that's a like there's a
(11:02):
lot of moments on that court.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Oh my god. Well you guys chewed a lot of
dirt on that stuff, right, Yeah, quite a bit. I
missed those days. Yeah, I missed those days.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
It had the original cat in the center, Yeah, because
they bought a new court and they stuck it on
top and then nobody knew that original cat was there.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Yeah, and it was like it was like from way
back when it was awesome.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Well, you got there's literally no limit to what you
guys are doing with these court. I mean from furniture
and tables and desks to smaller pieces, coasters, many courts.
I mean, the list goes on and on of what
you guys are literally able to do with any court
that you come into possession of.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Pretty much.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
Yeah, there, we haven't really any limitations. And I'll tell you, man,
those putters absolutely help your game.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Yeah that's it. Well it's old, so.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
They didn't help your game. Oh you don't need helping you?
Is that what you're saying?
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Correct? Are you crossing? Are you crossing the for fields
as well? We are so like, uh so, I mean
as you.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
Yeah, I saw today you were Austin was gifted Ay,
I means you gifted Austin a piece of the actual
goal line tart from Ohio State.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
From Ohio State. Yeah. So like so we have we
have half, we have.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
One goal line of Ohio State that we're not doing
anything with right now.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
We did it.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
We helped a company do a promotion for that about
a year and a year and a half ago, two
years ago, and uh so we're kind of sitting in
trust on that right now.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
We did it from Nebraska, okay, and we took it.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Don't let our ball don't let DJ hear that because
I hear enough about Nebraska as it is right now.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Yeah, there's a lot of corn out there. They it
for their name, you know, we did it was kind
of fun. It was one hundredth anniversary of Memorial Stadium
in Nebraska, so they wanted to kind of memorialize it,
and they had original plank seating that was still there
and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
So it was kind of cool and it was.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Fun when you know, more and more arenas and stadiums
are starting to realize that you can repurpose and take
pieces of artifacts from you know, from these places, and
then people want to touch it. They want to you know,
so you monetize it and it really helps out.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Like in the college level, it helps out.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Nil sure, you know, they read you know, we so
we've done programs for the k Fund and you know
where they get a certain amount of the profits that
come from this, so it really benefits their program. And
then we've done it. We did a separate program for
UK alumni where they get a certain amount that goes
back into scholarships for kids. Yeah, you know, so like
I mean it really, you know, we try to we
(13:38):
try to enhance and help every part of the team.
Be successful, you know, and like and why not, like
you know, seventy six hundred square feet of flooring that
once it's gone, it's gone.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
But you know what people used to do is just
put in a dumpster. Well that was that was my
original thought.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
When when you talk about moments that have happened on
courts or fields and before you guys came around, those
were just being thrown away. And there are so many
fans standpoint that can relate to you know, growing up
and watching your team's games on that court, or you know,
remembering a certain play or a game that happened on
(14:16):
that court, and you guys have now made it accessible
to own a piece of that court, you know, in
a way to show off. Yeah, and it has like
my my favorite thing about memorabilia, whatever it may be,
is a story that you can tell with it. You know,
it's one thing to just buy something online, but if
there's a story that goes with it, it just it
goes a long way. When when you can display and
(14:39):
show something like that.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Yeah, I mean, and it's genuine. I mean, it's a
it's a genuine feeling. I mean sometimes I mean, depending
on what happened on that court. I mean, I might
be talking about it and I feel like I'm getting
choked up sometimes because, like I.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Mean, it's it's like a real thing.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
You see these players and you see how hard they work,
and you see the dedication they.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Sweat and everything that's been poured onto that court.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
I mean we found blood on the courts found I
mean from blood to champagne, right, Yeah, Yeah, that's cool.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
Yeah, the confetti is still there on a lot of
these championship courts.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Ye see the sneaker scuffs.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Yeah, it's it's essentially sports and its history tying into one.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
It is and we have the we have the we've
been saving it and I don't know why we've been
saving it, but like we've been saving it for We
have the last the last last spot that Mike Sischewski
ever coached in when he got We also have the
playing court that he played on at West west Point
Military Academy as well.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
How many courts do you house at the warehouse? Forty? Yeah? Wow,
plus or minus?
Speaker 3 (15:43):
And if you're if you're trying to break one down,
how long is that usually taking a breakdown of court?
Speaker 1 (15:49):
I mean we're doing one, We're doing one, right, now
for the Golden State Warriors the practice facility court where
you got to do it in about.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
A month and a half, So yeah, not a lot
of time. Now.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
This one's actually we've had to bring some extra help
and to kind of break this one down because we're
helping to redress the offices in San Francisco with this, okay,
with with some of the stuff, and they're doing a
lot of programs like making pieces for the players that
all the players for the past twenty five years have
played on.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
It's like one and yeah, it's.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
You saw that list of players that's incredible extensive. Yeah,
so it's cool to be able to get that piece
right back into their hands.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
Yeah, yeah, it's it's uh, you know, sometimes I get
overwhelmed with all the things that we have going on,
you know. And we're bringing in the Dallas Mavericks right now,
we're bringing in Orlando Magic, Memphis Grizzlies.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
We just got the twenty twenty five All Star Court
in from San Francisco, which is kind of cool looking,
you know, and I can't think of.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
We're doing some partnerships with Lids up Deck. Yeah, where
lids were We're going to release certain products in the
LA Store as well as the all of America.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
It's such a it's a unique piece.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Now.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
I know Austin and I are both big into trading cards.
You're in a piece now where they're putting memorabilia in
trading cards now, from bats to courts, to cleats to everything.
So it is it's it's that history that that ties
people to it, that that make it so much more enjoyable.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Yeah, it's it's really it's cool then, and that's uh,
we're actually kind of coming up with can't say, we're
not saying trading cards.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
It's not trading.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
Cards, definitely not trading card, but we're coming up with
like a and these are like really cool, Like you,
this is something that you should start collecting.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
And my wife would love to hear that you collect.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Well, we'll just give them to you, Yes, we'll just
give them to you, like you don't have to like
there's no monetary exchange, but like it's a coin in
a case that has like a and the coin is
made out of the wood, and so each coin is
going to have its own special thing. We can tell
a ton of stories, but it's gonna be surrounded by
a card in class case and so it's it's our
way of kind of working around nice all the paninis
(18:05):
and the upper decks and the.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
What for for those listening that that just want to
find out more what you guys are doing in products,
what's the easiest way.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
For folks to do that?
Speaker 1 (18:16):
Go to www dot artsman sport dot com, uh A
ar T s M A N S p O r
T dot com and you can kind of you can
kind of join our list of people like to kind
of get to know what we do and how you
can find out. But like, uh, Kentucky right now is
a We're so close to Kentucky, it's so it's so
(18:39):
dear or you know, so many people's hearts here. Cincinnati
has the largest alumni base outside of Kentucky sure in
the country. I think it's like twenty eight hundred alumni
live in Cincinnati or surrounding area. And then like you know,
and to have this available for people to come and see.
We have a bunch of new products coming out for
Kentucky or the next couple months.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
We have dog tags, which are really badass. Yeah, and
like every everybody needs to have a dog tag, I think.
But uh, we'll make it. You see one for you
love it. This is awesome. You brought Kentucky stuff in.
I'm gonna take a picure.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
I'm gonna I'm gonna peruse this and take a picture
and post what you guys have. But uh, what you
guys are doing is awesome, and uh we certainly appreciate
you coming by.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
Yeah, thanks for thanks for having us me absolutely, guys,
this is awesome. This is fun. We appreciate it. Great Friday.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
Yeah, this is a fun Friday, right, Sports Memorabilia Who
Radio Yeah, yeah, yes, we'll be back after this. Since
he three sixty thanks to a Penn station ESPN fifteen
thirty Cincinnati Sports Station, Lowagger.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Reality is they're probably not good enough.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
He dissects the local sports scene.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
They're not consistent enough.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
The way up fourth grader dissects across not reliable Lowegger
Today at three on ESPN fifteen thirty Deal Cincinnati
On ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Welcome back.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
It is since E three sixty on a Friday, rolling
along our number three on ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati's Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Austin.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
We have to transition here of something that is very
near and dear to both I know you and me,
and that is yes, this world of unique memorabilia. If
you've ever seen how my basement has set up, Austin,
you've been there. I know Austin, you're starting your collection.
But being a you know, a sports radio show, we
tie in a lot to the memorabilia side of things.
(00:38):
And there is something going on here in Cincinnati locally
that we have to share. And we've got Brian and
Chris in here today from Artsman to share with what
they have going on, which is unbelievable stuff. And they're
in studio with us today, Fellas.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
What's going on, Hey, Tony, and thanks for having us
in Man, really appreciate you guys. You guys have inviting
us into your amazing studio and uh, and let.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Us tell a story.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Yep, We're excited to be here. This is uh, this
is so unique. When I first learned about what you
guys are doing because I've never seen it before. You know,
I've I've seen trading cards, I've seen framed jerseys, assigned helmets,
different stuff. I memorabil You guys are taking it to
a completely different level. So for those that don't know,
(01:26):
explain what you guys do.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
So we so we we work with the lot of
n cua A teams and we work with the NBA.
We run a program inside the NBA called NBA Reclaimed,
So we take the basketball courts and we program them
into all kinds of memorabilia, not just for fans for retail,
but we do.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
It for internal programs for the teams.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
So everything from like furniture and installations and arenas to
we've done broadcasting tables like this, like that the Cavaliers
broadcasts are before pre and post game from and then
to the craziest stuff in people's homes.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
And it's a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
The memorabilia side that people can buy on our website
is just like it's holding a piece of history, right
you know, Like so I mean it's like you and
I have been talking about like getting field turf from U.
See right, so the retired field turf, like you touch it,
you feel it, you connect with it, and it holds
all the memories from everything that you've ever witnessed and
(02:27):
seen from that time period that was there in this
Kentucky floor that we have here in front of us
right now. Luckily, the Kentucky and the Oakview group that
runs Rapperina trusted us with this court. And there's actually
it's very rare that a college court lasts as long
as it did, sure, and so only two courts span
(02:50):
the past the entire fifty years of Rapperina, and which
is just insane, you know. So we have fifty years
of history of Reperena in our warehouse in Cincinnati.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
And not to mention, you know.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
The Nuggets championship floor and and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
We have Jerry West floor that he played out in
West Virginia.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
We have nine national championship floors for the men's, we
have three for the women's. We have the first ever
basketball court ever produced for Doctor Naismith that.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Hasn't gone for sale yet, you know.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
And and it just goes on and on and on,
and it's it's just a lot of fun for us
to work in a business where we can touch and
hold and and create these memories for other people.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Are you, when you're getting a court, are you charting
where different big time events have happened on the court.
I mean, are you if you have a court that
you're getting, or are you watching a NBA Finals game
last night and you know Halliburton hits the shot? Are
you marking that? Of Okay, that'd be a not only
(03:59):
to get the court, but that'd be a spot on
the court that obviously you'd want to have a piece of.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Absolutely, we do our research. We watch these games closely,
and we.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Have done a ton of research. A lot. He has
researched everything down. It's amazing.
Speaker 4 (04:15):
We'll go back and we do kind of programs we
call key shots.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
So again with the Milwaukee Bucks, you know you've got
the honest free throw, the honest block. Same with you know,
the Cash Championship. There's plenty of key moments there. So, yeah,
we we go back and identify those key portions of
the court and kind of allocate those for different.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
I would imagine basketball courts are a little bit different
because football, the turf just wears down so much. You've
got to change that more often. Our basketball courts wearing down.
If they do, I would imagine a lot of teams
will just refinish them until you eventually have to to
change the court.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Correct.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Yeah, so like, uh, you know there it's a standard
tongue and groove floor, and you know above the tongue,
you know, sometimes there are different heights. But you know,
they every time modern in the modern era, they want
to sand him down and repaint them more and more
and more to change out their logos, are branding, their sponsorships,
all that stuff. So the more they sand them down,
(05:16):
the you know, they could last for thirty years.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
We we took.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
Out Yukon's gamble pavilion that lasted thirty three years, which
was unusual, and I mean luckily they lasted that long
because there's like between the men's.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
And the women's there's you know, twenty what is it,
twenty two championship, there's a lot of championships and a lot.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Of Yeah, it's it was crazy, you know, and uh,
you know it was kind of funny because you know,
Brian was, uh, we were all there taking out that
Yukon court, and Brian's like there's like the last remaining
piece from center court, and Brian's like doing all kinds
of tripling on it. In one of our guys, Andrew,
who is there, He's like doing the xavior looks like
(05:57):
right of it, like and I'm like, yeah, cameraman, like funny.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
I'm proud to say I was the last person to
stand on that court. Yeah he was. He was. Then
we took it up.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
I was like, nobody else has a lot to stand
on this now.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
I would imagine not only what people are interested in
former players or coaches. I'm sure one would want a
piece of that, or or are there situations where you
are pulling up a court and then using that court
to give back to some of the players that have
played on in the past.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
We we have actually and so like it's it's actually
a lot of fun to get the players involved in it.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Brian.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Actually we had to deliver some tables that we made
for the Brooklyn Nets last year were a big suite
redesign that they were doing, and Brian gave me a
big piece of the Yukon court and to give to
what was her name of the player from Yukon.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Oh I cannot recall.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Yeah it's I should, we should know this, but like
it's okay, But I. I saw her and I tended
to see her, and she was going into the Liberty's Finals.
It was like the last game, and I as we
were dropping that off and heading out, she was coming
out of the out of the Uh.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
It's gonna kill me that I can't remember her, but uh. Anyway, so,
like she was one.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Of the big players from Yukon that graduated and so
I we gave it to the trainer that and she
walked out and she's like and she was like super
excited that she got that piece and and uh.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
And then they went on they won.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
What what was it about this that inspired you to
want to start and get into to join this It's
very unique. So I've never heard of I don't even
know existed. But what what inspired you to want to
get into this this field?
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Great question?
Speaker 1 (07:44):
So, like, you know, my background is as a designer,
industrial designer and and the background of business and and
so I love all things design and environments like everything.
So like I wanted to create a company that that
kind of you know, kind of met all those internal
(08:05):
things for me and I and so it was kind
of by accident actually how we got into this. We
were originally a group of like four guys who one
or two and all those guys have now since gone,
and I was I'm the last remain person. But the
we kind of we really thought we were going to do,
(08:27):
like man came furniture, and then we met with a
manufacturer who makes basketball courts here in Cincinnati and they said, well,
would you ever want to do any kind of like
game use court? And I said, well that sounds great.
I love to, but like how do we how do
we get that every time? And then we had that
meeting left. Two weeks later, Cleveland Cavaliers come back from
(08:47):
three to one down win the championship. They called this
manufacturer and they said they want to cut their floor
into twenty thousand pieces. They're like, oh, we can't do that.
And then so they call us and they're like can
you do it? And I said yeah, right, hell yeah,
we could do it. And so we did it and
like figured it out and like uh and it was
(09:07):
that was a whole very interesting story. The floor gets
shipped to us and we have it in our possession
and we're about to cut it and then they ordered
a new floor. They laid the floor down for the preseason.
Do you remember hearing the story, they laid the floor
down for the preseason, and Dan Gilbert made the sole
decision to take the Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Skyline out of the floor.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Yeah, and the fans protested so badly that I mean,
we were within a day of cutting that floor and
we had to pack it all back together, ship it
back to Cleveland. They had to lay it down. We
didn't even know where the gold post stands were, like,
so like, yeah, we had to figure this out and
like uh. And so they laid it down, they sent
(09:48):
the floor back to get it, sand it again, paint it,
add the skyline back in, and then the Republican National Conventions.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
Being held in Cleveland at the same time as the
I want to say, the.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Uh the Alcs, Right, it was the it was the
uh the World Series? It was was it the World Series?
I think it was the World Series. Yeah, it was
happening at the exact same time next door. And then
they're trying to get so they got the new floor in,
they got it back, and then they they're trying to
sneak the floor out in the middle of all this stuff.
(10:22):
We get it and they go, can we please cut
this floor up now? Because we had three months to
get this whole thing cut. Yeah, we didn't know what
we were doing, right, and we got the whole thing cut, manufactured, done,
and we got it made like I don't know, like
it was like thirty thousand pieces.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Wow. And they alsold that's crazy.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
Yeah, when when you're when you're talking about from the
flooring standpoint locally, I know you mentioned, uh West Virginia, Kentucky.
I know you guys do some stuff Xavier, stuff that
you guys have done as well that that you guys
make available yet UCS court. Yeah, also man and the
Huggins here court. See that's that's a like there's a
(11:02):
lot of moments on that court.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Oh my god. Well you guys chewed a lot of
dirt on that stuff, right, Yeah, quite a bit. I
missed those days. Yeah, I missed those days.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
It had the original cat in the center, Yeah, because
they bought a new court and they stuck it on
top and then nobody knew that original cat was there.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Yeah, and it was like it was like from way
back when it was awesome.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Well, you got there's literally no limit to what you
guys are doing with these court. I mean from furniture
and tables and desks to smaller pieces, coasters, many courts.
I mean, the list goes on and on of what
you guys are literally able to do with any court
that you come into possession of.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Pretty much.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
Yeah, there, we haven't really any limitations. And I'll tell you, man,
those putters absolutely help your game.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Yeah that's it. Well it's old, so.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
They didn't help your game. Oh you don't need helping you?
Is that what you're saying?
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Correct? Are you crossing? Are you crossing the for fields
as well? We are so like, uh so, I mean
as you.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
Yeah, I saw today you were Austin was gifted Ay,
I means you gifted Austin a piece of the actual
goal line tart from Ohio State.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
From Ohio State. Yeah. So like so we have we
have half, we have.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
One goal line of Ohio State that we're not doing
anything with right now.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
We did it.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
We helped a company do a promotion for that about
a year and a year and a half ago, two
years ago, and uh so we're kind of sitting in
trust on that right now.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
We did it from Nebraska, okay, and we took it.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Don't let our ball don't let DJ hear that because
I hear enough about Nebraska as it is right now.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Yeah, there's a lot of corn out there. They it
for their name, you know, we did it was kind
of fun. It was one hundredth anniversary of Memorial Stadium
in Nebraska, so they wanted to kind of memorialize it,
and they had original plank seating that was still there
and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
So it was kind of cool and it was.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Fun when you know, more and more arenas and stadiums
are starting to realize that you can repurpose and take
pieces of artifacts from you know, from these places, and
then people want to touch it. They want to you know,
so you monetize it and it really helps out.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Like in the college level, it helps out.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Nil sure, you know, they read you know, we so
we've done programs for the k Fund and you know
where they get a certain amount of the profits that
come from this, so it really benefits their program. And
then we've done it. We did a separate program for
UK alumni where they get a certain amount that goes
back into scholarships for kids. Yeah, you know, so like
I mean it really, you know, we try to we
(13:38):
try to enhance and help every part of the team.
Be successful, you know, and like and why not, like
you know, seventy six hundred square feet of flooring that
once it's gone, it's gone.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
But you know what people used to do is just
put in a dumpster. Well that was that was my
original thought.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
When when you talk about moments that have happened on
courts or fields and before you guys came around, those
were just being thrown away. And there are so many
fans standpoint that can relate to you know, growing up
and watching your team's games on that court, or you know,
remembering a certain play or a game that happened on
(14:16):
that court, and you guys have now made it accessible
to own a piece of that court, you know, in
a way to show off. Yeah, and it has like
my my favorite thing about memorabilia, whatever it may be,
is a story that you can tell with it. You know,
it's one thing to just buy something online, but if
there's a story that goes with it, it just it
goes a long way. When when you can display and
(14:39):
show something like that.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Yeah, I mean, and it's genuine. I mean, it's a
it's a genuine feeling. I mean sometimes I mean, depending
on what happened on that court. I mean, I might
be talking about it and I feel like I'm getting
choked up sometimes because, like I.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Mean, it's it's like a real thing.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
You see these players and you see how hard they work,
and you see the dedication they.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Sweat and everything that's been poured onto that court.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
I mean we found blood on the courts found I
mean from blood to champagne, right, Yeah, Yeah, that's cool.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
Yeah, the confetti is still there on a lot of
these championship courts.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Ye see the sneaker scuffs.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Yeah, it's it's essentially sports and its history tying into one.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
It is and we have the we have the we've
been saving it and I don't know why we've been
saving it, but like we've been saving it for We
have the last the last last spot that Mike Sischewski
ever coached in when he got We also have the
playing court that he played on at West west Point
Military Academy as well.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
How many courts do you house at the warehouse? Forty? Yeah? Wow,
plus or minus?
Speaker 3 (15:43):
And if you're if you're trying to break one down,
how long is that usually taking a breakdown of court?
Speaker 1 (15:49):
I mean we're doing one, We're doing one, right, now
for the Golden State Warriors the practice facility court where
you got to do it in about.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
A month and a half, So yeah, not a lot
of time. Now.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
This one's actually we've had to bring some extra help
and to kind of break this one down because we're
helping to redress the offices in San Francisco with this, okay,
with with some of the stuff, and they're doing a
lot of programs like making pieces for the players that
all the players for the past twenty five years have
played on.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
It's like one and yeah, it's.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
You saw that list of players that's incredible extensive. Yeah,
so it's cool to be able to get that piece
right back into their hands.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
Yeah, yeah, it's it's uh, you know, sometimes I get
overwhelmed with all the things that we have going on,
you know. And we're bringing in the Dallas Mavericks right now,
we're bringing in Orlando Magic, Memphis Grizzlies.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
We just got the twenty twenty five All Star Court
in from San Francisco, which is kind of cool looking,
you know, and I can't think of.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
We're doing some partnerships with Lids up Deck. Yeah, where
lids were We're going to release certain products in the
LA Store as well as the all of America.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
It's such a it's a unique piece.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Now.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
I know Austin and I are both big into trading cards.
You're in a piece now where they're putting memorabilia in
trading cards now, from bats to courts, to cleats to everything.
So it is it's it's that history that that ties
people to it, that that make it so much more enjoyable.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Yeah, it's it's really it's cool then, and that's uh,
we're actually kind of coming up with can't say, we're
not saying trading cards.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
It's not trading.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
Cards, definitely not trading card, but we're coming up with
like a and these are like really cool, Like you,
this is something that you should start collecting.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
And my wife would love to hear that you collect.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Well, we'll just give them to you, Yes, we'll just
give them to you, like you don't have to like
there's no monetary exchange, but like it's a coin in
a case that has like a and the coin is
made out of the wood, and so each coin is
going to have its own special thing. We can tell
a ton of stories, but it's gonna be surrounded by
a card in class case and so it's it's our
way of kind of working around nice all the paninis
(18:05):
and the upper decks and the.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
What for for those listening that that just want to
find out more what you guys are doing in products,
what's the easiest way.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
For folks to do that?
Speaker 1 (18:16):
Go to www dot artsman sport dot com, uh A
ar T s M A N S p O r
T dot com and you can kind of you can
kind of join our list of people like to kind
of get to know what we do and how you
can find out. But like, uh, Kentucky right now is
a We're so close to Kentucky, it's so it's so
(18:39):
dear or you know, so many people's hearts here. Cincinnati
has the largest alumni base outside of Kentucky sure in
the country. I think it's like twenty eight hundred alumni
live in Cincinnati or surrounding area. And then like you know,
and to have this available for people to come and see.
We have a bunch of new products coming out for
Kentucky or the next couple months.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
We have dog tags, which are really badass. Yeah, and
like every everybody needs to have a dog tag, I think.
But uh, we'll make it. You see one for you
love it. This is awesome. You brought Kentucky stuff in.
I'm gonna take a picure.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
I'm gonna I'm gonna peruse this and take a picture
and post what you guys have. But uh, what you
guys are doing is awesome, and uh we certainly appreciate
you coming by.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
Yeah, thanks for thanks for having us me absolutely, guys,
this is awesome. This is fun. We appreciate it. Great Friday.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
Yeah, this is a fun Friday, right, Sports Memorabilia Who
Radio Yeah, yeah, yes, we'll be back after this. Since
he three sixty thanks to a Penn station ESPN fifteen
thirty Cincinnati Sports Station, Lowagger.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Reality is they're probably not good enough.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
He dissects the local sports scene.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
They're not consistent enough.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
The way up fourth grader dissects across not reliable Lowegger
Today at three on ESPN fifteen thirty Deal Cincinnati
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.