Hardcore Pawn star offers $25K for football Seahawks’ Jermaine Kearse threw into stands
Jan 23, 2015, 6:13 AM | Updated: Jan 26, 2015, 7:45 am
(Images courtesy Scott Shelton and Les Gold)
The Seahawks fan who caught the football Jermaine Kearse launched into the stands after the win Sunday says he can’t give it up, not even for Les Gold’s $25,000 offer.
Scott Shelton, who’s headed to prison the day after the Super Bowl for unlawful possession of a firearm, told KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson Show on Wednesday that he planned to return the ball to Kearse in exchange for a game-worn jersey and helmet autographed by the whole team.
Since the trade hasn’t happened yet, Shelton wasn’t opposed to hearing other offers. Monson invited Gold, the aggressive owner of American Jewelry and Loan, featured on truTV’s Hardcore Pawn, and Shelton, onto his show to try to broker a deal.
Gold said he knows what sports memorabilia is worth, and after seeing that play, he knew the ball would be a moneymaker.
The game-worn jersey and helmet that Kearse offered Shelton in exchange probably aren’t worth as much, according to Gold’s calculations.
“Let’s say the helmet is worth $1,000 or $1,500 if you went to buy a helmet signed by the team, you’d imagine,” says Gold. “A game-worn jersey would be around $300 or $400, so that’s around $2,300 is what he’s kind of offering you, and a meet and greet with him.”
Shelton didn’t respond to a low-ball offer of $5,000, but Gold said he’d up the ante if Shelton could provide written proof of a $20,000 offer he got earlier this week. If he had that, Gold said he’d pay $21,000.
Monson had heard the person behind the $20,000 offer planned to have both Kearse and Russell Wilson sign the ball, which he thought he could sell for $25,000.
Gold said if Shelton could manage to get the ball signed with a photograph of those two players signing it, he’d be willing to go to $22,000.
But the cash still wasn’t enough for Shelton.
“I can’t do it,” he said.
“I can always make money, meeting Jermaine [Kearse] and having his friendship and getting to meet the guy in person, that is a priceless experience for me as a Hawks fan.”
Gold said his phone lines are still open in the meantime.
“When you’re ready to sell it, if you do decide you don’t want to put it in the trophy case of the player, call me,” said Gold. “My phone is always available and I always have a check that you could take to the bank and it’s going to be good to cash.”
Shelton said he appreciates the offer but probably won’t be calling.
In fact, while the ball is still in his hands, he said he’s trying to put it to good use to raise money for charity. He’ll have the ball at Lucia’s in Kirkland on Friday between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. where fans can take a picture and also make a donation to the Tears Foundation.
That idea inspired another offer from Gold.
“How about if we make a donation to the charity. You get him [Kearse] to sign the ball and I write them a check for $25,000,” said Gold.
The $25,000 offer still didn’t change Shelton’s mind. He said he’s given his word to Kearse and he thinks they’ll be able to raise plenty for charity.