Buy, Sell or Hold Apple: Psychology, Sentiment and Your Cost Basis Matter

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- I went on CNBC's "Fast Money" Tuesday. And let's face it, I got beat up a little bit. I knew I was walking into a shark tank.

Former NFL linebacker @petenajarian can probably relate. I'm sure he got his bell rung early on in battle. It might not have been @K_Finerman who knocked him flat, but, hey, it's all good. She's one of the best.

That said, with all due respect to Karen, cost basis absolutely matters as Apple (AAPL) longs consider what to do, if anything, headed into today's earnings report. It seems to me the "Fast Money" crew wanted a clear-cut buy or sell; I don't think it's that simple, particularly because I don't have a crystal ball and I don't treat investing (or trading) like gambling.

Watch the video. Then I will provide context and my response.

First -- and I'm not ashamed to admit this, I was a little nervous. I think I am all right at this television thing after all of seven appearances; however, It takes time to get comfortable in that environment. Comfort only comes with time and practice. When you do TV everyday the words tend to flow; when you don't do it everyday, sometimes they just don't.