OT: Drew Max (AAU) Receives $10K Contract

[thetruthisoutthere]

Gotta read this!!!

http://www.northjersey.com/news/confiscated-baseball-treasures-used-in-money-laundering-scheme-going-to-auction-video-1.750907?page=1

[MikeKam]

Hoping someone challenges him as it looks like he is obligated to testify if someone says an item is fake.

[RichardSimon]

How interesting that Drew turned down many items.
Guess working for a prosecutor was interesting for him.

[Duluth Eskimo]

That is hilarious!!! There goes 10k tax payer money. Like Richard said, the funniest part is that he actually turned items away. Can't make it up

[thetruthisoutthere]

Drew Max!!!

I have as much disdain for Drew Max as I do Chris "I Never Saw An Autograph I Didn't Like" Morales.

Who the heck would choose Drew Max as their choice of "authenticator!!!"

[Big Dave]

He might have been chosen, in part, because he was willing to back up his opinion with court testimony. I have NEVER seen PSA/DNA or JSA come to court to back up their opinion, or even be willing to.

Regardless of what one thinks of his abilities, he is willing to stand behind his opinion, unlike the above mentioned companies who never admit to a false authentication.

[Mr. Zipper]

Regardless of what one thinks of his abilities, he is willing to stand behind his opinion, unlike the above mentioned companies who never admit to a false authentication.

Are you serious?!?

When has Drew Max admitted to being wrong? AAU was confronted with a AAU certed Babe Ruth signed ball that was manufactured after Ruth's death and they still wouldn't admit they were wrong!

So, it's more important to you that he "stands behind" his opinions in a court of law than the accuracy of the opinions rendered?

Do you understand what his "expert testimony" would involve? He would charge thousands of day in appearance fees and per Diem, and essentially it would boil down to, "in my opinion this signature falls within the standard range of deviation and it is authentic in my opinion." There is no way he can forensically PROVE anything.

I can't believe people actually fall for this "court appointed / testimony" sham.

[Fuddjcal]

Just when you think you've seen it all, a heartwarming story like this comes along:eek::eek:

[Duluth Eskimo]

He might have been chosen, in part, because he was willing to back up his opinion with court testimony. I have NEVER seen PSA/DNA or JSA come to court to back up their opinion, or even be willing to.

Regardless of what one thinks of his abilities, he is willing to stand behind his opinion, unlike the above mentioned companies who never admit to a false authentication.

Dave,
I'm sorry, but this is ridiculous. Drew Max is an idiot. So what you are saying is that if you have testified in court about autograph authentication and value you are qualified for a 10k government contract? Count me in because I have.

Not that I would say that the two big TPA's don't make mistakes, but to even compare them to Drew Max is like comparing apples to oranges. Max authenticates items that look like they were drawn in crayon and keeps a straight face while doing so.

[Big Dave]

Yes zip, I am serious.

I didn't say anything about his abilites, just that he is willing to back his opinion in court, unlike the other two.

As for the Ruth ball manufactured after his death, there was also a Cobb ball in Heritage certed by JSA and PSA/DNA that was manufactured after Cobb's death, and neither company admitted being wrong.

We could play tit for tat all day long, but all I stated was his willingness to back up his opinion, whereas the other two are not.

[thetruthisoutthere]

Hoping someone challenges him as it looks like he is obligated to testify if someone says an item is fake.

Ditto, Mike.

[Mr. Zipper]

he is willing to back his opinion in court, unlike the other two.

...We could play tit for tat all day long, but all I stated was his willingness to back up his opinion, whereas the other two are not.

I just can't see how charging someone thousands of dollars to appear in court to deliver what is likely be meaningless drivel with some forensics degrees as window dressing is in any way admirable. He is just further soaking some poor sap.

Regarding tit for tat... you are the one that brought the TPAs into it. :)

[Big Dave]

Zip...the tit for tat was in regard to your mention of the Ruth ball....thus my mention of the Cobb ball.

Doesn't really matter in the end, it's a done deal.

[shelly]

Just when you think you've seen it all, a heartwarming story like this comes along:eek::eek:

He started his company with a Loyyds of London contract for a million dollars. When he authenticated so many items from the Marino era the insurance contract seemed to go away.
Fud, you forgot to mention the Gehrig Jersey on PawnStars.
How anyone with a half of brain could say anthing other than the guy does not know his as-from a hole in the ground is beyond me.
Stand up in court and do what? Say that he knows nothing about everything is a joke. In the HBO special he got two out of five correct. Why didn't he go to court and say HBO was wrong. Just a remeinder to any one that did not see the show. Every item sent to the experts where all fake.:mad:

[keating3620]

I hope Drew authenticates the signatures with the Hubbell telescope lens he used on Pawn Stars

[johnmh71]

In the latest article, Max is stating that 75% of the items are fake. Based on the stuff looking like classic Coach's Corner, that percentage may be much lower than the actual number.

[thetruthisoutthere]

In the latest article, Max is stating that 75% of the items are fake. Based on the stuff looking like classic Coach's Corner, that percentage may be much lower than the actual number.

If that's true, I'd like to know if someone "helped" Max.

[MikeKam]

If that's true, I'd like to know if someone "helped" Max.

Or with Max being put in the spotlight, maybe he is trying to show that he is a competent authenticator to bring in more business only to continue his poor "authenticating" afterwards?

[shelly]

If that's true, I'd like to know if someone "helped" Max.
First of all if they had certs from the usual suspects there gone. Next comes the certs from people that don't exist
Now some of the items have UDA,Stiner and the rest.We are now down to 25%
He has to find out what is real or not. If in doubt spend a little from the experts. Cheap for $10,00
He will look good and that is really disgusting.:mad::mad::mad:

[Exhibitman]

I just can't see how charging someone thousands of dollars to appear in court to deliver what is likely be meaningless drivel with some forensics degrees as window dressing is in any way admirable. He is just further soaking some poor sap.

Regarding tit for tat... you are the one that brought the TPAs into it. :)

First of all, if he is subpoenaed as a percipient witness to testify about what he did to authenticate a specific item he doesn't have to be paid. A litigant would hire his own whore to testify (we call expert retention "whore shopping"). Second, if he ever testifies he could be gutted and filleted on cross with his record of screw ups which will be the end of him. Third, at least in Los Angeles an expert would charge upwards of $300 an hour for work and a premium rate for testimony, so a $10000 contract for looking over hundreds of items is not a headspinning number, especially since the article says the fee includes testimony so Drew has to work for free if there is a case. Without commenting on work quality, the actual contract is relatively cheap

[shelly]

. Third, at least in Los Angeles an expert would charge upwards of $300 an hour for work and a premium rate for testimony, so a $10000 contract for looking over hundreds of items is not a headspinning number, especially since the article says the fee includes testimony so Drew has to work for free if there is a case. Without commenting on work quality, the actual contract is relatively cheap

You are asumeing he is an expert. The title Forensic Examiner has gone to such outstanding people as the Donald, Morales, Garo and my new all time favorite GFA
You did hit it right on the head though cheap, cheap, cheap. Thats what you get when you pay someone to authenticate hundreds of pieces for $7500
I would love to see him testify it would be like a deer in the headlights:eek:

[thetruthisoutthere]

First of all if they had certs from the usual suspects there gone. Next comes the certs from people that don't exist
Now some of the items have UDA,Stiner and the rest.We are now down to 25%
He has to find out what is real or not. If in doubt spend a little from the experts. Cheap for $10,00
He will look good and that is really disgusting.:mad::mad::mad:

Well stated, Shelly.

[thetruthisoutthere]

What are the odds that there were some AAU (Drew Max) certed stuff in that "collection" that Max had to reject.

[Michael B]

Exhibitman "Third, at least in Los Angeles an expert would charge upwards of $300 an hour for work and a premium rate for testimony, so a $10000 contract for looking over hundreds of items is not a headspinning number, especially since the article says the fee includes testimony so Drew has to work for free if there is a case."

This is so true. I charge $250 per hour or any part thereof for expert testimony in cases here in Washington, D.C. 'Svengali" Drew would be giving it away pretty quickly if he did have to testify.

[jhs5120]

Zip...the tit for tat was in regard to your mention of the Ruth ball....thus my mention of the Cobb ball.

Doesn't really matter in the end, it's a done deal.

If I remember correctly, that Cobb ball was never authenticated nor auctioned. It was part of the auction preview and Heritage listed "JSA & PSA/DNA Certified" in anticipation of it passing, which it didn't. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I wouldn't compare PSA/DNA with AAU. Just because there is a clause in this guys contract to appear in court if there is a subsequent litigation does not mean he suggested the idea. It sounds like he needs the money.

[Big Dave]

Here's the thread on the Cobb ball. In it you will see a screen shot of the auction listing. It plainly states the ball comes with a full authentication letter from PSA/DNA, and an auction house letter from JSA. There is no mention it is a pre-certified viewing only. Once the ball was exposed as being made after Cobb's death, the spin doctors took over.

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=148758&highlight=ty+cobb+ball+heritage+auctions

[tazdmb]

So Drew apparently rejected 75% of the autographs-
http://www.northjersey.com/news/75-of-confiscated-baseball-memorabilia-fails-real-deal-test-for-bergen-county-prosecutor-s-auction-1.752935?page=all

[balltrash]

So Drew apparently rejected 75% of the autographs-
http://www.northjersey.com/news/75-of-confiscated-baseball-memorabilia-fails-real-deal-test-for-bergen-county-prosecutor-s-auction-1.752935?page=all


The prosecutor was quoted as stating that all which was rejected would be destroyed. In my opinion, based on my reactions to work I've seen done by this fellow, alot of authentic material has likely gone up in smoke...

[shelly]

The prosecutor was quoted as stating that all which was rejected would be destroyed. In my opinion, based on my reactions to work I've seen done by this fellow, alot of authentic material has likely gone up in smoke...

Not a chance. If he could tell they where bad.They where really bad.:D

[jhs5120]

Here's the thread on the Cobb ball. In it you will see a screen shot of the auction listing. It plainly states the ball comes with a full authentication letter from PSA/DNA, and an auction house letter from JSA. There is no mention it is a pre-certified viewing only. Once the ball was exposed as being made after Cobb's death, the spin doctors took over.

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=148758&highlight=ty+cobb+ball+heritage+auctions

You should read post #22 of that very thread, and then read it again.

[Big Dave]

I have read it, so there is no need to read it again. Nothing has changed since my last post, and nothing will.

[moeson]

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