NY Post Jumps in to The Mantle War
 

Posted By: <b>Robert {Bigb13}</b><p><DIV>How can a card with &nbsp;<EM>restoration even get a 9 or a 10? Isn't that tampering? Rob</EM></DIV>

NY Post Jumps in to The Mantle War
 

Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Since I'm somewhat new to vintage card collecting I'm ignorant as to a lot of the histories and backgrounds of the various people involved. Jim and others seem to suggest that Gary is/was a pretty big player in the business. A number of others emailed me and informed me that Gary is a very well known doctor. I think Frank is a doctor as well -- do they know each other from medicine?

NY Post Jumps in to The Mantle War
 

Posted By: <b>boxingcardman</b><p>“Speaking of thousands of dollars made, you sold me a large number of high-grade GAI 1955 Bowman baseball cards that were independently verified later as having been trimmed, re-glossed, or a combination of both. Are you planning on letting us all in on the secrets as to how you managed to perpetrate these alterations and get them past a professional grading company?”<br /><br />Mark: your mistake--GAI isn’t a professional grading company.<br /><br />“substitute Joe Orlando for Forman and PSA for SGC, we'd be over 300 posts by now, with every conspiritorial theory from Joe Orlando being linked to the Khmer Rouge and the rumor that the first PSA slabs were made from human skulls.”<br /><br />Paul: funny you mention it, I always did think JO had a bit of Pol Pot to him; maybe it’s all the posters at CU that disappear when they criticize the regime.<br /><br />As for the rest of this post, it ticks me off to see rumors and accusations parroted as fact, about anyone (well, almost anyone--rumors about Leon are ok <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14> ). There is a lot of talk in this thread about Dave Forman and Teletrade having some nefarious links. I don't know whether any of it is true. What I do know is that there are resources available to everyone if anyone wants to substantiate those allegations. The company is still active, headquartered in Irvine, CA. It also has a web site teletrade.com. Teletrade in turn is owned by Escala Group (escalagroup.com; Pink Sheets listing ESCL), which owns a bunch of collectibles companies. According to that company’s web site, which links to its SEC filings as far back as 1996, it was formerly known as Greg Manning Auctions, Inc., also a public company (“GMAI”). GMAI acquired Teletrade in 1998. At the time it was a diamond selling company. As many of you know, public companies have to file all sorts of disclosures with the SEC, including disclosures of who runs them and who owns more than a certain amount of their stock. So, my challenge to everyone throwing around allegations that Dave Forman had a past with Teletrade is: prove it. Show us the SEC filings from GMAI or ESCL that list Dave as an officer or director or shareholder. Let's see some facts to back up the rumors. <br /><br><br>Sic Gorgiamus Allos Subjectatos Nunc

NY Post Jumps in to The Mantle War
 

Posted By: <b>Bottom of the Ninth</b><p>Teletrade was not always owned by a publicly traded company. Further, what is the damage to Dave Forman's reputation if he had been running it for a period of time? As a dealer he is not permitted to run an internet auction company? Not sure Teletrade and Forman's relationship are any of the issues here.

NY Post Jumps in to The Mantle War
 

Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>I also received a number of emails about certain people's past history in the hobby. A lot of people in this hobby in high positions of trust seem to have a history of not being so trustworthy. Much of this hobby takes a leap of faith - Game used memorabilia and autographs are at the top of the list....now I think we can add high grade cards in ANY holder to that list as well.

NY Post Jumps in to The Mantle War
 

Posted By: <b>Cobby33</b><p>Why do any of us stay in this hobby? Sheesh.

NY Post Jumps in to The Mantle War
 

Posted By: <b>T.Ferg</b><p>I've just begun with the graded stuff, I may just stay raw. This sounds like old wash women talking gossip over the back yard fence.

NY Post Jumps in to The Mantle War
 

Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Jeff,<br /><br />Frank Evanov is a medical doctor who if he knew you needed one graded card to finish a set would give it to you--not sell give it to you. He<br />is a terrific guy who got his greatest enjoyment from helping others. Frank Evanov is in the latter stages of selling off his graded card collection which consisted in part of top ranked 1957 Topps set and the finest Mantle collection in the hobby. <br /><br />I hope Frank will not be mad at me for disclosing contents of a private e-mail but essentially he sighted activities of certain high profile auction houses band a prominent grading company as reasons...."lots of stuff going on and noone will talk about it....your attempts to open doors have been met by silence or by derision by other collectors who are living in a fantasy world"<br /><br />Sorry Frank--will miss you in the graded card world--hope you can stay active in the hobby. <br /><br />Jim

NY Post Jumps in to The Mantle War
 

Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Dan,<br /><br />Yup--Yesterday's bad guys are now today's good guys--lot of irony in the whole thing.<br /><br />jim

NY Post Jumps in to The Mantle War
 

Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>I just want to say that I have an open mind and that I truly think people can change. I have a hard time keeping opinions to myself and I don't want anyone in this forum to think I am passing judgment...while I have been regaled with tales of certain activities by people mentioned in this thread I have no proof that they either did this or continue to do this.

NY Post Jumps in to The Mantle War
 

Posted By: <b>Steve</b><p> Frank Evanov is a medical doctor who if he knew you needed one graded card to finish a set would give it to you--not sell give it to you<br /><br /><br /><br />Yup<br /><br /><br />Steve

NY Post Jumps in to The Mantle War
 

Posted By: <b>Bobby Binder</b><p>It may not be bad having a bad guy turning good and be in the grading biz..at least they know what to look for in detecting altered cards from first hand experience in creating them. BTW I am just making a comment and not saying anyone was or is a former or current card tamperer...

NY Post Jumps in to The Mantle War
 

Posted By: <b>Chris Nerat</b><p>Hey guys,<br />I was wondering if anyone has James Haas' phone number.<br /><br />Thanks,<br />any help would be great!

NY Post Jumps in to The Mantle War
 

Posted By: <b>Anonymous</b><p>Chris, call GAI to find Haas -- though wait until Monday when they re-open.<br /><br />Frank is a great guy and I'm sad not to see him around these parts since Gary -- also a doctor apparently -- promised to make a house call to Frank. What areas of medicine do Frank and Gary specialize in?

NY Post Jumps in to The Mantle War
 

Posted By: <b>Bob Pomilla</b><p>Jeff, OOPS,uh....I mean, "Anonymous", thanks for the belly laugh.

NY Post Jumps in to The Mantle War
 

Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Yeah, Bob, that Anonymous is a real smartass. I guess he doesn't want a housecall from the good doctor.

NY Post Jumps in to The Mantle War
 

Posted By: <b>Bob Pomilla</b><p>I just hope nobody's family gets a delivery of a fish wrapped in the New England Journal of Medicine.

NY Post Jumps in to The Mantle War
 

Posted By: <b>Anthony S.</b><p>Funny stuff, Bob. Golf clap.

Your wait is over Charlie.

I just wanted to bump this thread because it's relevant to what is going on today and provides some background for what is being discussed in a few other threads.

Dan good memory. Too bad some of those folks don't post anymore they had interesting things to say -- Frank E., Jim C., Charlie B. -- times change I guess.

Well at least, 18 months ago, when Charlie said the DJIA would be back over 14,000 he actually meant it.

stange
 

he gave it to SGC "to see if they can remove indentation"


this is bad....