It's Halloween, and threads are disappearing!
 

What gives?

operationally
 

I deleted about 6-7 threads that were very obvious duplicates and said "delete" on them. Almost nothing that is a real thread ever gets deleted on this board. If one got deleted accidentally then it was just that, but I don't think one did. best regards....(now go give the kids some candy :))

I think the one that's conspicuous in its absence is "Has Anyone Any Idea Of The Whereabouts of Johnny F_ _ _?", wherein Richard was asked to share the full names of an alleged forger and the alleged forger's alleged dealer accomplice...

I don't share alleged names of forgers and crooked dealers, do I look that stupid?
This business is very litigious now and the alleged people have not been convicted of anything.

So is there a reason that thread was deleted?

Leon accidentally deleted it.
See his explanation above.

not on purpose
 

I would have never, ever deleted that one on purpose. I will see if there is a way to un-delete it. Everyone should know how this board is run well enough to know threads or posts don't go poof as they do on some other boards.

No big deal either way.

I hate it....but....
 

After reading up on undoing deletes it looks like the only ones that can be undone are the ones called "soft deletes"....the one I did was a hard delete. If anyone wants to start that thread over again I will promise not to accidentally mess with it. Knock on wood but that is the first time that has ever happened. regards

There's a new thread, Richard. Just for you.

Now, will you let us all in on your big secret?

David - obviously you are a bigger ass than anyone here has ever given you credit for.
And believe me, with what people have said to me about you before today, showing that you are a bigger ass than that is saying something.
This "discussion" started because David wrote an e mail to me stating that he apologized in writing to Frank Prisco and stopped posting on the Prisco thread, after Leon got his lawyer letter, because he was terrified of a lawsuit. Those were his words, "terrified of a lawsuit."
I called him weak for his apparent cave in, after several more e mails, he eventually said that he was being sarcastic and that he never really apologized.
When someone writes an e mail to you saying yes he was terrified of a lawsuit and stopped posting in a thread, where was the sarcasm.
Somehow I don't see sarcasm in the words terrified,lawsuit and apology.
I only see someone whom so many people were right about in the past.
And when I asked about Johnny F--- it might have hit close to home.
He probably has suspicions about what I mean but won't admit it to himself.
That would mean his pride and joy is not what he thinks it is.

And David - you ask Frank Prisco a question in another thread.
Well, I want to ask you in public here, you never denied it in private, did you get a letter from Frank Prisco's attorney when Leon got one? Because when Leon went public with his letter you stopped posting in that thread, even though there were 80 or so more posts and the topic was going hot and heavy. No comment from the sarcasm king in the hottest thread on the board.

But it has to be what I think it is, Richard.

It has a Spence CoA!

(Insert sarcasm smiley here, for Richard's benefit.)

Once again, big brave Richard makes allusions, hints at his deeply-held knowledge, and gives his reasons as to why he can "say no more."

But we should all trust him, because he knows.

Stop pussyfooting, Dick. You think my '27 ball was forged by your buddy "F---"? Let's see some evidence. 'cause it's sure passed muster with everyone--and I mean everyone--whose ever seen it.

Put up, or shut up, big boy.

You sound like every schmuck who ever defended a questionable autograph.
The exact same words David, exact same that those guys use.

To answer your question, Richard, no, I never received a letter, or any other communication of any form from either Prisco, his attorney, or anyone else claiming to represent him.

Evidence, asshole. Evidence. I do have a James Spence CoA, you know.

And "questionable"? Not by anyone but you. And even you only hinted, 'cause you don't have the balls to come out and say anything.

It's my opinion David and two other people I know and respect, who are known and respected on Net 54, agree with me.
And you keep digging your own grave with every post David.
I know you are certainly not in league with forgers, but you sound like one of them with every post you write.
And lets face it, if you did not get a letter from the lawyer it was an amazing coincidence that you did not contribute one post to the thread, after Leon posted the letter he got from Prisco's lawyer. You say that you had nothing else to say,,, please David, you have something to say about everythng that goes on on Net 54, you were actively posting in other threads at the time. But you totally ignore the hottest thread about the hottest topic on the board. Sure thing David,sure thing.

More secrets! Just like Nixon's "secret plan" to end the Vietnam war.

That one worked, too. (Sarcasm smiley for Richard.)

I have never before posted an e mail that was sent to me. I have quoted a line or two from an e mail but I have decided to post the "sarcasm" e mail that David sent to me, so that others can see it.
Here it is, in its entirety.
Where is the sarcasm, David?

"Ypu're right, Richard. I was terrified of being sued. Not only did I stop posting, but I sent the prick and his attorney written apologies.
OK?"

The typo Ypu're is in the original David e mail, I left it in so David won't accuse me of anything underhanded.

David, if you and Richard are referring to what I think you are(NYY 1927 signed ball), then I have to agree with Richard.

I'm 100% certain that PSA would not authenticate that ball. And if you sent it back to Jimmy, I think he would reject it.

If those two people give me permission to use their names I will.
Obviously David, you would violate a person' trust. I won't do that.
Not just based on this thread David, but I have read much of your writing here on 54, and read the comments that you engender from many others, but you really are a mean spirited, nasty, caustic, sarcastic and unhappy man and if I remember correctly others have said that about you in the past.

Now, in the interest of full disclosure, post the email where I said I'm in cahoots with Johnny F---.

I'm willing to bet that after seeing both, most board members (who, unlike you, were born with the "I understand sarcasm" gene) will understand.

Whose trust have I violated, Richard?

And why haven't you, or your secret playmates ever emailed me about your suspicions?

Afraid I'd sue. (Sarcasm smiley; from now on, SS, for short.)

Nobody would e mail you about the ball because they knew what your reaction would be.
"I am the great David, the ball is good, end of sentence."

Says the great Richard, who knows it's fake, but provides nothing to back up that claim. Except imaginary playmates.

(And remember, the great James says it's good. SS)

Here is the e mail that David asked me to post, seems rather different than the prior one that I posted.

"We? Have you teamed up with the Brusci, or does the royal we apply to you, too?
Close to home? That's right. Even though I don't know his name, I'm in cahoots to sell his forgeries. Again, Richard. Find one single item I've ever sold that was no good, or one single complaint about me, or shut the fuck up.
What have I done? Nothing. I'm not in a position to. I'm just a little ole' collector. I don't make my living proclaiming my expertise.
But I don't dish out tempting little morsels, just to show I've got the goods, and then never take it any farther.
There's a vulgar expression describing women who do that."
--
I still don't know who the Brusci is.

Think about it Richard. It wasn't that long ago. It will come. (Even to you.)

I am one of those two people, David.

I did not say that there was a specific individual whose trust you violated, but you wanted me to violate the trust of two people and I assumed that was something that was common in your life, since you casually asked me to do it.

Well then, I apologize for calling you imaginary. But in this case, I'll take my judgement (and Jimmy's--who yes, does make mistakes) over yours and Richard's.

There ya go David, that is one, and I will e mail the other one and ask him if he will go public with his opinion of that ball.

You sure make a lot of assumptions, Richard.

Yeah, I assumed that you were sad, unhappy, caustic , etc, etc and 2 people have e mailed me to thank me for stating that in public.
Should I reveal their names David?
They both asked me not to repeat their comments as they are terrified of you and your wrath. (ss)

David, no comment about Chris Williams stating that he was one of the two ??

We're all entitled to our opinions, Richard. People pay for Jimmy's. People pay for yours. (No one pays for mine or Christopher''s.)

I'm confident enough to keep it in my collection. (I have, BTW, been offered $60k for it by a well-known dealer. Obviously, I turned it down. I guess he thought it was OK, too.)

But if I ever do decide to sell, I couldn't possibly have a problem, 'cause I have a Spence CoA. SS

Sure! But why are you asking me? You wouldn't betray a trust. Hell. You won't even betray a forger or a crooked dealer. I know you wouldn't betray a colleague.

Wow!!! That is the third or fourth time you have mentioned the Spence COA for that ball. What a hypocrite you are,,, or did I miss sarcasm there too??

I guess you should ask the NYC Dept of Consumer Affairs and the Nassau County DA's Office about the forgers and crooked dealers that "I betrayed." (ss) and helped get thrown off ebay and in Nassau County put in jail. Ask FBI agent John Ianuzzi, in Brooklyn, if I did not help him.
What have you really done David to rid this hobby of the crooks. Sit on this board and rant? Anyone can do that.

Have you missed the "SS" I placed after every mention of the CoA? What else should I do, Richard?

Again and again and again. No names. No cases. No evidence. Just secret knowledge, and secret acts.

Wow, David just accused me of lying about my proudest achievements.
Thanks David. Keep grousing on the board,that has accomplished a lot, I will work with the authorities and actually accomplish something.
NY City Dept of consumer Affars - investigation headed by Fred Cantor Atty
Nassau County DA Office - DA Robert Emmons ,case- The People vs. Beram and Dupcak, jail sentence for Dupcak, probation for Beram who was (just like you David) a teacher.
And I gave you the name of the FBI agent.

No (ss) here David, just the unvarnished truth.

David, when you first started to advertise your "Quick Opinion" service here, I recall you writing that you upped your fee because "you're better than PSA" so why should your fee be less than theirs.

This I can write with pretty much 100% certainty and that is your "1927 NYY" ball would not pass PSA.

You bash PSA and JSA, and now you shove the JSA cert in Richard's face. I call that being a hypocrite.

The ball came with an early Spence-PSA cert when I bought it, although that had nothing to do with the purchase. It came from a major auction house, in the days when certs were not generally provided.

Had it not had one, I would not send it to be certified. Just as my Ruth ball did not have one, and I've never obtained one.

But if Richard--and you--are offering your opinions as to its authenticity, why is it hypocritical of me to mention the opinion of someone else?

It has already passed PSA, with Spence as the judge, not some unknown name. (And yes, as I said before, Spence makes mistakes (as do we all), but at least it was looked at be him, and not some no name who makes even more mistakes.)

And I don't believe in false modesty. I am better than PSA.

It won't pass PSA today and I'm also fairly certain that Jimmy wouldn't pass it today either.

OK.

It's too bad that this has turned into a pissing contest, but from what I can see here, you opened up your own can of worms, David.

Much as I have negative feelings about PSA they have removed hundreds if not thousands of bogus autographs from ebay.
How many have you removed David?
You sit by your computer and grouse and drip sarcasm (ss) and bellyache to everyone about your poor existence as a very unhappy teacher and now a retired teacher.
And I don't have any scans of Johnny's work but if you know anyone with old SCD's perhaps they can find the ads that ran for months with SS balls of the Black Sox. Yeah, I know that can't be found, but the ads are in SCD and somewhere in hobbyland they exist.

Can you not recognize sarcasm, either, Chris?

Geez, looks like that lack of seeing sarcasm (David Atkatz sarcasm) is starting to spread.
Could it have anything to do with you being such a sour person David?
And I think the least you could do is apologize for implying that I lied about the work that I did with legal authorites.

When it suits your needs, David, you claim "sarcasm." Is that some kind of defensive mechanism?

"Geez" is right, Richard. You and Chris tell me it's no good. (Not a single example to back you up, though.) You tell me you know the guy who made it. "Johnny F---." (No examples of his work, though. Hell. Not even a name.) Chris tells me it won't pass PSA or JSA today.

I guess I'll just have to destroy the ball to keep it from turning up again in the hobby.

Suits my needs? Did you really think my "OK" meant I accept your conclusion? What faith you have in yourself!

Finally you are willing to do something that people can admire. Way to go David (ss??)

One thing I can say for 100% certainty ,,,,, David Atkatz, bitter retired teacher from some school, who curses out his boss, is not worth losing sleep over.
Good night all.

No problem, Richard. I always try to do what's right.

And I commend you for your work in those two cases. But how come no one's asked for your help in the last decade?

um.........I'll take it

Before I say "good night," here's my challenge to you, David.

Send it to PSA. If they pass it, I will PayPal you $200.00. If PSA rejects it, you have to PayPal me $200.00.

The ball is in my safe deposit box, Chris. I'm not going to take it out and ship it off. (I know, I know... I'm sure you'll just point out that I'm only saying that because I'm afraid it might be rejected... )

I'll tell you what. You take the most valuable autographs in your collection, enough to equal the value of my ball (assuming it's real)--about $30,000, at least, and, whether they have PSA or JSA certification or not, send them off to PSA ('Cause who knows? They might not pass today.)

You do that, and I'll send the ball off, too.

You have my challenge, David. Good night all.

And you have mine. (A somewhat more fair and equitable challenge, if I do say so myself.)

I'm gonna tell one little story here. Self-serving, to be sure. But true. And an example of how I would expect to be treated if someone was concerned about the authenticity of one of my pieces.

Just a little story from a mean-spirited, nasty, unhappy, caustic, and bitter man.

A few years ago I noticed that a Dwight Frye autograph being sold on eBay was no good. (Dwight Frye played "Renfield" in the original Dracula, and "Fritz" in the original Frankenstein. He died in 1943, long before the "monster craze" of the late 50s and early 60s. His is the rarest, and most sought after horror autograph.)

How did I know it was a phoney? Because it had been cut from a piece I used to own. And how did I know that mine was no good? Because a stranger contacted me, and showed me a scan of the original it was copied from. (The "original" was an autograph catalog page--two photos of different items appeared, and the signatures from those items had been copied on to my single first-day cover.)

So I contacted the seller, and I sent him a scan of my piece, and a scan of the original. I explained how the dealer who sold it to me insisted it was real. (And I told him who the dealer was. Was that "betraying a confidence"?) The dealer had given me a refund, but kept insisting it was real, and that he was going to cut the signatures apart, and sell them separately. That was a few years before, but wouldn't ya know it? This guy had obtained his piece from that dealer.

Had I not seen the original catalog page, I would still think my piece was real. And every horror autograph expert I showed this stuff to said the same thing: were it not for that catalog page they would be fooled.

So... Was Jimmy fooled? Am I fooled? Could be. But before I believe that, I expect a little more than "I used to know the guy that forged it 20 years ago, but I can't say his name (or the name of the dealer who tried to sell me his stuff," or "I know it won't pass Jimmy today, even though it already has."

I guess I'm just funny that way.

hmm
 

I guess it was. Who'd a thunk it?

This is one time I'm glad I go to bed early. I get to miss these threads.

I received this e mail from David BEFORE he started this thread: (this e mail is quoted in its entirety)

"Look, Richard. We've known each other a long time, and we're both on the same side. Our fighting is ridiculous. I apologize for starting it, it was completely my fault.
But what I said is, in general true. I am sooo tired of hearing the hobby professionals talk about their not-to-be-spoken-of knowledge. I haven't done all that much, but I have always helped any collector who asked, and I have always been scrupulously honest.
The only other thing you could have meant by "close to home" is that I know the guy. That may be, but for the life of me, I can't figure who."

An apology and then he starts a thread attacking me.
An apology and an admission of "completely my fault."
Was that apology just sarcasm David?
Seems more like lying to me.
It certainly meant nothing.
Why apologize at all?
To make yourself look worse?
You certainly started this stupidity on the deleted thread then you apologized to me after the initial thread was deleted. Then you could not wait to prove you were a liar in your apology and started this new thread all over again.
Do you know what the word apology means David?
You admit to having not done much. You have done nothing.
I have worked hard, actual work, which I don't have commendation letters for. And I know, I will beat you to the punch, I am alluding to secrets and mysteries. Well, I know I have done good work. And you have done nothing. Absolutely nothing.

I have done more in a week David then you have done in your bitter, sad life.
I just don't have any other letters about it.
I know, I will say it before you start it again, I am alluding to other super secret, code red, for your eyes only, super rare, unknown stories. I am still waiting for an apology for doubting that I did anything, oh wait, your apologies are meaningless, why should I wait for another one.
And to digress a bit and backtrack, in another instance of people in glass houses, David, you were offered $60K for the ball by "a dealer." Wow, a dealer. Nice. And you accuse me of posting vague stories? How vague is that one? Yeah, I know, it happened because you said it did.
If Johnny is alive and reading Net54 he must be laughing. He never was paid $60K for his work, if you sell that ball the fair thing to do would be to track him down and share the proceeds with him. He is an artist, isn't he David?
Just look at that ball of yours.
He tried to sell me many things 20 years ago, they all "walked into his store in Queens." Just like someone else we know, all that great stuff just walked into his store. Wonder who walked into his store with your baseball?

Richard, if you are certain that you know the ball is bad and it is the work of someone you know then I think you owe it to David to give him that name. Just my opinion.

Thanks, Dan. But don't worry about it. Richard knows all, but speaks little. It has always been so.

The name of the person I know has been presented to David before. He knows the name, he is just busting chops here.
And David could do nothing to that person now anyway. The statute of limitations, I am sure, has long expired on some crime like this. And he bought it in an auction, that is where he would have to take action.
This person's whereabouts are unknown, which is why I asked about him.
I was just offered an extraordinarily rare HOFer autograph and was concerned about it though it had much about it to like. It was shown to Ron Keurigian (sp?) and he said it was no good, so I immediately dropped out of the bidding. The idea popped into my head that the one peson that I knew who was good enough to pull this off was Johnny F---. So that is why I asked about it.

Yes I speak little, but I don't apologize to people and then 5 minutes later start an attack on them.
(and thank you for saying that I know all, even I don't say that I know all, but I appreciate your kind words about that, but I do know a lot about what is going on in this business).
That is really low David, to apologize and then attack, but we see you are showing your true colors.
Guess all those students of yours who rated you in the bottom at your school (yeah I remember that old thread where that info came out) were pretty right about you.
And you must be so proud to have told a dean at your former school to go f--- themselves. Yes folks, David admitted that to me in an e mail. He has major issues with authority it seems, besides the major issues he has here. And I don't want to check the old e mails, but didn't you say it was a woman David? Maybe not, but I think you did say that. Did you say go
f--- yourself to a female dean at your former school? Did you take early retirement? You always sounded sad and bitter during that long thread of long ago. And that continues,,,,
And those excuses you gave when that info was revealed about the scores you got from your students,,,just pathetic.

I know his name? Nice try, Richard, but you know that's not true.

I remember, back in the early 90s, attending the Rothstein shows in White Plains. Jimmy would be behind his table, Richard behind his own. Back before third-parties, and eBay. Just two vintage autograph dealers.

Look where Jimmy is now, and look at Richard. Haven't progressed one iota, have you?

There's a reason for that, and it ain't "advertising."

Ya gotta love the hypocrisy of this post, commending Jimmy after spending so much energy posting negative comments about third party authentication.
Keep it up David,you keep piling dirt on your grave.
And you got the name in an e mail David,,,think about it,not an e mail from me but from a Net54 member.
Anyway, the name is not even that relevant in the case of this ball. It is way past the statute of limitations I am sure.
And I know a number of dealers who were with me in the hobby at the same time and they are still in the same position, they buy and sell just like I do.
What does that mean anyway. Jimmy chose to stop buying and selling, others decided to continue.
You were probably a hated teacher for your entire tenure at whatever school you taught at (Skidmore??). And probably stayed in the same position as you started at. After all, anyone telling a dean to go f--- themselves,,, how far could you go? You could go into early retirement.

David's rather benign farewell statement from his school is on the web.
I quote part of it here:

"Over the years, David taught many different courses across the physics curriculum,
including Physics for Poets, General Physics, Modern Physics, Relativity, Classical
Mechanics, Quantum Physics, Electrodynamics, and Advanced Theory and Methods in
Physics Research. He developed the course “Images of Science in Society” as part of the
Liberal Studies program, and also taught Liberal Studies I.
David advised senior theses for a number of very successful students, on topics including
“Determining the yield of the Trinity nuclear device via gamma–ray spectroscopy,” “Does
God Play Dice? An Einstein Podolsky Rosen computer experiment,” “Diffraction from
Quasicrystals,” and “Doubly Special Relativity Theory.”
David served on a variety of committees, including The Committee for Educational Policy
and Planning, the Benefits Committee, the Liberal Studies Committee, the Academic
Computing Committee, and multiple subcommittees of the Curriculum Committee. He was
a regular participant in Skidmore Parent’s weekend Mini-College series, and enjoyed giving
lectures on quantum cosmology for a general audience. He wrote many essays for the
World of Physics Encyclopedia.
David’s other interests include aviation, music, baseball history and memorabilia, and
spending time with his family. We wish him the best as he retires from Skidmore College"

Not one word about any type of advancement,promotions, etc.
Sounds almost like they were happy to see him go.
22 years at Skidmore and it sounds like he never got off Square One. Shouldn't 22 years have gotten you to Dept.Head? Though I must commend someone with knowledge in physics, I did not enjoy that subject.
22 years at Skidmore summed up in six paragraphs and one of the paragraphs was about his hobbies.
I am surprised they did not mention the grades he received from his students, guess they were embarrassed.

Please allow me to remind everyone here that the original thread started by Richard was accidentally deleted by Leon (not a big deal). It was dead and a buried issue.

But David was the one that brought it back to life, not in one thread, but in two threads. David started two threads to bring all of this back to life. It was a dead issue. He has opened up this can of worms on his own.

When he first posted the new threads I had no idea what the heck he was talking about until the thread continued to open up and reveal itself. Obviously, David went on the offensive about email exchanges between himself and Richard that were not yet revealed here, which is why I was puzzled by David's opening comment on the other thread he started which reads:

Hi, Frank. Due to an almost complete lack of a sense of humor, Richard Simon has deluded himself into believing that I apologized to you for statements I made in a previous thread. You know--when I called you a thief and all. Remember? When I said you were in cahoots with the forger, 'cause nobody is stupid enough to actually buy twenty or so Matty cuts--all on the same paper--and think they have a chance in hell of being real?
I'd sure appreciate it if you'd set him straight. Please let him know that I never did apologize.
Thank you.

When you wrote that opening comment, David, only yourself and Richard knew what you were referring to, and then it took off on this thread.

By the way, David, that name was presented to you awhile back, by me.

And like I wrote a few pages ago, it's too bad that this has turned into a "pissing match," but this was a dead and buried issue until you, David, brought it back to life; and you brought it back to life in not one, but two threads.

Why is everyone afraid to post the name of a forger in this thread? And why does this have to get so personal?

Dan- fair question and I will answer with a question.
How many times have you been sued in connection with this business?
Twice for me.
Almost $40,000 in out of pocket legal fees.
And while I know this person is a forger, I don't have anything that will stand up in court as hard evidence.
And people in the know are well aware of who this person is. I have already received a scan of one of his forgeries from an interested reader.
Jimmy knows his name, the guys at PSA know his name, most auction house personnel would know his name too.

I have no opinion and dont want to get into this mess. But david has helped me when ever i have had a question about items.

But I'd like to see copies of his work, can you show some Richard? I think its unfair, like Dan said you guys are telling David that it's not real or anything. But giving no proof behind it. Provide something dealing with it being fake or so.

Agree...

This has become a trainwreck, but parts of the thread are very interesting (and potentially informative). If Richard can post some examples of this guy's "work", it would be very interesting and most beneficial to see.

The legal ramifications are understood, and we don't need to see his name... but it would be both interesting and helpful to see some of his "creations".

Nice that you found that little piece, Richard. I know you found lots more, as well.

There's quite a different result obtained between Googling me, and Googling you.

Richard,

Your continuous ranting does not bode well for you in my opinion. "Aimless agenda" appears to be the motive here...

Shawn England

Note: I know neither of you

Let's see it.

("People in the know"! Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.)