Posted By:
DJI think it was entirely fair since it basically showed the process at hand. Showed how sloppy they can be and what little time is dedicated to the process at hand.
While I was in Chicago for the National about seven years ago, I witnessed a gentlemen trying to get through the Online Authentics line stating that the item had just been signed by Muhammad Ali (who was at the show signing) and since Online Authentics applies an invisible dab on the photo after it is signed that could only be seen by a special light, this one person attempt to get it authenticated on site was foiled and a scene was created. The signature was comppletely bogus and he was trying to get away with having his useless photo authenticated.
Authenticating firms like JSA often split the duties and Jimmy may be in Boston on a Sunday and on that same Sunday, Larry would be Chicago or something. The question is...you can't be an expert on everything and what if the authenticators expertise is baseball and he is approached to authenticate a John F. Kennedy or Janis Joplin. Does he give out a pithy "I trust ya!" like in this instance?
I love the way the whole thing went down (especially with Bando) and you have to feel for the grilling of the show promoter who had really nothing to do with this. Oh well.
If you haven't seen, I highly recommend you check out the HBO Real Sports special that aired like two years ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bZF5rvPPIY&mode=related&search
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx3I8VE2aUU&mode=related&search
DJ