Mastro Judge Strikes Down Plea Agreement

[MW1]

Lifson’s close links to Halper also played a part in the New York Daily News’ shielding him from suspicion in the card-trimming scandal. Halper was a close personal friend of Daily News reporter Bill Madden, who acted throughout the years as Halper’s unofficial press agent. The Daily News has intentionally not reported about the Halper scandals because of Madden’s close ties to the former Yankee limited partner. In fact, reporter O’Keeffe has gone as far as reporting that the documentation of instances of sales of fraudulent artifacts by Halper are simply “accusations.”

In their book, “The Card,” Thompson and O’Keeffe lauded Halper as “The Babe Ruth of sports memorabilia,” and described the “truly historic” items in his collection including “Shoeless Joe Jackson’s Black Betsy bat,” and “Ty Cobb’s dentures and rifle Cobb’s mother used to shoot his father.” All of those items used as examples of Halper’s “Cooperstown South,” however, have been determined to be fraudulent artifacts as a result of investigative reports written by Haulsofshame.com and SABR researcher Ron Cobb.

So in other words, HallsofShame.com is claiming that Teri Thompson and Michael O'Keeffe, either knowingly or unknowingly, assisted in helping to cover-up and/or perpetuate fraud. While I cannot comment on these accusations, I do know that O'Keeffe makes some absolutely ridiculous claims about John Cobb and Ray Edward's bogus Honus Wagner and goes so far as to assert in his book that the card is likely authentic.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by MW1

So in other words, HallsofShame.com is claiming that Teri Thompson and Michael O'Keeffe, either knowingly or unknowingly, assisted in helping to cover-up and/or perpetuate fraud. While I cannot comment on these accusations, I do know that O'Keeffe makes some absolutely ridiculous claims about John Cobb and Ray Edward's bogus Honus Wagner and goes so far as to assert in his book that the card is likely authentic.

I will have to ask Okeefe about that one. I can't imagine him, knowing as much as he does, would think the Cobb/Edward Wagner is legit. I will report back...unless I can get Mike to post about it himself.

[MW1]

The top of page 154 in The Card:

"If Cobb and Edwards were truly a couple of con artists, as so many of the Network54 collectors and dealers said they were, they surely would have ditched their T206 Wagner years ago and moved on to something more profitable."

Perhaps I am reading this wrong but it seems that O'Keeffe is saying that there is at least a reasonable chance that Cobb and Edwards are not con artists...which would mean that either their card is authentic (it is not) or that Cobb and Edwards are unaware that it is bogus (they are not).

[Leon]

Originally Posted by MW1

The top of page 154 in The Card:



Perhaps I am reading this wrong but it seems that O'Keeffe is saying that there is at least a reasonable chance that Cobb and Edwards are not con artists...which would mean that either their card is authentic (it is not) or that Cobb and Edwards are unaware that it is bogus (they are not).

I agree with you Mike, up until this "are unaware it's bogus". I think they might have some delusion that "whitey" is out to get them and keep them down and it IS real. So I do read it a bit differently than you. Plus, since that book was written several years ago, I would bet a soda at the National, Mike O. doesn't think their card is real (anymore, if he did, as you suggest). I will call him in the next few days and get his take and report back....

[MW1]

Originally Posted by Leon

I agree with you Mike, up until this "are unaware it's bogus". I think they might have some delusion that "whitey" is out to get them and keep them down and it IS real. So I do read it a bit differently than you. Plus, since that book was written several years ago, I would bet a soda at the National, Mike O. doesn't think their card is real (anymore, if he did, as you suggest). I will call him in the next few days and get his take and report back....

Leon,

I'm sorry but I just don't have the same faith in this particular reporter as you do. O'Keeffe stopped by our booths at the Anaheim National, prior to the publication of his book. We had two T206 Wagners on display and not far away was the PSA 8, so I know that he saw authentic examples of the card prior to the time that he wrote about Cobb and Edwards in The Card.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by MW1

Leon,

I'm sorry but I just don't have the same faith in this particular reporter as you do. O'Keeffe stopped by our booths at the Anaheim National, prior to the publication of his book. We had two T206 Wagners on display and not far away was the PSA 8, so I know that he saw authentic examples of the card prior to the time that he wrote about Cobb and Edwards in The Card.

I just now got off of the phone with Mike O. He prefers not to say if the card is real or not as he isn't an expert, but says if he had to say, then he doesn't believe it is. He said he has never said, or insinuated, it is real. He has interviewed Cobb/Edwards many times and doesn't think they are fraudsters but are probably incorrect in their assumptions. And for the record, I do like Okeefe and I do enjoy our friendship too Mike.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by MW1

Perhaps I am reading this wrong but it seems that O'Keeffe is saying that there is at least a reasonable chance that Cobb and Edwards are not con artists...which would mean that either their card is authentic (it is not) or that Cobb and Edwards are unaware that it is bogus (they are not).

Besides, what could these two bozos possibly dream up that could be "more profitable" than their Wagner reprint scam? They've been on talk shows, in the newspaper, etc, etc. We had enough information to know they were scammers, so O'Keefe also had enough information when the book was written, to know they were scammers. It was sensationalist journalism, designed to get a broader audience interested in a baseball card - keeping the Cincinnati boys' crowd engaged (the 'Whitey is out to get us' crowd) was part of that, in my opinion.

[MW1]

I think they might have some delusion that "whitey" is out to get them and keep them down and it IS real.

No. They know it is fake. I was at the Cincinnati show when they bought it and brought it by our booths. The dealer who sold it to them had a stack of Wagner reprints he was selling for $1 each. This card, obviously, was one of those reprints. I recall them telling me that one day the card would be worth a lot of money.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by MW1

No. They know it is fake. I was at the Cincinnati show when they bought it and brought it by our booths. The dealer who sold it to them had a stack of Wagner reprints he was selling for $1 each. This card, obviously, was one of those reprints. I recall them telling me that one day the card would be worth a lot of money.

A sad story truly especially the race angle that cobb and edwards apparently have brought to it.

[MW1]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

A sad story truly especially the race angle that cobb and edwards apparently have brought to it.

Well, with the help of reporters like O'Keeffe. For the amount of investigating he's done in sports--especially with respect to steroids and PEDs--I find it astounding that he chose to devote an entire chapter in his book to bemoaning the plight of Cobb and Edwards while simultaneously promoting the possible legitimacy of a ridiculously bogus card.

The, "Well, NOW I know it isn't really authentic" excuse, which has already been given by O'Keeffe in subsequent interviews, really stretches the fabric of journalistic integrity, imo.

[Blitzu]

I've been before Judge Guzman several times and he's very intelligent and quick to catch the overall concept of a case. Btw, I've never sat on the D side of things.

As far as the AUSA's office in Chicago goes... Well this doesn't surprise anyone from this area.