Mastro Judge Strikes Down Plea Agreement

[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.

[Bugsy]

Originally Posted by MW1

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.

I remember O'Keeffe was interviewed for an ESPN Outside the Lines segment a year or so ago. From the way I took it, he didn't think these two were scamming anyone and it is unfortunate that a lot of racial slurs have been thrown at them.

[Bugsy]

Originally Posted by Bugsy

I remember O'Keeffe was interviewed for an ESPN Outside the Lines segment a year or so ago. From the way I took it, he didn't think these two were scamming anyone and it is unfortunate that a lot of racial slurs have been thrown at them.

Just found the segment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTXVlHs2rIU

O'Keeffe even brings up Net54 in connection with racial insults.

[MW1]

Originally Posted by Bugsy

Just found the segment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTXVlHs2rIU

O'Keeffe even brings up Net54 in connection with racial insults.

Here's what Michael O'Keeffe says about the bogus Cobb/Edwards T206 Wagner in the OTL interview:

13:18 "We wanted to examine sort of the race and class issues that come up in collecting and I think that the one thing is that you guys have touched on is that the hobby has not been fair to these guys. And I think maybe the hobby needs to be a little more open-minded before they pass judgement. I mean this has been examined by a paper expert and by a printing expert and the printing expert, by the way, Arnie Schwed said that this card--he didn't believe that it was skinned. So, I think there needs to be a little more of an open mind."

14:01 "Yeah, I mean you know the messages and the insults and the slurs on Network54, on the vintage card forum, were really horrifying.... So to pick on John and Ray to me was always kind of a head-scratcher."

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Bugsy

Just found the segment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTXVlHs2rIU

O'Keeffe even brings up Net54 in connection with racial insults.

Pulling the race card is pathetic, both for these fraudsters and for anyone who supports them. Idiots and thieves are idiots and thieves, regardless of skin color.

I'm curious - does O'Keefe know that the 'Mona Lisa' is the 'Mona Lisa'? Since he's not an expert on paintings, he probably shouldn't have an opinion on that either.

Leon - I know how you get when your friends are picked on, but I hope you realize that our responses (mine, anyway) aren't personal. The book was a great read, but having participated in the Cobb/Edwards discussions before the book was published, when I finally read the book I was amazed that anyone who had read our discussions could really believe that these guys were honest, or that the card might be real. O'Keefe had access to a LOT of expert opinions and he referenced our board repeatedly in the book. What he should have been saying was, "If these guys are legit, they'll send the card to PSA or SGC - end of story." They didn't do that, O'Keefe didn't recommend it. He backed the poor oppressed guys and got better readership. I get it, I just don't agree with his method.