Hi there! Recent reader and first post. I received a recent email from a member about a 2004 Hines Ward helmet I bought on ebay from Authentic Sports. It seems to be real but as someone who collects vintage football rather than current I realize that the current items would be easier to make up. Does anyone specifically have a problem with the item other than the seller...no, I am not the seller and I don't know seller personally. I will add that I have noted a long list of fraudulent items (especially football) with LOA's from many major authenticators. I usually trust no authenticator (exceptions of Dennis Esken for Baseball, Joe Tomon for Hockey, and I have had good experience buying from Kim Stigall and Jim Yackel for football) or provenance or even player unless the material, tags, repairs, etc. are consistent with that team, era, player. Thanks and I look forward to your discussion.

Marc

Here's a link to the Hines Ward helmet you purchased

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=86828&item=5149763581

After what Misturini admitted, I'm not sure I would trust anything the guy was selling.

Speaking of which- he's selling game used footballs on ebay now.

I see your point. But is there anything you guys see that makes the helmet fake?

Here is an example of a fake: I don't know who did authenticating though - in Bricol's last auction there 1982 Pittsburgh Steelers Steve Banaszak jersey had good tags for a 1982 Sand knit jersey. However there was an NFL tag in the collar which is roughly 8-9 years premature and this is one reason that I think the jersey was from the 1990's with the tags added. The other reason is that Banaszak was not with the Steelers in 1982...this might explain the lack of a nameplate.