Does anyone have a 1992 Team Autographed Olympic Basketball?

Cldroescher · February 3, 2009 12:52AM

Does anyone out there have a 1992 Team Autographed Olympic Basketball?
If you have one or know where i could find one please PM me. Thanks

mickeymantle24 · February 3, 2009 12:53AM

WOW, That is going to be tough to find. Good Luck though

MooseDog · February 3, 2009 2:18AM

There are literally thousands of 1992 Dream Team basketballs out there. Problem is 99.9% of them are bad as are most other signed items of the 1992 Dream Team and that includes jerseys, photos, cards, floor panels, etc.

You commonly find them for sale with bogus COAs and the dead giveaway on most I have seen is that the signatures are all roughly the same size. My guess is that these originated from the "Operation Bullpen" folks. The same fakes are often found with team pictures and trading cards of the Dream Teamers, most are signed in silver or gold paint pen and the signatures are smallish compared to real ones.

A friend of mine managed to almost put together a complete signed ball in person but Patrick Ewing would never sign anything so that's the one missing sig from his ball. Other collectors we know in other cities told us the same stories about Ewing, so unless the ball came from a USA Olympic insider I doubt a real complete signed ball exists but I could be wrong.

Cldroescher · February 3, 2009 2:25AM

So "MooseDog"
What you are saying is that there are TONS of fakes out there correct?
What do you think a complete (PSA authenticated) dream team autographed basketball would run$$$

bhelser · February 3, 2009 3:01AM

:-( I had one.....I was a ball boy for them when the team came to Portland for a week or two.

I got a ball signed by all of them while in the locker room.

I deflated the ball as it was easier to display on my shelf (I was about 11, what did I know)......I got home one day and there was rubber all over my room - I could have killed that dang dog. He had eaten half of the ball, and the other half was in little pieces all over the place....along with my stuffed "animal" Kevin Duckworth. It was a sad freaking day!

MBMiller25 · February 3, 2009 4:35AM

<< I could have killed that dang dog. He had eaten half of the ball, and the other half was in little pieces all over the place.... >>

OUCH, I would have killed that dog that day!

bhelser · February 3, 2009 4:41AM

And it wasn't even our dog.....we were watching this dog for a few months while the family moved and got settled. Man I was pissed!

VitoCo1972 · February 3, 2009 4:52AM

There would have been gunfire in my house if something like that happened...although I don't own a gun so it would have to be premeditated enough for me to have time to buy one and return to the house before it happened.

This is one of the reasons I don't have a pet - too many autographed balls and such around the house that they could ruin. And if I had a dog AND kids, the kids would be busting out my signed Tennis Ball collection for the dog to chew on.

BAH HUMBUG!

Cldroescher · February 3, 2009 1:17PM

that dog would be dead

So does anyone know where i can find one???

lawnmowerman · February 3, 2009 1:21PM

<< that dog would be dead

So does anyone know where i can find one??? >>

Try a busy highway in any large town.

daddymc · February 3, 2009 1:26PM

From what I've heard, Ewing will not sign for anyone. I would be very hesitant of anything that bears his signature.

VitoCo1972 · February 3, 2009 1:29PM

<< From what I've heard, Ewing will not sign for anyone. I would be very hesitant of anything that bears his signature. >>

Why does that not surprise me? Was there a more unlikeable superstar from 85-95?

MooseDog · February 3, 2009 2:08PM

I think American Memorabilia sold one with a PSA/DNA or JSA letter for around $5000 a few years ago.

Ahmanfan · February 3, 2009 2:49PM

I saw ewing sign a ball for a kid in a wheelchair once.
John

Allen · February 3, 2009 2:59PM

I think Ewing was so bitter because he caught so many facial dunks. Jordan put two Peter North sized facials on Ewing and I believe both were at MSG. Many other stars regularly jammed in Ewings face. I am sure there are some legit team signed balls out there. I would say all the players and some of their families had them signed given the buzz around the team.

VitoCo1972 · February 3, 2009 3:02PM

<< I think Ewing was so bitter because he caught so many facial dunks. Jordan put two Peter North sized facials on Ewing and I believe both were at MSG. Many other stars regularly jammed in Ewings face. I am sure there are some legit team signed balls out there. I would say all the players and some of their families had them signed given the buzz around the team. >>

+1 for hilarious Peter North reference on a baseball card forum.

Allen · February 3, 2009 3:04PM

Link

LINK

slantycouch · February 3, 2009 10:13PM

<< I think Ewing was so bitter because he caught so many facial dunks. Jordan put two Peter North sized facials on Ewing and I believe both were at MSG. Many other stars regularly jammed in Ewings face. I am sure there are some legit team signed balls out there. I would say all the players and some of their families had them signed given the buzz around the team. >>

Hahah +1 for the reference.

-2 for the visual.

Cldroescher · February 4, 2009 2:06AM

Is "Collect a Dream" a company you would trust?
Has anyone worked with them?

Cldroescher · February 4, 2009 4:56AM

anyone out there who has used them or heard anything at all about them?

gregmo32 · February 4, 2009 7:32AM

I have one that I bought in 2000. The last one I remember seeing
sell at one of the major auction houses was about five years ago and it sold for $6000+ as I recall.

They are very tough to piece together, because of Ewing, but there were quite a few that were signed that summer and in the runup to the Olympics.

They do not change hands very often, because, of course, why would you sell an item like that?

Cldroescher · February 4, 2009 11:31AM

So do you know where there are any places selling one or does anyone have any experience with "Collect a Dream"
Has anyone bought from them before? Do they have a good reputation?

thenavarro · February 4, 2009 11:57AM

I don't think I've done business with them as I don't know the principals behind "Collect-a-dream". but if you are seriously considering purchasing that $8500.00 ball, then I would do the following things if you are not comfortable with them and are worrying about sending them $8500.00 and getting nothing back:

1. Contact them and get good pictures of the entire ball, PSA/DNA letter and verify the PSA/DNA number on the database.
2. Get their physical address and their DBA name and check with their local BBB to get their record and to insure that they are actually in business
2. If that all works to your satisfaction, negotiate your deal, and tell them you will take the ball and pick it up in person (this way you are minimizing any chance of mail related issues)
3. Get them to agree to meet you at the local airport there at their location.
4. Book yourself an airline ticket to fly there and back to pick up your ball (if you are paying for a $8500.00 ball, you can spring for a couple hundred dollar airline ticket)
5. See if they are comfortable with accepting American Express travelers checks for payment (this way you don't have to carry that much cash cross country, but in reality, if they will only take cash, $8500.00 is EASY to carry and conceal.)
6. On the day you are flying there, since Ohio is an open carry state, check your handgun at your airport with TSA, when you got off the plane in Ohio, retrieve your weapon at the Baggage claim (flying with a handgun is easy as long as you follow TSA's rules) and have it on you in case someone tries to take your money. Also bring a small enough container to hold your ball as a carryon for the return trip so you don't have to worry about it being lost in baggage claim.
7. Meet them at a public place of the airport, perhaps a restaurant. At least buy them dinner for them taking time to meet you at the airport. Handle the ball and make sure it meets with your satisfaction. If it does, pay them, if not, don't buy it.
8. Proceed back to TSA at the Ohio airport, check your handgun with them, carry your ball onto the plane in your carry on container. Fly home and enjoy your ball.

Mike

BigRedMachine · February 4, 2009 12:51PM

<< 

<< that dog would be dead

So does anyone know where i can find one??? >>

Try a busy highway in any large town. >>

daddymc · February 4, 2009 1:16PM

<< 6. On the day you are flying there, since Ohio is an open carry state, check your handgun at your airport with TSA, when you got off the plane in Ohio, retrieve your weapon at the Baggage claim (flying with a handgun is easy as long as you follow TSA's rules) and have it on you in case someone tries to take your money. >>

thenavarro · February 4, 2009 1:31PM

<< 

<< 6. On the day you are flying there, since Ohio is an open carry state, check your handgun at your airport with TSA, when you got off the plane in Ohio, retrieve your weapon at the Baggage claim (flying with a handgun is easy as long as you follow TSA's rules) and have it on you in case someone tries to take your money. >>

>>

To be clear to the mods and the board, I am NOT condoning anything illegal or violent. If you'll notice I advised to follow TSA's rules which is necessary when transporting a gun while flying. I personally wouldn't be carrying around $8500.00 in cash without a gun on me where legal, but to each his own. In Texas, having a gun on you is kinda like having a wallet on you, it just kinda goes with you

Mike

StanTheManMusial · February 4, 2009 1:36PM

<< I don't think I've done business with them as I don't know the principals behind "Collect-a-dream". but if you are seriously considering purchasing that $8500.00 ball, then I would do the following things if you are not comfortable with them and are worrying about sending them $8500.00 and getting nothing back:

1. Contact them and get good pictures of the entire ball, PSA/DNA letter and verify the PSA/DNA number on the database.
2. Get their physical address and their DBA name and check with their local BBB to get their record and to insure that they are actually in business
2. If that all works to your satisfaction, negotiate your deal, and tell them you will take the ball and pick it up in person (this way you are minimizing any chance of mail related issues)
3. Get them to agree to meet you at the local airport there at their location.
4. Book yourself an airline ticket to fly there and back to pick up your ball (if you are paying for a $8500.00 ball, you can spring for a couple hundred dollar airline ticket)
5. See if they are comfortable with accepting American Express travelers checks for payment (this way you don't have to carry that much cash cross country, but in reality, if they will only take cash, $8500.00 is EASY to carry and conceal.)
6. On the day you are flying there, since Ohio is an open carry state, check your handgun at your airport with TSA, when you got off the plane in Ohio, retrieve your weapon at the Baggage claim (flying with a handgun is easy as long as you follow TSA's rules) and have it on you in case someone tries to take your money. Also bring a small enough container to hold your ball as a carryon for the return trip so you don't have to worry about it being lost in baggage claim.
7. Meet them at a public place of the airport, perhaps a restaurant. At least buy them dinner for them taking time to meet you at the airport. Handle the ball and make sure it meets with your satisfaction. If it does, pay them, if not, don't buy it.
8. Proceed back to TSA at the Ohio airport, check your handgun with them, carry your ball onto the plane in your carry on container. Fly home and enjoy your ball.

Mike >>

Navarro,

I must admit that is how I go about things as well. I figure if someone wants to play games, I have my insurance policy on me at all times. You never know who might be on the other end of an internet deal, or what their intentions are, especially where money is involved.

Does anyone have a 1992 Team Autographed Olympic Basketball?

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