The Brill Report

HIGH END TENNIS HITS HOBBY MARKET

VOLUME 2, NUMBER 186

(UPDATED FEBRUARY 4 -2008)

(ACE AUTHENTICS TO DEBUT FIRST EVER HIGH END TENNIS CARD SERIES)

(editors/readers: UNLESS THERE IS MAJOR BREAKING NEWS THE NEXT TBR WILL PUBLISH MONDAY FEB-11. THE BRILL REPORT WILL BE ON THE ROAD UNTIL THEN. CONTINUE TO CHECK BACK AND EMAIL ANY NEWS TIPS TO brillpro@prodigy.net -- Thank You)

**HOT**BUTTON**STORY**

(TOPPS FINALLY ADDS THE BIG GUYS TO INDIANA JONES SERIES!!!)

** JUSTIN PRIDDY OPENS OWN AUTOGRAPH SERVICE

** TOPPS PUTS FORD AUTOGRAPHS IN JONES SERIES

** EBAY DEVELOPS NEW STORE SERVICE

** EBAY SLASHES FEES, HIKES OTHERS SAYS NEW CEO

** ANALYST TAKES DIM VIEW OF RC2

** WALL ST. JOURNAL NAMES EDITOR FOR PUB

** MARSHAWN LYNCH ETOPPS AUTOGRAPHS

THESE STORIES AND MORE IN THIS WEEK'S TBR: THE BRILL REPORT...

EDITORIAL COMMENT: INDIANA JONES AND TOPPS; FINALLY A PAIR TO DRAW TO

                                          ================

(VICTOR SHAFFER SETS SITES ON TENNIS ROYALTY)

They balked when Upper Deck released a $100 pack, then a $600 pack and Topps released a $350 pack then Donruss hit with a $500 pack. Then came The Cup at $350 for NHL. In The Game with a pack over $100. Now what are they going to say about a $35-$50 Tennis Pack? Due to the limited numbers and the big names in the Ace Authentics set; 'Bring it on."

"We spent a lot of time to ensure quality over quantity in this product," said Victor Shaffer, president of Ace Authentics, which is releasing the 8-pack, $250 box. "We purposely let the market dry up a little before we waited for the correct window to open up before we release this very special product."

Shaffer is no newcomer to innovation. The founder of "game used" memorabilia in the trading card industry with Press Pass in the early 1990's, Shaffer took over the tennis market, bringing his own unique skills to the product. Several months ago when we shared his idea with several collectors and dealers the reaction was typical.

"Tennis, a high end tennis product?" Asked one store owner. "Are they nuts?"

"I'm not so sure the hobby is ready for the high end, if for tennis at all," said another.

Then again who would have believed Donruss Americana with Lillian Gish and Larry Hagman coat and short swatches would be the hottest product on the market in 2008 and selling for upwards of $60 a pack and more? Grand Slam II will very likely be much like Americana when it hits the market.

With eight packs in a box and four cards per pack it won't take much to ship it. The insides are loaded. Each pack will contain four hits. Either an autograph from a top ranked star or legend, a dual jersey from a current star or legend, a card signed by a top prospect and a jersey card from a current player or legend. The key is the legends series with such favorites as Martina Navratilova, Jeniffer Capriati, John Newcombe, Stan Smith and more. For some it is their first trading card while the series guarantees 20 actual rookie cards (RC) in the series.

Shaffer was excited in talking about the upcoming release.

"Each four-card pack is filled with value, fun and will provide fans and collectors with a pack opening advernture every time," he told TBR.

The product is just in release and comes eight months after the firm's release of Grand Slam One.

                                                 ========================

(JUSTIN PRIDDY OPENS ACE, NEW THIRD PARTY AUTHENTICATOR)

Just six months removed from Global Authentication International, Justin Priddy is off on his own. He has debuted Autograph Certification Experts (ACE) and along with partner Neil Whiteley-Ross is set to make a name for himself in the controversial world of autograph authentication. Priddy, just 26, spent nearly four years with GAI and despite what people think he says, he never worked at PSA. Priddy says his split with GAI was amicable.

"I just really wanted to step out and do it on my own, there is something more appealing about working for yourself," Priddy told The Brill Report. "I had achieved everything I wanted to at Global and I had helped grow the authentication department and felt it was time to move on."

In a previous interview with TBR, GAI top man Steve Racchi spoke highly of Priddy.

"I will put my guy up against anyone in the business," he told TBR.

GAI has had it's own problems beginning with a recent move and shut down which gave dealers and collectors the idea the company was closing. It did not. Then there was the incident where GAI certified Tiger Woods golf balls as authentic, which they were not. The company bought back all it could find but Priddy says he had nothing to do with that.

(This scene from ACE website may or may not say something about authenticating Woods and separating Priddy from GAI.)

"Those Tiger Woods golf balls were done just before I was hired, so none of those were done by myself," he said. "No, it was tough to leave, I love Steve like a brother and you hate to leave a place where you feel like family but in the end we all agreed it was the best thing for everyone concerned."

Priddy's new partner has been in the memorabilia, autograph and card business for about 30 years with much of it in San Diego.

"Neil has been buying and selling signatures for quite a while and he and I just seemed a good fit but it is tough to step out on your own," said Priddy.

(GAI certified items)

At only 26 years old Priddy admits to having no formal training, citing the fact there really isn't any schooling, or classes or really any type of educational procedure for this sort of thing. It's basically on the job training and doing it over and over again.

"It is mostly self taught and that is unfortunate in the fact it is self taught," he said. "I wish there was some schooling or accreditation or stamp of approval because I'd certainly like to take some classes."

There are no licensing requirements for autograph authentication in California and while some states do require some sort of licensing there is little else you have to do to get it. Forensics experts testify to their credentials but they do not do what third party authenticators do, by a long shot.

"I think the industry has gone through that and seen where that has gone," he said.

Some of the big names are even banned by eBay including Donald Frangiapani who still does business as a forensics expert and who most dealers and industry experts (hobby industry) and even the FBI says he gets it wrong a lot. Victoria Mertes still runs her forensics business in Beverly Hills, CA despite certifying a number of Greg Marino forgeries. She too is a Forensics Expert. She has never returned a call to TBR.

Forensics experts basically compare autographs and signatures to determine if they were written by the same hand, forged or not, and they also work on determining age of paper and related items for wills, documents etc. They do not authenticate an autograph to be an original first hand.

And speaking of Marino, arrested along with a dozen others in the largest forgery ring bust in US history, it is often asked if third party authenticators have exemplars of Marino's work. Priddy says he doesn't know about the others but he does.

"Oh yes, I have an extensive list of Marino exemplars with over 300 of the names he signed," said Priddy. "I was amazed at how many he did from all the Hall of Fame players to even Greg Luzinski if you can believe that."

Priddy says this list is invaluable. As far as being surprised, he was perhaps most blown away with one very specific autograph which is among the rarest in all of sports. On a trip to Houston he was called to a store to check out some signatures.

(Shoeless Joe & The Babe, extremes on the amount of autographs signed in their lifetime.)

"The guy pulled out a land grant with Joe Jackson's signature on it and I immediately told him it was a secretarial, actually done by Jackson's wife, since pretty much everyone knows Shoeless Joe was illiterate," Priddy told TBR. "Then with a big smile the guy turned the document over and there was an actual Joe Jackson signature, with the broken script and the shaky hand and it matched the exemplar I had. I was really blown away by it."

The most commonly forged signature he sees?

"Mickey Mantle," he stated without hesitation. "I'd say we see about 20 forged Mantles at almost every show, and who knows how many are out there?"

He says the majority of the bad ones he sees are Marino fakes. The most difficult he points out is easily Christy Mathewson. Mathewson died shortly after returning from World War I where he was the victim of mustard gas and other gassing attacks. Since he died so young, age 45, there are few examples of his signature.

"His autograph is extremely scarce and the price is so high it always attracts the ill intentioned people in the hobby to try something," said Priddy. "He just has one of the toughest to authenticate."

Priddy says the most important thing he looks for is the basic form of an autograph.

(Walter Johnson ball said to be forged, notice the careful hesitation in the signature, unlike Johnson who had a flowing signature.)

"The tendencies, because everyone has a tendency to write a little darker in some spots when they hey draw up their name," he added. "There are the certain wobbles and we look for any variation or hesitation in the signature that leads to the determination the piece is not authentic."

When it comes to mistakes he admits he has made his share but like all in the industry adds no one is perfect, not even the best.

"I interviewed with one of the best in the business in 2002 (we'll withhold the name here) and he told me 'look we are all human and whoever tells you they are perfect, don't trust them,'" Priddy said. "It is unfortunate, it does happen and you just try to minimize the mistakes."

As for the nuts and bolts of the business Priddy says autograph authentication begins at $20 for almost all modern players and goes up from their depending on the value, rarity and difficulty of authentication. For $7 an on-line quick service is being offered to determine if it "likely genuine" or "likely not genuine." The company will not authenticate team signed items unless they are baseballs.

"Baseball you usually have good exemplars, but when it comes to the more obscure players on a football helmet or ball, or basketball it becomes difficult to verify the lesser known players," he said. "We'd rather stay away from that."

This is a common problem with the other authenticators which collectors have brought to TBR.

"Where do you get an exemplar of a third string linebacker who happened to sign a day before he got cut and was selling insurance the next week?" Asked Dave Rodriguez of Signatures.com. "And you see these COA's which list most of the guys on the ball and add a line about the rest of the guys whom they don't even list their names on the cert."

As for Priddy he agrees.

"If you don't know the signature how can you authenticate?"

His next show will be the Tri-Star Show in San Francisco February 22-24. His web site is www.autographcertificationexperts.com and his phone is 714-334-0483 in Orange County, CA. He also has an office in San Diego.

                                         ================

(FORD JOINS LUCAS AND MR. STEVE IN TOPPS AUTOGRAPH SERIES)

Just when you thought it was time to criticize Topps for not going out on a limb for a great historic series, the company comes through for collectors. TBR had written previously Topps new Indiana Jones Heritage Series was going to fall flat because the company didn't sign any super quality names for the autographed cards. Now it's all changed.

(Signed Harrison Ford item on eBay.)

The company added Harrison Ford, George Lucas and even Steven Speilberg decided to put his autograph on some cards. There won't be a lot of the big three but they are in the set. Otherwise it would have been like the Inkworks series of the Soprano's with none of the main stars.

Ford doesn't sign much at all and the other two behind the scenes guys are tough signatures as well. The series would have been stuck with Kate Capshaw as the main attraction and while she is attractive her autograph isn't on the most wanted list. Others include people few people have ever heard of due to their character actor status.

Michael Byrne, David Yip, and Alfred Molina don't exactly drive product sales. Adding writer Lawrence Kasdin was a nice touch though. The cut signature of the late Denholm Elliot is a nice touch. The man who played Marcus Brody to the hilt is a good signature and despite the fact he is best known for this role, he did have others.

                                        ================

(NEW EBAY CEO SLASHES FEES, RAISES OTHERS TO GET MORE LISTINGS)

It did not take new CEO to be John Donahoe long to make changes at eBay. In one felt swoop he announced eBay would slash insertion fees for auctions by 24-percent and for stores by 50-percent. He also announced final valuation fees (the amount of commission eBay collects on successful sales) would be hiked to 12-percent on the lowest level and 8-percent on the next level up (over $25).

The move drew strong reviews from sellers and from investment bankers who felt eBay needed to make changes before they could recommend buying the stock. Many had backed off, but most feel despite these moves eBay must do more. These moves were designed to get sellers to list more items and therefore increase eBay's income which hasn't been growing as fast as investors would like to see.

eBay will also crack down on misleading statements in the listings and on other negative practices such as over charging for shipping.

"Sellers that describe items accurately, ship on time and ship at a fair price will enjoy preferential pricing and discounts on eBay," said Donahoe. "We are serious about making eBay easier and safer to shop."

The move comes on the heels of last weeks announcement by CEO Meg Whitman she is stepping down in the spring. Donahoe is her hand picked and groomed successor. Whitman was at the helm for 10 years and saw her personal wealth grow to $1.4 billion. Friends have encouraged her to run for office such as the US Senate in California but she has not announced any plans at the moment.

The downside to the new program will be a big hit to the casual seller but in many cases those casual sellers are the biggest offenders of the eBay fraud rules. Under the new guidelines if an average rating falls below 4.2 on a scale of 5 these sellers will see their items drop to the bottom of the search list when the search is initiated. These weaker sellers could also be forced to use a fixed payment plan such as eBay's PayPal.

The idea is to cut down on the fraud and the bigger sellers have more to lose if they cheat than the small casual seller who maybe doesn't list often and tries to make up for small sales by charging large shipping fees. The eBay feedback system will point these out.

The future plan also calls for power sellers to see a 15-percent discount when they reach certain levels of sales and customer satisfaction. As for Donahoe his bottom line is simple;

"We'll make more of our money when sellers are successful," said the next CEO.

Dealers can only say this part is good news and the way it should be.

                                        ===============

(EBAY NOW OFFERING PRO STORES; A NEW STORE SERVICE)

Not content to sit on it's laurels and watching the slower growth in the number of listings on its auction site, eBay is offering a new service to basically compete with it's current service while interacting. www.ProStores.com is an eBay company designed to compliment it's current auction site and to appeal more to people who want to own a retail store without the store front.

Touting everything from "unlimited number of pages" to enhanced promotional tools and eBay integration, ProStores offers a nice commission status. The company is offering three different levels of stores with the base price for the most expensive and all inclusive bells and whistles store at $249 plus commissions. You can start for a little as $29.99 however.

A one month free trial is also offered and once you do sign up for the full store you can get a 30-percent discount if you own an existing eBay store. So why the new system?

(A ProStores Dealer on the new eBay company.)

"ProStores is ideal for individuals and businesses who want to reach new customers, grow on-line sales, and accelerate business growth," according to eBay.

A better answer might be eBay has seen the growth of it's listings slip some in the recent year. Part of the problem is consumers are tired of the auction format in many cases and choose to go to other sites where they can just buy it. In a huge number of eBay auctions Buy It Now is also offered but there still is the auction stigma which many consumers just are not happy with.

Another case might be what the former president of Bobbs-Merrill once said.

"When you establish a successful business you should immediately go into competition with yourself by opening another business which does basically the same thing," said the late M. Hughes Miller. "This way you corner more of the market share before your real competitors do."

By competing with itself eBay has the opportunity to crowd out other up and coming on-line competitors and gain a larger share of the market. Either way, eBay makes money and consumers get a varied experience they can choose from. From the seller's standpoint it a great deal because sellers can branch out and diversify.

For instance, a dealer selling single cards, wax products, supplies and memorabilia on eBay may just decide to open a ProStores account to sell memorabilia and only memorabilia. In this way he can set himself up with a new ID, a new store and still be linked to his current eBay store.

                                       ================

(RC2 TAKES HIT AFTER ANALYST SMACK DOWN)

RC2 stocks dropped after an analyst took a downturn on the company pointing to consumer confidence, higher costs and lack of consumer spending. RC2 makes it's money off toys, especially for younger kids and was among the first companies targeted in the massive toy recalls from China last year. The company took a large hit due to the problem of excessive lead in paint used on many toys including the popular Thomas the Train series.

The company just settled a class action suit brought by parents for $30 million. Wedbush Morgan Securities downgraded the stock from "Buy" to "Hold" based on several factors. The latest was the price of increased raw materials in China where the bulk of toys are made currently.

Shares fell $1.30 to just under $22 on the news.

                                      =================

(JOURNAL HIRES EDITOR FOR NEW PUBLICATION INCLUDING COLLECTIBLES)

The Wall Street Journal hired a new director for it's glossy lifestyles magazine which will include collectibles. Tina Gaudoin was named as editor of the publication which is due to hit magazine stands in September.

"I am thrilled to be joining such an august publication with such a phenomenal heritage," said Ms. Gaudoin. "I look forward to bringing the world of the Journal reader to life with the help of intelligent reporting, arresting visuals and a sense of humor."

The new publication will focus on lifestyle articles for the higher end individual and will include stories on collectibles, luxury goods, travel and philanthropy as well as investing.

                                     =================

(ETOPPS INKS MARSHAWN LYNCH FOR AUTOS)

Marshawn Lynch, the hot rookie of the Buffalo Bills, will be signing eTopps cards which go on sale this Thursday. The price is $59 per autograph, two per customer and only 98 available at the eTopps site. Lynch had a marvelous season and was on his way to competing for ROY honors until an injury took him down for several games. Collectors must have the Lynch card in their on-line portfolio to be eligible for the autographs.

                                    ==================

PSA 8.5

VOLUME 2, NUMBER 18-

**HOT**BUTTON**STORY

(THIRD PERSON RICKEY SUED FOR NOT SHOWING UP OFTEN ENOUGH!!!)

** PSA JOINS BECKETT IN HALF POINT MARGINS

** KODAK PROVIDES SECURITY FOR DONRUSS

** CRUNCHING THE SUPER BOWL NUMBERS

** UPPER DECK AND THE C-H-L

** UNMASKING IN THE GAME

** STEINER SAYS "YOU" PICK THEM

DETAILS ON THESE AND MORE IN TBR: THE BRILL REPORT

=======================

(PSA HALF POINTS A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER?)

Following in the footsteps of it's chief rival in the card grading business, PSA is going to half point grades. The company, which has only down full point grading to this juncture decided there are too many disparities to keep it's grading at 1 through 10 and would offer half grades instead with the highest half grade at 8.5. This would be followed by 9 & 10. There would be no 9.5.

(PSA 10 versus Beckett !0, Beckett Always to get more money.)

"As the card market advances we felt it was imperative to enhance our grading standards so the grade can more accurately reflect the quality and value of the card," said Joe Orlando, President of PSA which is a division of Collector's Universe. "With the ever increasing price gaps and disparities between grades as well as the popularity of the PSA set registry the time is right to modify the system and provide more assurity to hobbyist's."

  Basically Orlando explained the different between a vintage PSA 7 card and the same card in PSA 8 form varies so widely the gap was just too big. Many collectors do complain about the the grade they get and putting in the half grade means a bit of a change. However, there is no 9.5 grade as Beckett has.

"I'm certain they didn't want to screw the guys who paid all this money for grading and got PSA 9 grades because that would really lower the value of the Mint 9 cards," said one dealer asking not to be identified. "A 9.5 would also put them on a par with Beckett and I'm sure they didn't want to be in that category when it came to marketing the product."

Orlando pointed out if a customer sent in a card to be re-graded it would not be dropped below the last grade it held.

(PSA President Joe Orlando.)

PSA was really the only major grading company a few years ago when Beckett decided to get into the business. PSA was sucking a lot of money out of the hobby as dealers got phenomenal prices for graded cards. Today there are only four legitimately recognized grading firms. Including PSA they are Beckett, GAI and SGC. TBR had what it felt was the best grading system and holder but the company never could gain a foothold against the more financially secure companies.

                                                  =======================

(KODAK AND DONRUSS FIGHT COUNTERFEITING)

Donruss is the first card maker since Pinnacle to introduce an anti-counterfeiting addition to cards. Upper Deck began it's run in 1989 with the first hologrammed cards and has kept doing that despite collector concern. The new Donruss system was developed by Eastman Kodak and features an invisible marker which can only be seen by a special device from Kodak called "Kodak Tracerless." The technology is being introduced this week and should be the rage of the NFL Experience.

(KODAK Division handling security for Donruss high end cards.)

"The Tracerless System provides an easy method to distinguish genuine Donruss products from fakes, ensuring our customers an authentic product whose value will continue to appreciate over time," said Bill Sawtelle VP of Quality Assurance at DLP. "Our cards are unique because they contain actual game used artifacts, such as priceless pieces of game worn jerseys, helmets or footballs so the value of the card really depends on its authenticity. The Traceless system will help us limit the ability to counterfeit cards."

UD was the first to use a hologram in 1989 as a means to halt counterfeiters and so far it has worked. Pinnacle introduced a color and jumbled back which one could see through to get to the number which was unique in its own right. This news system smacks of the synthetic DNA situation used by GAI.

"Internet sales and on-line auctions have sparked a proliferation of fake sports cards and the situation is becoming a serious situation for manufacturers and collectors of these prized item," said Steve Powell, an official at Kodak. "By introducing an invisible component to the card that the counterfeiters can't find our advanced technology gives Donruss trading cards a strong defense and eliminates a counterfeiters ability to make cheap replicas."

Other companies using the Tracerless System include pharmaceuticals and wineries among others which feel the need for such security. Only certain high dollar and limited cards will be painted with this stroke for DLP.

Counterfeiting remains a problem in the industry however mostly with autographs. There was a time when thieves would take a PSA 10 high dollar card, break open the holder, replace the the Gem Mint card with a 9 graded card and reseal it. Difficult but doable and then they would resell the fake 10 on the Internet at a really high price to some unsuspecting collector. 

                                                 =======================

(SUPER BOWL CRUNCH TIME)

While the NFL Experience Super Bowl Card Show is hit or miss for most dealers who turn out to sell their wares underneath the tent for the week leading up to Super Bowl XLII, the league rakes in the profits.

Here are some numbers;

Ticket cost averages $800 (NFL gets most of the dough)

Super Bowl Licensed Merchandise will run just under $125 million (NFL Gets most of it)

Network ad price: $2.7 million per :30 second spot (new record could reach $275 million)

Cost of attending the event to possibly see a perfect season, win or lose? Priceless.

                                               =======================

(UPPER DECK ID'S SUPER BOWL DANCE WINNER)

As The Brill Report announced last week the video entitled "Doggy McGuire" won the Upper Deck Super Bowl TD Dance Contest. Upper Deck has now released the names of the winners. Kamaljot Kaler of Edmonton, Canada and Darren Chiu won the trip to the Super Bowl for their creative video.

"After all those Sundays sitting on the couch and watching football I finally get to go to an NFL game and it just happens to be the Super Bowl," said Kaler. "You can just imagine how I feel."

The video features Kaler throwing a TD pass to Chiu who was dressed in a dog costume. After making the TD catch the dog passes out only to be revived by Kaler wearing a stethoscope. He then gets up and does a doggy dance including some break dancing in the snow.

Upper Deck insiders judged the contest winners. There were in all 63 video's submitted.

                                                  =======================

(NOW RICKEY REALLY IS THE BEST SAID RICKEY)

Never failing to speak about himself in the third person not only makes former MLB Super Star Rickey Henderson annoying, it almost makes him comical. Now however,the veteran of 25 MLB seasons is not laughing as Henderson is going to end up in court over collectibles.

(Henderson breaking the all-time stolen base record declaring himself greater than Ty Cobb.)

Henderson, MLB's all time stolen base king and former MVP, is being sued for breach on contract. MAB Celebrity Services charges Henderson failed to show at signings he contracted for and they want $5,000 in damages.

One blog writer said she would never want to be the stenographer who takes Henderson's deposition. Henderson doesn't seem to be able to answer any question without a third person reference to himself.

The company suing Henderson has a website which is still under construction.

                                                 ======================

(UPPER DECK INKS CHL)

The Central Hockey League has been around for 17 seasons and long time hobby card maker Upper Deck is bringing them to the table. The two firms signed an agreement allowing several partnerships including making CHL trading cards.

(Amarillo Gorillas Mascot for the CHL)

The CHL is based in the US with teams spread through out the Mid West and western states. They play in towns such as Austin, Corpus Christi and Prescott Valley, Arizona. It is minor league hockey but it draws and it sells especially in towns where there may or may not even be a college football team.

"Upper Deck is a world leader in sports," said Duane Lewis, CHL VP of Operations. "This relationship kicks off the next phase in the CHL's evolution."

While other programs have not been announced the two say there will be several programs and web based promotions to tie the two together over the coming months.

Upper Deck is in the middle of a 5-year, $25 million license to sell NHL trading cards and is the only company licensed to do so. In The Game makes hockey cards featuring NHL players in either street clothes or minor league garb.

                                                 ========================

(BETWEEN THE PIPES DOES MASK FIVE)

Not much of a story but a really cool photo. In the Game Trading Cards is offering the Mask Insert series again in the goalie heavy "Between the Pipes."

The Between the Pipes Series releases the first week of March and is one of the favorites of the hockey card season. The reason is goalies are always in demand when it comes to hockey cards going back to the early days of cards which featured net minders. The Mask, which dates back to the Pinnacle Trading Cards of the 1990's were always hot commodities when it came to insert sets due to their unique and colorful designs.

                                              ========================

(STEINER SEEKING HELP FROM COLLECTING PUBLIC)

In a bold move Steiner Sports is looking for public input as to who to sign and what. Highly unusual Brandon Steiner, CEO and founder of the company, asked in an open letter to collectors on the Web...

"Let us know how we can improve as a company, what products or services you'd like to see us offer, or even which players we should pursue for autograph signings. We want to hear from you."

The move is refreshing. The biggest complaint from dealers about Steiner is the cost. Many feel the company is over the top in pricing. We asked once and were told "There is interest at that level or else we wouldn't be selling the items as we are."

This may be true but most dealers feel they would stock the merchandise if they truly dropped the price across the board.

                                                        ========================

HEATH LEDGER DEAD, EBAYS WHITMAN TO LEAVE

VOLUME 2, NUMBER 183

**HOT**BUTTON**STORY**

(DOGS AND KIDS, YOU CAN'T BEAT'EM IN UPPER DECK VIDEO CONTEST)

** HEATH LEDGER FOUND DEAD

** MEG WHITMAN STEPS DOWN AS EBAY CEO

** HOBBY COMPANY KICKS OFF SUPER BOWL

** RC2 SETTLES CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR TOYS

DETAILS ON THESE & SIX OTHER STORIES IN TBR: THE BRILL REPORT

EDITORIAL COMMENT: WHITMAN LEAVES HER MARK ON THE HOBBY AS WELL

                                             ======================

(HEATH LEDGER FOUND DEAD AT AGE 28, AUTOGRAPHS OVER $1000)

As is usually the case in the sudden and unexpected death of a popular celebrity, autograph seekers over pay humongous amounts for items close to their heroes. Super star young actor Heath Ledger was found dead in his New York home earlier this week, as sudden as it was shocking. Ledger, star of films such as The Patriot, Brokeback Mountain and as the Joker in the upcoming Batman film, "The Dark Knight", had made his mark in Hollywood.

(Heath Ledger got an Oscar nomination for Brokeback Mountain.)

Ledger's most popular signatures were from the role he'd never live to see on the big screen. The latest Batman had wrapped and is due in July. Ledger obviously had signed lots of items including posters and 8 x 10 photos. Within hours of the news breaking about his death over 2500 items were newly listed on eBay. One framed and signed piece sold for $3400 while during the early bidding signed items were clocking in at about $1000.

Ledger, from Australia, made it big as the fallen hero son of Mel Gibson in "The Patriot." His boyish good looks, obvious talent and winning smile made him a favorite. Many were surprised when he accepted the role of a gay cowboy in the controversial "Brokeback Mountain." It was a role which brought him an Oscar Nomination, the Academy Award eluding him. His most fun film was probably "A Knight's Tale" with Paul Bettany.

Ledger seemed to be a willing signer. Many eBay-ites actually listed photos of him signing in parking lots for those who recognized him.

"When he first came out he didn't like the attention but the last time I saw him a year or so ago he was really happy and friendly and signed autographs and took photo ops with people," said Hollywood autograph expert Dave Rodriguez of Signatures.com. "He always seemed to be a down to earth guy who wasn't into the party scene and he'll really be missed. He was a quality actor."

Early reports placed his death as an accidental drug overdose possibly of presciption drugs. An autopsy is pending. A preliminary report said a $20 bill with some white powder on it found near his bed was not believed to contain any illegal drugs. As it looks now the veteran of about 20 films liked died of a tragic accidental suicide.

Other notes about Ledger are he was named one of People Magazines 50 Most Beautiful People in 2001 and he leaves behind a two year old daughter he had with fiance' Michelle Williams whom he'd met on the set of BrokeBack Mountain. The engagement was called off about four months ago. Ledger was in the process of filming The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus with Christopher Plummer.

                                          ======================

(WHITMAN STEPS DOWN AS VERY RICH FORMER EBAY CEO)

At age 51 Meg Whitman is a force behind politicians and she is one of the wealthiest women in the world. Forbes estimates her worth at $1.4 billion. All because of a little auction website known as eBay. After 10 years and record stock growth she is calling it quits. She is being replaced by 47 year old John Donahoe.

(Retiring eBay CEO Meg Whitman)

Whitman previously worked at Disney, Proctor & Gamble, Bain & Company and Hasbro. She took over a start-up which needed a lot of direction. She leaves behind an Internet site which effects every business on the face of the earth in one way or another. She sees behind her a quarter in which eBay, which manufactures nothing, made $531 million. The company does $6 billion annually.

While Wall Street looks at eBay as slowing growth, people around the world see it as a monster which has had both positive and negative effects. The positive is it has opened new world wide markets for small shop keepers. The downside is it has helped kill off any "retail" market there is and obliterated the line between wholesale and retail. The end result is the environment has made it very difficult for small operators to operate. A sort of Wal-Mart Scenario.

She had her moments such as the acquisition of Skype seen passively as not a good move. eBay like Google is a new word as well as a verb in the English language. "To eBay it" is as common as to "Google it." While anything can be found on Google, any Price or value can be found on eBay. Just ask it's users and merchants.

She said she would leave after 10 years and in the spring she celebrates her ten year anniversary. Her reign supplied a lot of good news to the business world. She took a company with a stock valued at less than $2 per share, and now is worth over $28 after lots of splits.

Will she turn to politics? Some have said she has thought about running for the US Senate. She has backed Mitt Romney in the presidential race with lots of money. She may have political desires but for the moment, eBay will probably continue to do well.

                                          ======================

(RC2 CORPORATION SETTLES TOY CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR $30 MILLION)

It will cost RC2 Corporation $30 million to settle the class action suit filed by parents all around the country; parents who bought Thomas the Train toys for their kids. The toys were recalled when it was learned the maker, a Chinese toy company, used paint with unauthorized levels of lead.

(Thomas the Train back in style after recall.)

"This preliminary agreement acknowledges and builds upon the many steps that we've taken to replace recalled products and improve product safety, including instituting our Multi-Check Safety System to safeguard current and future toy production," said Curt Stoelting, CEO of RC2. "We are pleased we were able to reach a proposed settlement, which if approved will resolve this nationwide class action in a manner that helps us to continue to build parent's trust."

The company will take a nearly $5 million charge as well. Millions of toys were recalled from all over the country when it was learned the lead paint was used. It was among the first of the many recalls experienced by the industry and from China.

                                   ====================

(HOBBY COMPANY CONTROLS START OF SUPER BOWL XLII)

While the Patriots and Giants are working their way toward the countdown of Super Bowl XLII, one hobby company is pushing hard as well. The Highland Mint has supplied the coin used in the Game Flip before kick off for the past 18 years. This year is no different. It takes a lot of work from sculpting to handing it to the referee.

"Not everyone can do it and it kinda makes it a neat job," said Phyllis Hamilton, who sculpts the coin. "The game doesn't start without us."

(The Super Bowl Package runs about $70.)

The gold plated coins are designed, sculpted and pressed over a period of weeks but the problem is they never know until a week or two before the game (depending on the NFL's planning) who is going to be on the coin. This year four different scenarios were made with three of them "wrong" when the final guns sounded last Sunday. What to do with the other "phantom" coins?

"We don't want to take a chance on those coins getting out into the marketplace," said Highland Mint President, Michael Kott, knowing the value of such collectibles. "So we actually do make sure they are cut up and crushed."

Of course thousands of copies of the coin actually used in the game will be sold to collectors as they are every year. The coin for Super Bowl XLII is about 1.5 inches in diameter and comes in it's own velvet case, with a mintage of 10,000.

                                          ====================

(DOGGY WINS UPPER DECK SUPER BOWL CONTEST)

Pets and kids are a hard act to follow even if the pet is a guy in a doggy suit. A video called "Doggy McGuire" was named the best Touchdown Dance Video, winning out over Hava Na gila and Cowboy Mike's videos.' The winner gets two tickets to the Super Bowl and an expense paid trip plus lots of freebies. Dr. Wax Battle on his Internet show admittedly was not happy since one scene in Cowboy Mike's video (in which the Doctor appeared) might have inspired the eventual winner. He still applauded UD for the opportunity.

"We want to congratulate the winner Doggy McGuire on their winning video," said the Doc on his show. "Hope they have a great time at the Super Bowl."

(The Cowboy Mike Video with the Jersey Crew were runner-ups after a nice campaign.)

In the Cowboy Mike video the Doc revives Mike who lay motionless on the ground. He uses two tins of UD Sweet Spot Football (which happen to look like the real thing) and yells "clear" while placing the tins over Mike's heart to jump start it. In the Doggie video, which was entered later, the videographers basically did the same thing using different products from UD.

With a week to go Upper Deck only had a half dozen entries. Upper Deck spokesman Terry Melia even went on regional radio to promote the event, making an appearance on CBS Radio KNX1070 Newsradio in Los Angeles. As the word got out amateur video makers got into the act and submitted 63 videos. Some were admittedly pretty lame, others were actually very good.

The other runner up, Hava Na gila, was very creative with an obvious Jewish overtone as all the team members got together and danced to the Jewish folksong.

                                         =====================

(UPPER DECK PUSHING NFL EXPERIENCE INTERACTIVE LEVEL)

Two wrapper redemption's, post card and card giveaways, daily raffles for Vinyl figures and a character known as Coach Cardman. They are all apart of the Upper Deck version of the NFL Experience in Arizona at the Super Bowl.

The company will run a pair of wrapper redemption's. The first will feature fans buying packs of Upper Deck and bringing them to the UD booth to open. Open three and get one of four exclusive show cards. A more rare higher level of the game will also be played.

Handouts include post cards highlighting the popular Vinyl series as well as single cards of some of the new products. Key chains will also be part of the giveaway. The Coach Cardman is going to be an intriguing part of the mix.

While not all the details are available yet it seems as if Upper Deck's new mascot will be wandering around the show and at certain times youngsters will be required to find him for a prize.

                                             ===================

(PATRIOTS SELLING WELL)

As expected hobby stores in New England are pumping out the Pat's merchandise with Tom Brady and Laurence Maroney leading the way. Brady Rookie Cards are hot but only if you can find them. Brady has few of them being a sixth round pick. Don't be surprised if what is really selling is the junk and the T-Shirts.

(Something sure to get some use Super Bowl Sunday.)

Commonly called "Trinkets and Trash" things such as key chains, T-Shirts, belt buckles, mugs and anything else with a team emblem is hot. People are looking for the perfect season and if the Pats do win Super Bowl XLII you will find any number of "collectibles" on the open market encompassing the number 19-0, or "The Perfect Season."

It will be all about the moment and Pat's fans and even others who will celebrate the achievement of the perfect season will be targets of the sellers. But it all goes for naught if the Giants win.

                                    ======================

(READER REACTION)

Dave Thomas of Hit N Run writes in reaction to TBR's comment about the hobby must be thrilled with the Patriots and Giants in the Super Bowl: "What are you smoking?! The west coast is not thrilled at all. It could be our worst Super Bowl ever."

EDS: Sorry Dave. The West Coast? San Diego remains a small market, Seattle wasn't super excited at it's last Super Bowl and you weren't going to get the 49er's or Raiders. Oh, and remember LA doesn't have a TEAM!!! And I live on the West Coast. Give me Manning, Brady, Moss, Strahan and Burress to sell any day over Rivers, Hasselback, a non-existent Shawn Somebody in Seattle although I'd like to have LT but remember he's injured and you likely wouldn't get him anyway. Now if the powers that be in the NFL would give the LA basin a team I might agree with you.

                                    ======================

(BREAKING TOPPS CHROME BASKETBALL 2007-08)

KC Kings Sportscards broke a 12 box Hobby Case of 2007-08 Topps Chrome Basketball this week when it arrived. There are 12 boxes each with 96 cards of which on average 72 are base cards. This means there are 864 base cards in an average case. With 160 base and rookie cards in a set you would think you would get close to the 5.4 complete sets the law of average and statistics says you should.

We got ONE set! Just One complete set and not even very close to a second. We did complete one Variation Set as well which is an additional part of the base set to take it to 210 cards. These were figured in the above equation as in the 25 percent along with inserts and refractors. At 4 card per pack, one in each is either a Variation Card or some insert such as a Refractor.

Even if you take out some of the refractors and count them against the 25-percent, there should be more than ONE set per case. The worst thing about this is if you break 12 boxes at factory cost you will spend almost $600. Some dealers listed the sets on eBay with a Buy It Now of $199! There were those who even offered it for $75! Why open it?

The rest of the break was as advertised.

                                             ===================

(4KIDS NAMES PR VEEP)

4Kids Entertainment is adding Barry Stagg as Senior Vice-President in charge of corporate communications. He has previously held positions at Fox, Lorimar and he worked for another company before Sony purchased it.

                                          ===================

SUPER BOWL TEAMS SET

VOLUME 2, NUMBER 182

**HOT**BUTTON**STORY**

(SAY IT AIN'T SO SPIDEY, AS SPIDER MAN GIVES UP ON MARY JANE!!!)

** NETWORKS & HOBBY GET BEST SUPER BOWL FOR SALES

** SERIES OF DEATHS SHOWS SADDER SIDE OF HOBBY

** UPPER DECK TO MOVE TO GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS

** NAXCOM PUTS ON BIG SHOW AGAIN

** STEROIDS HITS TAKING TOLL ON HOBBY STILL

** UPPER DECK SENDS KIDS TO NHL ALL STAR GAME

DETAILS ON THESE STORY'S AND MORE IN THE BRILL REPORT

EDITORIAL COMMENT: How much is too much?

                                          =======================

(HOBBY LOOKS TO PATS & GIANTS TO SET THE TREND FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS)

The world championship teams are set and they are from Boston and New York. No they are not the Yankees and the Red Sox. The Patriots by way of a win over the Chargers in the AFC title game will face the New York Giants who got by Green Bay in overtime in the NFC game. Are you ready for some hype! Are you ready for some Super Bowl!?

The good news is both teams are either universally liked or hated and New England has that 18-0 thing going on. This should translate to super sales for hobby stores up and down the eastern seaboard but especially in New York and New England. The rivalry spawned by the Yankees and the Red Sox will carry over.

(Topps may have been a little early with this one. It was issued as part of a Super Bowl Set four years ago.)

It is inevitable and before you read this you will have likely seen at least one offer from Mounted Memories and one from Steiner about all the Giants and Pat's stuff they have on hand. For a small fee they will charge your credit card and ship it out UPS. NFL Shop was the first to hit my "in box" with offers of NFL Gear of the Conference Champs.

(NFL Shop wasted no time in emailing out offers to sell NFL gear.)

Eli Manning rookie cards will be in demand so you might want to drag those out. It's doubtful there are more than a few Brady rookies while the other key players are Plaxico Burress, Laurence Mauroney, Randy Moss, Wes Welker and more. During this next two weeks hobby stores in New York and Boston will sell more than at any time of the year. The Giants NFL franchise is one of the most storied.

The networks can't complain either. A Boston/New York match up is a dream come true for ratings.
                                      =======================

(SERIES OF OBITS SENDS DEALERS LOOKING FOR KEY CARDS, PERKS COLLECTOR INTEREST)

It never fails when a famous person dies the public, and especially the collecting public, becomes more interested. In the hobby it usually -- and unfortunately -- attributes to increased sales due to this increased interest. The obituary pages have been filled the past couple weeks with names familiar to sports fans and even more so to hobbyists.

(Classic Johnny Podres 1953 Topps Style)

The most familiar name to pass away was Johnny Podres. Winner of two games in the 1955 World Series when Brooklyn won it's only World Series, Podres at 75 was a prolific signer and a widely loved figure. Despite his bouts with alcohol the "little lefty" as many called him always commanded a following and a place in the hearts of fans. Baseball lore only increases his significance.

Coincidently also passing away was Podres' mound opponent in the final game of 1955, Tommy Byrne. Byrne, born New Year's Eve just months after the 1919 Black Sox World series, was 88 years old and spent 12 of his 13 seasons with the Yankees.

He was 16-5 during the regular season but just 1-1 in the 1955 World Series with Brooklyn.

Former Pirate Don Cardwell slipped away after the holidays as did Jerry Staley. Cardwell spent time with five teams during his 14 year career winning 102 games and tossing a no-hitter with the Cubs in 1960.

Staley, 87, was on the mound when the White Sox clinched the pennant in 1959 and pitched in the World Series. He won 19 games for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1951 and captured 134 in his 15 year career. A recent newspaper photo of Staley showed a wall of baseballs in his home. He had a ball for each of his 245 decisions.

(Jerry Staley won -- games in the major leagues.)

Defensive tackle Ernie Holmes of the Pittsburgh Steelers "Steel Curtain" days was killed in a traffic accident. He was only 59. Mounted Memories reported increased interest in Steel Curtain merchandise after he passed. The other three members of the line are still alive; Joe Green, LC Greenwood and Dwight White. The four often signed at shows but this will never happen again.

None of the above figures would command such attention among collectors as to drive sales increasingly with possibly the exception of Podres. eBay was flooded with Podres' autographs the day he died.

                                       =======================

(UPPER DECK SENDS TWO YOUNGSTERS TO NHL ALL-STAR GAME)

Nine year old Cory Landel (Buffalo, NY) and 15 year old Jimmie Faddies of Ontario, Canada are going to the NHL All Star Game in Atlanta courtesy of Upper Deck. They were winners in the second annual BackStage Pass sweepstakes. They get all expense paid trips including airfare, meals and hotels. They also get to be stick boys for part of the NHL sponsored game.

"I'm very excited," said Landal. "I never expected to win but I'm really glad I did."

To enter youngsters 17 and under had to enter the codes on their Upper Deck cards on-line at the Upper Deck Kids website.

                                       =======================

(UDC OFFERS RECORD CARD SET)

There will be a total of 6500 cards in the new Yankee Stadium House that Ruth Built trading card set. The cards will be spread out over all series in 2008 and will feature every game played at Yankee Stadium and then some.

(Babe Ruth Card from Yankee Stadium Legacy Set.)

To give you an idea as to the magnitude of the set, if you put it in albums (based on 9 pocket pages with one card per sleeve, 100 pages per album) it would take 722 pages or more than seven albums. You could put the set in two 3200 count boxes provided you didn't put any cards in plastic penny sheets and you were really careful to squeeze them in. If you lined them up end to end (the long way) they would stretch over more than six football fields or 631 yards.

Now that is a set! Ridiculous, but a set! There will be one person who will collect it, and it is very likely Upper Deck will at some point offer some promotion to someone who is the first to collect it and enter to win. You have to believe that will happen.

There will be cards featuring game highlights, boxing matches and speeches. There will also be cards featuring game used items from more than 40 Yankee greats. And if you were wondering where some of those old Yankee autographed cards were left over from previous years? Yup! The House Ruth Built.

"Not only is this an incredibly ambitious effort by our Product Development and Creative teams but it is a well deserved tribute to one of the sports worlds most celebrated venues," said Kerri Stockholm, UD Director of Marketing. "We're delivering the cards in inserts in several different Upper Deck baseball products throughout 2008 giving collectors the chance to share in the historic tribute."

Yankee Stadium closes after this year and the All-Star Game will be played there this summer. UDC does plan lots of promotions which can be discovered at www.ownthelegacy.com starting February 1, 2008.

Officials at Upper Deck say the Guinness Book of World Records is ready to recognize the series as the Largest Baseball Card Set of all time.

                                                  =======================

(NAXCOM TRADE SHOW BIGGEST IN SO-CAL SINCE 1995)

NAXCOM says its Hollywood Park Casino Show the last weekend in this month is largest show in the region since 1995.

(Venue for NAXCOM Show January 25-27)

The event will feature 18 members of the Dodgers mostly from their championship years of the 1980's. Other players too from the 1960's and 70's will be on hand to sign including local hero Al Ferarra. Ferarra was the team's first home run slugger in the post Koufax/Drysdale era. He led the team in 1967 with 16 dingers.

(Dodger greats infield at Hollywood Park again.)

Kirk Gibson will be on hand to sign from the 1988 Series as will many other Dodger favorites including the great infield of Garvey, Lopes, Cey and Russell.

                                      =======================

(STEROID HITS)

As The Brill Report detailed earlier the Mitchell Report is having its affects not just in the criminal underworld, but the sports memorabilia market has been heavily damaged by the report. Mainstream media had been targeting the hobby for the past few years looking for something good and now they've been handed a silver platter.

(The smaller gentler Bonds in hey day before HGH?)

Unfortunately they think there is lots of nothing by bad things now. One article points correctly to the fact both signed Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds autographed items are in the dumper. A baseball we watched straight from Bonds own company for which he gets more than $600 -- is bringing less than $100 on eBay. This was a baseball with Bonds own hologram.

(Clemens vs. Mitchell)

Mastro auctions reported a game used bat from Bond's most historic season 2001, sold for just only $12,000. Normally this item would sell for $20,000 on average with the highest rent district reaching as high as $30,000. This one didn't even sell for what he paid for it.

                                    ======================

(SPIDER MAN MOVES TO SPLITSVILLE)

In the latest issue of Spider Man from Marvel, it's learned the Web Slinger just had to make a change. The new hipper version sort of means Spidey is breaking up with long time wife Mary Jane. The couple were married, Jane and Peter Parker, for 20 years.

(Spidey calls off marriage with sexy Kirsten Dunst, aka Mary Jane, leaving him free to pursue other women and super heroines.)

Horrible to think of yes, but life moves on for Spidey who enters a brand new life with "A Brand New Day" the latest issue. The 85 year old creator of the comic, Stan Lee, isn't involved in the newest issue but reportedly called it a "creative idea."

                                   ==============================

MUHAMMAD ALI IS 66 TODAY CELEBRATING MEMORABILIA DEALS

VOLUME 2, NUMBER 181

**HOT**BUTTON**STORY**

(NEW ASIAN COMIC TAKING MUSLIM WORLD BY STORM!!!)

** ALI TURNS 66 TODAY WITH NEW DEAL

** NAXCOM KICKING OFF EVENT WITH $CASH$

** BECKETT FINDS T-206 SERIES WITH WAGNER

** TOY COMPANIES TARGET FACEBOOK IN SUIT

DETAILS ON THESE & MORE IN TODAYS TBR: THE BRILL REPORT

EDITORIAL COMMENT: Ali at 66?                                        

                                        =====================

(MUHAMMAD ALI AT 66 CELEBRATES NEW MEMORABILIA DEAL)

The man they call "The Greatest" turns 66 years old today and somewhere in between watching his daughter carry on the family name in the ring, and the disease which has robbed him of his speech, Muhammad Ali is celebrating new collectible deals. Still young at one year past being a senior citizen, Ali has reached new deals with Upper Deck and CKX Incorporated to carry on his lucrative memorabilia company.

(The man they call "The Greatest" sells universally.)

Today marks the kick-off date for his new on-line store, www.ali.com. There you will find posters, books and lots of other signed and unsigned items featuring the scrawling autograph which has become the Ali trademark. While his Parkinson's Disease has robbed him of consistently signing in a clear concise style, and there are plenty of forgeries out there because of it, Ali still can pen a nice signature at times.

The kick-off features Muhammad Ali Enterprises of which the boxer still owns 20-percent. He sold 80-percent of the company in 2006 for $50 million to CKX of New York. The firm also owns the rights to Elvis Presley and a portion of American Idol. Priscilla Presley is a member of the CXK board of directors.

Ali has had deals with Upper Deck for figurines and most recently is going to sell greeting cards with inspirational messages. The $3 cards from American Greetings will hit store shelves sometime this week. They plan a series of talking cards as well as holiday cards.

"It is truly an honor to work with such a respected and revered person like Muhammad Ali," said Paul Palmer, Director of Ethnic Card Marketing at American Greetings. "It is a natural fit for Ali to be the focal point of cards that inspire and motivate others to reach their goals, persevere through hardship and celebrate their many accomplishments in life."

More UDA merchandise is thought to be in the offing soon as well. Ali has always been a strong seller in the hobby. It is believed CKX brings in an annual figure of up to $7 million selling Ali merchandise. A Louisville store, the Muhammad Ali Center also sells merchandise based on the champ but under a separate deal.

There is no shortage of Muhammad Ali merchandise on the market and no shortage of fakes as well. Over the years as the number of Ali signatures increased collectors began searching for anything with his non-Muslim name, Cassius Clay. These, if they are real, usually carry a premium since he stopped signing his birth name many years ago.

                                     =====================

(NAXCOM KICKING OFF AUCTION SEASON WITH $10K IN PRIZES)

The auction season at NAXCOM is barely underway and the company is offering $10,000 in cash incentives later this month to jump start the auction process. With more sports card offerings than eBay, NAXCOM is fairly new at the auction process ala eBay. Working with eBay in some respects NAXCOM has done a solid job in getting off the ground. The problem remains however the 800 pound gorilla in the room, the Cadillac so to speak, is still eBay.

"We are very excited to introduce our new auction site as many collectors and dealers are very frustrated and are looking for a better auction alternative and with NAXCOM Auctions both buyers and sellers can transact with confidence," said NAXCOM CEO Eric Beckerman. "We're looking forward to celebrating the grand opening with a very special event where we will be giving away some great Rookie Cards and also picking up the shipping costs on many of the auctions for an entire week."

The kickoff takes place Monday, January 21. The basic rules of the event are if you spend $35 or more per day on the auction site you will get these items depending on the day; Adrian Peterson Playoff RC, Joba Chamberlain SP Rookie Edition, Kevin Durant Upper Deck Rookie PSA 10, Free Shipping on all auction winnings over $10.

NAXCOM has created and incorporated several policies making the system safer than eBay. One of the system's interesting programs allows money to go from buyer to seller through NAXCOM so buyers get their product through a third party to make sure the deal was accurate and acceptable for both parties. Something which eBay doesn't have and has been a main concern for buyers and sellers.

                                       =====================

(BECKETT GRADING T-206 FIND WITH WAGNER, SET FOR AUCTION)

The very rare T-206 Honus Wagner card is among those being graded by Beckett Grading Service. The find features 550 T-206's of varying grades and all have Sweet Caporal on the back. The group will be individually put up for auction with the Wagner going last on April 10.

(Beckett "find" of a newly graded BVG 1 Wagner.)

"The history and lore that surround the previous Honus Wagner cards makes this one of the most exciting announcements Beckett Media has ever made," said Grant Sandground, Beckett's Technical Director for Hobby Development. "We expect this card alone to sell for over $100,000."

Beckett Grading's low price for the Wagner indicates what the actual grade is as seen to the left. A Graded 1 card is as low as you can go, but it doesn't matter with the Wagner. The PSA 8 Wagner once owned by Wayne Gretzky recently sold for nearly $4 million. Less than 75 Wagner cards are known to exist and this one was previously not counted in the collection status.

Beckett Select Auctions division of Beckett Media will put the items up for auction in March. The fact the backs are all Sweet Caporal is unique in that it means the cards were probably collected by one person who actually smoked that particular brand. There were several brands the cards were issued under including Piedmont.

                                      =====================

(TOY MAKERS TARGET FACE BOOK AND SCRABULOUS)

Playing "Scrabulous" on Facebook are you? Well stop! That is the word from Hasbro and Mattel who are ready to file suit to stop the knock off game from being played in the on-line forum. Scrabulous, created by a pair from India claiming they couldn't find an on-line Scrabble they liked, has hundreds of thousands of players on-line. The system works well with FaceBook so this is the target of the companies.

(Scrabulous invented by two Indians from Calcutta)

"If we cannot come to one (a solution) quickly we will be forced to close down the site and its associated distribution points," said a statement from Hasbro.

Hasbro has the U-S and Canadian distribution rights while Mattel has world wide rights. There are many on-line versions of the cross word game which are sanctioned but not the Scrabulous version.

Hasbro has issued a cease and desist order against four un-named parties in an attempt to halt the unauthorized version. There are more than 600,000 daily players on FaceBook. Reaction has been swift.

There are already "Save Scrabulous" movements on FaceBook while Hasbro is sending out letters urging the protesters to go to authorized sites instead.

"We are not surprised that fans have thoroughly enjoyed Scrabulous on Facebook.com," said the Hasbro letter. "What consumers may not realize however is that Scrabulous is an illegally copied version of the world's most popular word game."

The above moves come as two German brothers known for their investments in the Internet announced they have acquired a piece of FaceBook. They didn't say how much but the Samwers brothers are probably going to make it easier for FaceBook to make inroads into Germany. German laws regarding this sort of thing are extremely overbearing but the two have done it before. 

Last year Microsoft paid $240 million for 1.6 percent of Facebook, while a Hong Kong investor paid $60 million for 0.4 percent.

                                     =======================

(CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION TARGETS PORTS FOR TAINTED TOYS)

Catch them at the ports. This is the war cry of the new Consumer Product Safety Commission as it aims to halt the influx of toys and other goods which are tainted and force recalls. Seattle and Long Beach, CA are the first to be targeted by CPSC head Nancy Word. Word is reacting to calls on Capitol Hill after massive toy recalls leading up to the 2007 holiday season.

China has been the main culprit with lead in paints higher than allowable standards. The Agency is putting a new tracking system into place at the ports in hopes of finding out what is coming in before it's unloaded. In some cases before it leaves the foreign port.

The year of the recall is even being bandied about by the political candidates and this is putting added pressure on the CPSC to do it's job. In many of the ports under fire the agency will be putting full time agents on the ground round the clock.

                                      =====================

(NEW ASIAN COMIC BOOK IS TREND SETTER)

Whether it's hot new ring tones, wall paper for your phone, or a Vietnamese Sandwich, the trends are coming and coming again from the East. Forbes Magazine in it's list of the 20 hottest trends in pop culture says one of the hottest is a comic book from Asia based in where else but 1258 AD.

(Upcoming issue of "The 99" from Teshkeel)

"The 99" has become the hottest comic rag in the world, becoming the new Super Man in Asia and coming West. It begins as Mongol hordes invade early Iraq (or at least Baghdad) and each super hero possesses one of the great Muslim traits. These are things like healing and wisdom.

The publication came from Teshkeel Comics, which is the Asian distributor for Marvel to the Arab world. It was over a year ago The Brill Report wrote about the marriage in an attempt to bring comic books to places in the middle east where Moslem's would accept them. They have and so has the West.

"The 99" debuted in Kuwait in 2006 and made it's USA debut in 2007.

                                     =======================

(JAKKS A HIT WITH EYECLOPS BIONICAM STEPS UP ANOTHER NOTCH FOR 2008)

JAKKS Pacific is at it again. After debuting the EyeClops BioniCam late last year the company is upgrading the product and it's been a hit at both the Consumer Show in Las Vegas and at the Hong Kong Toy Fair. The toy has Toy of the Year nominations under it's belt already.

The new version is due in the Fall and just in time for the holidays. The different between the old and new; flip a switch and your youngster can see the world through 400x magnification. In addition, kids can take the cam on the go and plug into any USB port, upload and send the pix they took world wide. There is also a new clip on battery pack.

"This product might be sold in toy stores but don't be fooled," said Warren Bucklietner, editor in chief of The Children's Software Review. "EyeClops is a powerful microscope that can transform a TV screen into a world of wonder."

The product still has it's original ability to plug into a TV through the AV Jacks and show pictures just taken. Now instead of just magnifying the subject 200 times, the updated version goes to 400 times the original size. Viewing bugs for little boys just got a lot bigger.

                                    =======================

(BETWEEN THE PIPES SET FOR MARCH 6 DEBUT)

In the Game officials say their goalie heavy product, "Between the Pipes" will debut for 2008 on March 6. The product basically highlights net minders.

(Net minders are hot in the new "Between the Pipes.")

In the Game is the other company making hockey cards. Upper Deck has an exclusive contract with the NHL for active hockey stars in their uniforms with logos. ITG makes other cool hockey sets which sell well in Canada and portions of the US.

The company says the new autographs or Goalie Graphs will be different in style than any previous year of the series. One of the trademarks of the set is very large swatches of jerseys.

                                     ======================

(PATS, CELTS AND SOX PUMPING UP NEW ENGLAND SPORTS WEB SITE)

It is called Chowdaheadz.com and it is roaring along with the success of the Boston franchises. For the first time in history the champions from the three big sports might all be from one city in the same season. The Red Sox won, the Patriots will likely win and the Celtics are on a huge roll. Enter Chowdaheadz.

The web site offers everything from apparel to trinkets featuring the local sports teams with updates each week. A new T-shirt has been on the agenda with each Pat's win including "It Ain't Easy Being Perfect." There has almost been a new t-shirt weekly.

                                     =======================

HUCKABEE DONRUSS CARDS HILIGHT POLITICO'S

NUMBER 2, VOLUME 180

**HOT**BUTTON**STORY**

(New Lower Exquisite Pushed By Promotions!!!)

** POLOTICS IN THE CARD MARKET

** CARD COMPANIES GOING NBA JAMMING

** ORANGE BOWL ITEMS SHIPPING

** UD EMPLOYEE CARD QUAD HOOPS

** SIDNEY CROSBY TOP OF THE NHL AUTOGRAPH LIST

** DONRUSS PLATINUM FINDS IT'S WAY TO COLLECTOR FOR $10,000

Details on these and other stories in today's edition of TBR: The Brill Report

Editorial Comment: Donruss could have done better with its STAR!

                                     ======================

(MIKE HUCKABEE ONLY CANDIDATE WITH OFFICIAL DONRUSS ROOKIE CARD -- TOPPS GOES THE DISTANCE)

Whether by design or by political backing being in the heart of the Bible Belt, Donruss Playoff is the only card company to offer a base trading card of a current political candidate. Based in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area the trading card company features a card of Republican conservative candidate Mike Huckabee and is touting it as his RC (Rookie Card). But polotics aside, the company isn't concerned.

(Mike Huckabee might object to Donruss' positioning of the star featuring his event worn shirt.)

"We have no concern over putting Huckabee in the set, he is a celebrity, a political figure and at the time we chose to put him in the set, last summer, we had no idea he'd be doing so well," Scott Prusha director of Marketing for Donruss/Playoff told TBR. "We'd like to say the release of the product at the same time as the Iowa caucuses put him over the top but we can't really say that."

Donruss isn't the only company pushing the presidential theme. Topps is coming out with a complete 12 card insert set in series one 2008 Baseball. The set features six candidates from each of the two political parties. The series also features a cut signature of Hilary Clinton.

(Hilary Rodham Clinton cut signature in Topps)

It cannot be considered HIlary's rookie card however. Way back in 1992 Wild Card put out a Bill and Hilary card. This was a regular issue. There are also numerous playing card sets featruing the former first lady and current GOP candidate for the top seat.

(Wild Card 1992 release of Hilary and Bill)

There are three cards of poloticians in the Donruss set although only Huckabee is a presidential factor. Both Connie Mack III and George Allen Jr., have connections with sports figures. Allen's father was the coach of the Rams and Redskins of the NFL and Mack's great grandfather was Hall of Fame manager Connie Mack. All three have signed cards and memorbilia cards.

As for Topps it does have a long history of political trading cards including two sets featuring all the presidents, a news trading card set from the 1950's which feature a lot of hot political products and of course the insertion of autographs of presidents. Topps brought perhaps the most controversy upon itself when it bought a lock of Washington's hair and mounted it on a trading card last year.

As for Donruss, Prusha says there wasn't any intention of selecting a conservative leader to be on a trading card despite the fact he signed over 100 autographs and sold an "event used shirt" for the series.

"We could not have anticipated who was going to be where in the race when we pulled the trigger on this," he said. "The card exploded the day after Iowa when the product released to the public."

The Topps cards will be coming out at a point when it is likely some of the current candidates are no longer in the race. Topps Series One is due February 6 or one day after the Super Tuesday Primaries. Several of those players in the Topps set are already out including Joe Biden and Bill Richardson. Others will drop by the time the product ships.

                                         =====================

(NBA JAM SESSION AND MORE PROMOTIONS FOR CARD SHOPS)

In what has become a standard promotion card companies are offering to card shops around the country, Topps is doing a throw back series with cards offered in exchange for purchasing packs. This is not dissimilar to Turn Back the Clock and Rookie of the Week.

At the All-Star Jam Session Topps will release a really interesting series of Mystery Cards in a folder. Wrapper redemptions, stopping by the Topps booth and saying hello are all part of the event for Topps.

(Cool versions of the NBA Jam Session cards.)

The cards feature five different players in the 1981 format which produced the Julius Erving and Magic Johnson/Larry Bird RC's. The new players will be Wade, Paul, Arenas, Anthony and Jianlian.

In another move the NBA, using both partners Upper Deck and Topps, is going a step farther. A program designed to run during the spring offers collectors five different cards running up through the NBA Playoffs. The idea is to get collectors to enter the store, buy a few packs and get the cards in return.

"This is a great promotion because it will promote excitement, entice people to purchase cards and increase sales of NBA trading cards," said Lisa Goldberg, NBA director of trading card licensing. "It is easy for shops and everybody gets something just for participating."

Goldberg pointed to the fact hobby shops will recieve Gift Certificates can be used by customers to use in their store. The NBA will cover the cost.

Basically once collectors/fans complete the five card set they are eligible to recieve prizes from UD and Topps as well as the Gift Certificates. Drawings for grand prizes include a trip to the NBA Photo Shoot and an instore signing with a player.

Stores hoping to participate can find out more www.nbacards@nba.com or go to the project website www.nba.com/starting5promotion.

                                  ==========================

(MOUNTED SHIPS ORANGE BOWL)

Last week The Brill Report ran the story about the future destruction of the Orange Bowl and how Mounted Memories (Dreams Inc.) has the exclusive rights to all memorabilia from the site. The company has already begun taking orders.

(Final version of collectible on right with close up of seats being installed in original bowl.)

"The collectible features a piece of vintage bench, an 8 x 10 photo of the benches being installed and a descriptive image," the sales pitch cries out. "Authenticated by the City of Miami and Mounted Memories, the product comes with an individually numbered; tamper evident hologram from Mounted Memories."

The whole sale price is $125 and the item is about 23 x 18 in size.

                                   =========================

(UD EMPLOYEE CARD BK)

Collectors often run across cards in collections or on dealer tables which were never meant to be sold but which have found their way to the open market. These really cool cards are often Upper Deck Employee cards which the company gives as a bonus to its employees on an annual basis. This year the card features only NBA players; four of them.

(New UD Employee card for 2008 Season)

"This is a creative way of rewarding our employees with something that represents what we do in the marketplace," said CEO Richard McWilliam. "And this latest version is a testament to Upper Deck's unique advantage in the NBA market as we have the most collectible and highly valued players in the league."

Michael Jordan is feature who, despite having not played in the league for about a decade, remains on the UD payroll. Kobe Bryant, once disgraced has earned his way back to endorsements and is on the card along with super hero LeBron James and rookie Kevin Durant.

Previous UD Employee cards featured Mickey Mantle, Sydney Crosby and LeBron James to name a few. The cards often feature a jersey swatch and are highly collectible although don't always show up in price guides.

                                     ===========================

(HIGHLAND MINT CROSBY AUTOS)

How much are Sidney Crosby autographs going for? If you are buying from the Highland Mint you are going to spend a mint. Wholesale price for the item is $375.

(Highland Mint signed Crosby item should retail for about $500.)

The company admitted to only having a few of these left and they are slightly different from each other. Crosby was announced at the top vote getter for the NHL All-Star Game this past week.

Despite the youth movement in Pittsburgh with young stars the Penguins have yet to make a playoff push of any significance. Meanwhile a seller on eBay is asking $85,000 for a Crosby game used Glove from his high school days along with some other items. He claims half the auction price realized will go to charity.

Crosby signed rookie cards sel for between $1500 and $2900 on average.

                                        ======================

(EXQUISITE BASEBALL OFFERS MOST UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY PROMOTION)

Upper Deck brought back Exquisite Baseball this year after a one year hiatus as a mainstream product. However, the product was tempered as a rookie product with some mainstream attributes. The Exquisite Rookie Packs are sold as is now while last year it was an insert product in other UD releases.

(New UD Exquisite Rookie Edition.)

The twist this year is the price; $300 instead of $600 per pack. The content; 6 cards with 5 autographs including a dual. And the secondary promotion. There are two promotions tied to Exquisite. The first is called Mystery Dual Cuts Autograph. There are Mystery Packs and by registering your Mystery packs you have a chance to be one of 10 people selected to get a vintage dual cut signature card from some of the many UD produced over the years. The first to register will have the widest variety to choose from.

The second promotion features 42 winners. By submitting wrappers to a redemption contest collectors will have the opportunity to build their own quad memorabilia card. Each will be a 1-of-1 card with the collector choosing from a list of players in stock.

(One of the many possibilities to select from.)

Seven winners will be chosen a week for six weeks or 42 winners total. Of the 42, 21 will create a quad relic card, the other 21 will get to creat quad autographed cards. Players include rookies and veterans among whom are Cal Ripken, Jr., Derek Jeter, Prince Fielder and many more.

                                   ======================

(DONRUSS PLATINUM FIND)

Not too many folks have seen the rare parallel Playoff Playoffs Sets the card maker has produced in recent years. The 1-of-1 Platinum Set however has garnered great attention after being found at a shop in . It sold for $10,000!

Chris Worley, a collector in Eugene, Oregon, bought the set only to find it was the Platinum Edition. He ended up selling it to a man from Coos Bay, a one Harold Thompson who is also a real collector. He had to part with his four wheel vehicle to get the money to pay for the set. Worley paid $100 for it at a local card shop.

(The Rainbow Platinum edition of Playoffs.)

The other parallel sets of which there are more than one list for about $4000. Thompson says he just doesn't know how much his is worth but he's not selling.

"I just wouldn't sell it, I just won't sell it if somebody offers me triple what I paid for it I might consider it," he told a local TV station. "I'm not going to sell that set."

The set with the double raindbow look wasn't what Worley was looking for but perhaps he has by now purchased the regular set using his $9,900 profit.

                                  =====================

BECKETT DOES A RE-DO

VOLUME 2, NUMBER 179

**HOT**BUTTON**STORY**

(New Logo debuts for Upper Deck after nearly 20 years!)

** Beckett does a magazine make-over

** Upper Deck re-does it's logo

** Extension on Super Bowl Video Dance Contest

** Goose Goes to the Hall

** Dreams Gets Orange Bowl Remnants contract

** Timothy Brog resurfaces

** Roger Clemens eTopps Today

** Clemens wondering about endorsement deals

** Hasbro cuts 200 jobs

Details on these and other stories in TBR: The Brill Report

Editorial Comment: Beckett the Collectible?

                                         ====================

(BECKETT REVAMPS PUBLICATIONS -- PUSH TO ON-LINE)

Beckett is effecting a major change in it's publication status beginning in March. Come March 11, 2008 there will be a new structure which eliminates the four monthly magazines and condenses them into one monthly publication. The magazine, not dissimilar to what Tuff Stuff has done for years is certainly a cost savings measure.

"I can tell you, since I'm involved in production, there will be substantial savings and the price guide will even be better," Beckett Media Representative Kris Capps told TBR.

The bi-monthly magazines, Beckett Plus, will continue as before; 4 titles differentiated by sport with a price tag of $9.99 each. The difference will be added editorial comment in the six times per year publications. Capps says reaction has been mixed but mostly positive.

(Rough draft of first new Beckett Monthly cover.) 

"It's been very positive with many dealers saying it was about time to eliminate some of the publications, they just took up too much room on the magazine rack and the magazine dealers really like it," said Capps. "There have been a few who aren't happy, those opposed to change of any kind but for the most part it's been seen as a good move."

Understandably the the advertising dollar has shrunk substantially since there are only two companies selling year round plus Donruss, In The Game, Press Pass and others who are fringe players. With the decided slow down in advertising revenue it has become very difficult for publishers to produce multiple titles.

It seems like a move to push more people to the on-line price guides as well. Beckett costs here are fixed and in some cases almost non-existent. Downloads are basically free after the initial cost up front.

"The on-line won't be affected," said Capps.

(Two of the first ever Beckett Covers, no. 1)

On-line price guides, which cannot be copied or downloaded, cost $5.99 per sport per month or $19.99 for all four sports per month.

The rub will come with subscribers who already paid for upcoming subscriptions. They will be by default, channeled over to the monthly magazine on a dollar-to-dollar basis. Since the new magazine is $2 more per retail issue the collector, who already paid, will get fewer issues of the new magazine for the money they already shelled out. Expect some upset consumers over this one.

"It is very possible," added Capps who explained the balance left on the account will be rounded up. "Even if they have a nickel left in their account they will get the next issue."

The downside for dealers is there will be less titles to make money with although the shelf space being freed up will help. If the largest group of the monthly buyer/readers choose to go on-line instead, it will take quite a few dollars out of the stores.

Beckett has come through many changes from the early days of the small hand held checklist booklet, to the monthly titles to the extra titles such as Future Stars, Vintage and adaptations of the above. There have also been the many non-sports magazines such as Pokemon and special editions.

                                             =====================

(NEARLY 20 YEARS LATER U-D GREEN GOES BLUE)

While other companies are going Green, Upper Deck is going Blue. Only with it's logo however. Nearly 20 years ago the design for the current UD logo was unveiled. It featured a green background and was a classy look for a new era of trading cards. Today the image is out the window and a new, sweeping style logo is in -- and it's Blue not Green.

(New Upper Deck logo for 2008.)

"Not wanting to diminish our brand promise of authenticity, superior content, innovation and quality, we knew there was a visual legacy associated with our mark that we did not want to walk away from," said Martin Welling, director of Creative Services. "We determined very early in the process that several visual cues needed to be retained; the assignment was more one of updating and not replacing."

The choice of the blue over the greed was to make customers more aware of the fact the company does a lot more than just sports cards and memorabilia. There are so many non-sports products today.

(The outgoing UD logo.)

"The new logo preserves the substantial equity of the brand without distancing ourselves from our roots," added Louise Curcio, VP in charge of marketing.

Welling calls it a more contemporary look. The first product to carry the new logo will be 2008 Baseball due in February. The Ken Griffey Jr. 1989 card above was the first ever regular season card to carry the old logo.

                                          =====================

(UPPER DECK EXTENDS SUPER BOWL VIDEO DEADLINE)

Upper Deck is still looking for more quality video's hoping to find the right one and to send someone with a pair of tickets to the Super Bowl in Phoenix next month. The deadline for submitting your Touchdown Dance video is January 18. This is seven days later than TBR reported last week.

(This contestant videos can be seen on the UD site.)

Contestants can submit a video no longer than about two minutes showing their own End Zone celebration and dance. Each will be posted on the special UD site for viewers to review. The one selected as the winner gets two tickets to the Super Bowl plus lots of benefits, including airfare and hotel.

           =====================

(UPPER DECK CLAIMS PROGRESS IN TIMELY SHIPPING)

Upper Deck sent out a news release to advise it's dealers of the last 40 shipments only two have been delayed. Delays were most recently cited by dealers as one of the three biggest problems facing the industry. UD officials says only SPA MLB and 2007 NFL Trilogy were delayed past the due date.

Trilogy was set back so the company could get more real autographs into the product. UD SP Authentic was held back due to the Southern California fires which threatened the UD facility.

"There are so many things which can cause a product to be delayed in this industry," said Jennifer Perrigo, director of operations at UD. "After hearing from our customers how important meeting our delivery dates was to them, we made a fundamental change in our production process."

Part of the regrouping is to hold daily meetings with key staffers to update progress and point out pitfalls so the product schedule can be kept.

                                      =====================

(GOOSE GOES TO COOPERSTOWN, RICE FRIED FOR ANOTHER YEAR)

Steiner didn't waste any time sending out emails with the Golden Goose on them shortly after the announcement Goose Gossage is going to the Hall of Fame. With Steiner signed baseballs selling at about $80 this would seem a bargain for a great relief pitcher.

(PSA 9 Goose Gossage RC sold for $455 day of HOF.)

Over 500 items went up in the ensuing hours with a baseball selling for $50 and a PSA 9 1973 Rookie Card of the HOFer busting out for $455. Most baseballs were going in the $50-$70 range at quick glance.

Jim Rice will wait another year to see if he gets into the Hall. Rice, a slugger for his Boston playing days, doesn't command the respect it seems and it up one last time in 2009. Since he did get closer he is expected to be on the bubble next year.

As for the likes of Mark McGwire? In the dumper again. Less than 25% of the votes needed and his memorabilia has been in the tank for a couple of years. Gossage by the way will be going in with a Yankee hat on his HOF plaque.

                                        =====================

(WIZARD ON LINE PROMOTES SHAMUS TO V-P)

Stephen Shamus is named Senior Vice President at Wizard Entertainment. Shamus first joined Wizards as a price guide analyst in 1991 and has worked with the company since.

"Stephen's efforts at Wizards more than warrant this long overdue promotion," said COO Fred Pierce. "Through his tireless efforts he has proven himself to be a vital part of all of Wizards on-line new business efforts."

Shamus will focus on all aspects of the company's on-line programs, especially e-commerce.

                                        =====================

(CLEMENS ENDORSEMENTS CONTINUE UP IN THEIR AIR OVER LATEST FLAP)

TBR reported several weeks ago Roger Clemens will likely take an endorsement hit following his name being mentioned in the Mitchell Report about drugs and baseball. It was sure to happen and while Clemens denied he's been offered anything but support in his dealings, the New York Daily News is reporting otherwise.

(Clemens signed baseball on eBay.)

The paper reports Clemens made $3.5 million in endorsements last year including the ATT commercial where he "comes back" to the big leagues. The commercial was dropped before the Mitchell Report issued it's findings and a spokesman says he's not sure ATT will use him again.

It was learned none of Clemen's speaking engagements have been canceled and Steiner Sports says it's not seen a drop off in Clemens's sales of memorabilia. The paper does report several firms are taking a wait and see attitude with one agent saying he is not the sweetest smelling rose at the moment.

The latest antics by Clemens have him playing for the media a tape recording of a conversation with former trainer Brian McNamee (who didn't know about the taping). On the tape the trainer who outed Clemens to the Mitchell Commission, is heard saying to Clemens "Tell me what you want me to do." Clemens, who orchestrated the interview never really answers.

With his lawyer by his side Clemens revealed the tape which was recorded two days before Clemens appeared nationally on CBS "60 Minutes." The following day McNamee's attorney said he was going to "war" with Clemens. This came after Clemens announced he was suing McNamee for defamation of character and slander.

                                       ======================

(ETOPPS CLEMENS AUTOGRAPHS READY TO ROLL)

Today begins the first eTopps autograph offering of Roger Clemens and it remains to be seen, in deference to our previous story, how much effect the steroid story has on Clemen's collectibles. The cost for the eTopps autographs is $99 and there are only going to be 74 offered.

(eTopps Roger Clemens right away at 8 PM EST Thursday today)

As usual you must have his card in your portfolio already. The card is a reprint of Clemens "never was" card from 1984. Set in the 1984 design, Clemens first Topps card was 1985.

ETopps autographs always sell out and with Clemens in the spotlight due to steroids who knows where it will go. It likely will sell out but won't be sold out as Clemen's Idol Nolan Ryan. Ryan sold out in just seconds when Topps offered his autograph recently.

Today it will be seen how the steroid issue is effecting Clemens as the first of the 74 autographed eTopps cards will go on sale today (Thursday) at 8 PM EST.

                                                              ==============

(TOPPS SUPER BOWL CARD SET TO 16)

(Tom Brady headlines Super Bowl Card Set from Topps.)

Topps will again sponsor the Super Bowl Card Show at the NFL Experience and will again offer several items exclusive to the event. Among them is a 16 card set exclusively sold at dealer tables.

The set features current players including rookies Adrian Peterson, Dwayne Bowe and Calvin Johnson. Among the stars are Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Willie Parker, Peyton Manning and Tony Romo.

                                     =======================

(DREAMS GETS ORANGE BOWL STUFF)

If you ever wanted anything from the Orange Bowl you will have to contact Dreams INC. The company got the exclusive rights to whatever they want basically from the stadium which is scheduled to be torn down. This includes seats and any other "memorabilia" the company wants. Much of which will likely be sold through Mounted Memories. Other items include the goal posts, lockers, benches and even urinals.

(Ariel view of the Orange Bowl past.)

"We are thrilled to work with the city of Miami and the team assigned to the final days of the Orange Bowl," said Ross Tannenbaum, president of Dreams Inc. "Our goal is to make the memories of one of Miami's iconic structures continue into the future and to offer sports fans nationwide a chance to maintain their own memories of the Orange Bowl."

A flag football game will be played at the site January 26 featuring some of the players who played there during their careers. The game will be between Miami Dolphins greats including Dan Mario and University of Miami players such as Jim Kelly.

(Did anyone say souvenirs?)

The stadium was host to the undefeated 1972 Dolphins and was featured in films such as "Black Sunday" and "Any Given Sunday." Demolition is scheduled for the Spring.

                     ========================

(HASBRO CUTS JOBS)

Hasbro is eliminating 200 jobs from its factory in Massachusetts. The toymaker says it will immediately invest $40 million in the facility which makes board games, in hopes of modernizing the factory. Nearly 1400 people work there. The company employs nearly 6000 people globally.

                                   ========================

(BROG BACK IN NEWS AFTER TOPPS LOSS)

Former Arthur Shorin Nemesis, Timothy Brog is back in the news again. The venture capitalist is going after TravelCenters of America. Brog has nominated himself and partner Jeffrey Wald to the board of directors of the company which operates truck stops.

(Tim Brog continues to push his style to different firms.)

Brog wants to dissect what he called a conflict of interest between TA and HPT which was spun off by TravelCenters of America. Brog runs Locksmith Capital and owns two-percent of TA. He founded Locksmith and shut down Pembridge Capital which he used to try to acquire Topps.

A member of the board of directors at Topps in a proxy fight he tried to keep Michael Eisner from buying Topps.

                                   ========================

MELIA RETURNS TO MEDIA ROLE AT UPPER DECK

VOLUME 2, NUMBER 178

**HOT**BUTTON**STORY**

(SANDY KOUFAX AND WHAT GOLFER WOULD BE A PAIR TO DRAW TO?)

** Terry Melia Renamed Upper Deck Spokesman

** Golf Web Site New for Collectors & Fans

** Tiger Woods and Dandy Sandy

** UD Does the Super Bowl Shuffle

** Eisner Talks to Daily Variety

** James Rolling in Endorsement Deals

** NFL Experience Just Ahead

DETAILS ON THESE AND OTHER STORIES IN TODAY'S EDITION OF TBR: THE BRILL REPORT

EDITORIAL COMMENT: The Corporate Test, Why they Lie

THURSDAY EDITION UPDATE: Upper Deck Changes Corporate Logo

  The Brill Report is back after a holiday hiatus. We hope you enjoyed the holidays as well.

                                  =========================================

(TERRY MELIA BACK AS UPPER DECK SPOKESMAN)

Long time Upper Deck employee Terry Melia is now back in the media relations chair after having returned from Internet sales. Melia is a former sports and hobby writer who originally started at UDC during the last decade. At the time he was the director of hobby media relations under Mary Mancera who headed up corporate PR.

Melia held the position until being transferred to the fledgling Internet division at Upper Deck. There he helped develop UDA and UDC's Internet sales and store. It was in the early days of the Internet Melia found his place at the card and memorabilia company. His move back to the media relations division comes after Don Williams who has since left the company.

Melia, formerly during the hobby's heyday, was the editor of Trading Cards Magazine published then by Larry Flynt. The former New Yorker left TCM to free lance in the Seattle area. He was succeeded there by Steve Ryan. Coincidently later Melia would follow Ryan to Upper Deck and the media relations job. Ryan has since left the company twice and was last known to be working for the University of Phoenix in both sales and instruction.

                                ==========================================

(GOLF THE TARGET OF NEW WEB SITE FOR COLLECTORS)

There is a new web site in town and it focuses on golf and golf collectors. The fifth major sport still gets short shrift, even after Upper Deck developed a series of golf collectibles. Now however there is a small but active crowd of golf collectors. Not very vocal but they still spend money on their passion. Enter BogeyShooters.com. With a slogan of "if you can't play like a pro at least you can collect like one" the site seems to offer more than just collectibles.

The site links all kinds of golf auctions from eBay to its front page. An easy to use site bar helps collectors narrow their search for golf items on the auction site. There is also a sponsored link from Upper Deck Authenticated which takes you directly to the UDA site.

(One of the photos used on the site to demonstrate.)

Another cool part of Bogey Shooters is the news service links. With links to Reuters North American and Getty Images, there are links to the links so to speak. Ties to all the major tournaments and other PGA sponsored events are also there.

Golf has long been ignored by hobbyists until the re-birth under Tiger Woods. Woods entry into the professional game gave Upper Deck a way into the market. After several years of lackluster sales and Woods falling back to only Superman status, the company decided to do UDA golf and let the cards go away. This left a void for golf collectors although many fans of the game did not collect anything.

                                ==========================================

(TIGER AND SANDY VIA UPPER DECK)

Now here is an interesting story. What do you think Tiger Woods might collect? How about Sandy Koufax. According to a Canadian Publication, Canadian Press, Woods recently received a Sandy Koufax signed ball which was personalized.

Both Woods and Koufax share the same birthday, December 30 and Woods grew up a Dodger fan. Who else epitomizes the long tradition and history of the club from Brooklyn to Los Angeles than Koufax. Both have been with Upper Deck and reportedly it was a UDC connection which brought the ball to the collector.

(Tiger Woods even has athletes he follows.)

It seems the golfer, who has a contract with UDA for autographs and memorabilia, asked an UD official if he could get him a Koufax signed ball next time Sandy was around. A short time later the personalized baseball was produced and Woods was stoked.

"Koufax is the man," he said. "I've got it at home in my bedroom, right there."

Evidently it was only the second sports autograph Woods has sought over the years. The other he received is a pair of trunks used in a 1977 fight and signed by Muhammad Ali. The two met several years ago and Woods asked for something signed, anything. He figured an index card was fine. Ali went him many times better with the trunks.

Woods, who doesn't sign golf balls, is one of the most sought after and most expensive autographs in sports. He has worked with UDA to battle forgeries over the years.

                      =========================================

(EISNER TELLS VARIETY HE'LL PUSH INTERNET VIDEO)

Michael Eisner is talking to Hollywood pubs but hasn't as of yet given an interview to any hobby publications directly. The closest was the quotes TBR received when Eisner spoke to KNX 1070 News Radio in Los Angeles where TBR has direct connections.

Recently the new owner of Topps told Daily Variety he has yet to come up with a formula for making video on the Internet feasible and profitable.

"We're still in the experimental stage and we're trying to think about new ways of doing series, new lengths and new relationships with advertisers and international financiers," he told Variety's technology section. "Vuguru (Eisner's new media studio) has four or five different projects in the works," for 2008 and most of which "marry traditional entertainment with digital entertainment."

As for Topps Eisner is only hinting in a general direction.

"We're about to embark on all sorts of digital strategies in sports and sports collecting," he said. "Bringing things from the 3-D collectibles world to the cyber world."

Eisner has said Bazooka Joe is a big part of his plans. Whether there is a mixed media movie in the works featuring Bazooka Joe and major sports stars, ala "Sports Jam" with Michael Jordan and Warner Brothers several years ago, is anybodies guess.

                             ===========================================

(PELE JOINS SPORTKINGS SERIES B)

There is going to be a Series B of the high end recently released Sport Kings. The project, released by a new company run by Dr. Brian Price, felt the first series of the average $400 per pack product was successful enough to warrant a second. The big name in the second series barring any news announcements will be Pele.

"The first athlete is international soccer star and sports icon, Pele," said Dr. Price. "An athlete who is arguably the greatest player in the history of the game of soccer."

UFC Champion Randy Courture and Soft Ball star Jenny Finch are among the others signing cards for Series B.

                             ===========================================

(DANCIN' DANCIN' DANCIN' UPPER DECK)

It may not be "Dancin' With the Stars" but it may get you a free trip to the Super Bowl in a few weeks. You have until this Friday (January 11, 2008) to submit your dance video to Upper Deck. The winner gets a trip to Super Bowl XLII in Phoenix with airfare and hotel accommodations included.

All you have to do is send in a Touch Down Celebration. The winner will be selected from votes cast by viewers who can see the video's on the Dance Challenge Site. Upper Deck will heavily scrutinize the contestants.

"The Company will pre-screen each of the video entries and any that contain inappropriate gestures and/or language will not be posted for public viewing," said a statement. "Two tickets to the Super Bowl in February represent a once in a life-time grand prize."

(Bacon, pictured, sizzles but is really easily beatable.)

Contestants must send the video (anywhere from :30 to about two minutes) to www.upperdecksweepstakes.magnify.net. The company is encouraging entrants to use anything from a backyard with goal posts and cheerleaders to enhance the celebration to actually going out to a football field and doing their thing.

"We think this is a terrific opportunity to reward passionate football fans for their loyalty and creativity," said Kerri Stockholm, UDC director of Sports Marketing. "Football fans and collectors alike will no doubt have a great time putting their touchdown dance videos together and submitting their entries."

So far the spattering of entries suggests there are no clear cut winners. Many of the video's on the site are not very creative and rather boring. There is still time to rush one in though.

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(TOPPS SELLS SIGNED WACKY PACKS CARDS ON WEB SITE)

Among the latest items for sale direct to the public are post cards (signed and unsigned) of Wacky Packs on the Topps website. The Topps store has for several years now gone directly to the public with sales of items such as factory sets. The signed post cards are autographs of the artists.

When Topps first sold Factory Sets directly to the public the former head of marketing Peter Sawkins was on the record with The Brill Report at a seminar in Las Vegas as this being a "one time thing." The reason given was a major retailer had issues and the factory sets had to be returned. The best way to move the merchandise late in the season was to sell it via the web directly to consumers at the SRP. The price included free shipping.

Dealers were told it wasn't going to happen again. Not only did it happen every year since then, Topps developed it's on-line store and now sells other items directly to the public and often still offers free shipping, which dealers cannot do. So much for Topps original stance of not competing with it's dealers by selling on the Internet. Topps recently decided also to offer WizKids games on the site.

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(KING JAMES ROLLING IN ENDORSEMENTS)

He just turned 23, has five years in the NBA, became the youngest player in history to reach 9,000 points and he only made $4 million a year ago playing basketball. Don't cry poor mouth for Lebron James though. He made $27 million in endorsements this year! Oh he'll make $13 million from the Cleveland Cavaliers this season as his salary goes up, but that is less than half his endorsement deals.

Among them are Upper Deck, Nike, and Coke. He also owns a sports management company, LRMR Innovative Marketing and Branding. With some old friends he works to make young athletes a part of his business and he wants to market the business of the NBA.

Trying to become the first Billionaire athlete, James may realize his goal in the next couple of years. He's moving out with the NBA to China, hoping to score big in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics. He's working on his language skills and wants to become fluent in Mandarin by the time he's there.

He has already hosted Saturday Night Live and been the focus of many business articles from business publications and not in shorts and a jersey.

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(NFL EXPERIENCE TO ROCK AGAIN)

It is almost that time again. Super Bowl XLII is going to roll in just a few weeks and the NFL Super Bowl Experience and Card Show will be a highlight in Phoenix, Arizona. Information about the event can be obtained at 888-NFL -CARD. Topps will once again sponsor the Card Show portion of the event with lots of freebies handed out.

Over 50 players will sign autographs at the event for free with an expected 10,000 signatures expected to be given away. Cost of the NFL Experience is $17.50 for adults, $12.50 for kids. Proceeds from the gate go to Phoenix based, Youth Education Town; an NFL charity.

More information at www.nfl.com.

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(HASBRO BUYING ANOTHER GAME MAKER)

Hasbro has another game maker in the fold and for nearly $80 million the company hopes it got a bargain. The world's second largest toy company just purchased Cranium Incorporated, a privately held toymaker.

The Seattle based Cranium is best know for it's Cranium board game which requires players to hum, draw and sculpt their way to the top of the heap. It makes a wide range of other games and has 22 million units sold worldwide including publishing.

The all cash deal allows Hasbro to keep Cranium as a subsidiary and Hasbro will pay down the debt of the seller. The debt was not revealed.

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