Originally Posted by Goldin Auctions
This is very frustrating for us. ANYONE on this board who sees these letters in person and is familiar with documents and signatures can easily look and see they are not 'replicas'. Keep in mind she is claiming these are replicas made in 1999 and placed into the restaurant,...by her! At the same time she is stating this, Jordan's attorney is in written contact with our offices because he wants the letters back. WHY would he want 'replicas' back?.
Very frustrating...
WATCH THE ESPN VIDEO SEGMENT where they interview Darren Rovell. He personally spoke to her, and gives his opinion....very honest.
Goldin Auctions and PSA/DNA Stand By Authenticity of Michael Jordan Memorabilia
WEST BERLIN, NJ – JAN. 15, 2014 – Goldin Auctions, the New Jersey based auction house that is currently offering more than 1,100 item of sports, entertainment, history and pop culture memorabilia in its 2014 Winter Auction is standing by the authenticity of every item in the auction including four particular pieces of Michael Jordan memorabilia that were questioned by Mrs. Deloris Jordan, the mother of Michael Jordan.
The four items Mrs. Jordan questioned include: Jordan’s University of North Carolina Diploma; a recruiting letter dated Aug. 12, 1980 from UNC Head Coach Dean Smith; a recruiting letter from Assistant Coach Bill Guthridge dated Feb. 19, 1980; and Jordan’s UNC undergraduate academic record.
“I have no doubt that Mrs. Jordan has numerous recruiting letters in her possession that she saved from her son Michael, and likely many from University of North Carolina. However, based upon scientific analysis, authentication from PSA and most important the ‘eye test’ that these documents are authentic, we find it highly unlikely that she has originals of these two particular letters in her possession,” explains Ken Goldin Founder of Goldin Auctions. “However if she can produce what she claims to be originals of these two exact letters dated Aug. 12, 1980 from UNC Head Coach Dean Smith and Feb. 19, 1980 from Assistant Coach Bill Guthridge, and we can verify that her versions are authentic, we will pull these two lots from the auction.”
"We stand behind our authenticators’ opinion 100 percent that what the auction is selling is real," said PSA/DNA president Joe Orlando. "And there hasn't been anything legitimate presented that contradicts the opinion of our authenticators. I respect Mrs. Jordan's approach and concern, but unless there's evidence to the contrary here, it doesn't mean much."
Here are the facts that reinforce Goldin Auctions’ confidence on the authenticity of the items.
• PSA/DNA the leading sports authenticator in the world inspected and certified each document as an original document, and each signature as an original signature not a copy. They are in the business of identifying copies and replicas.
• The paper the letters are printed on is Fox River Bond 25% cotton paper. This is a stationary that was popular in the 1980 time period.
• Both letters retain the original fold lines from being placed in the envelope 34 years ago both documents shows the typical wear and tear of a 34 year-old document
• The Dean Smith letter contains a handwritten note and a slight tearing of the ink that would only appear on an original
• The Guthridge letter has a 'slice' at the bottom of the letter, the type that would have been created by someone using a letter opener 34 years ago and unfortunately slicing off the very bottom portion of the stationary. Therefore, the letter itself does not have a straight edge at the bottom, but a curved edge to the paper. Something that would be nearly impossible to replicate.
• The academic transcript is an original transcript from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill with a print date of 9/27/1999. It is two sided and there is no doubt this is a document from UNC, as advertised.
• Through the office of the registrar at UNC-Chapel Hill, Goldin Auctions confirmed this to be an original diploma issued by UNC that could only be obtained by the actual student. UNC does allows students to obtain an additional diploma. The registrar’s office at UNC would not reveal if more than one Michael Jordan diploma was ever requested. As a result Goldin Auctions has advertised this item as an original Michael Jordan UNC college diploma that was displayed at the restaurant. If Mrs. Jordan produces another copy of the diploma, the listing will be revised to reflect that fact.
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