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December 30, 2002 - NFL Will Use PSA/DNA Again to Prevent Super Bowl Footballs Fraud
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(Newport Beach, California) - For the fourth consecutive year, the National Football League will use the services of Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) to combat potential counterfeiting of Super Bowl footballs. More than 100 footballs to be used in Super Bowl XXXVII on January 26 will be marked by PSA with a synthetic DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) strand that can be seen only when illuminated by a specific laser frequency.
PSA (www.psacard.com) is the world's largest sports memorabilia and sports cards authentication company, and is a division of Collectors Universe, Inc., Newport Beach, CA.
The PSA/DNA process also will be used by the NFL on game-used footballs and jerseys at the Pro Bowl on February 2.
"Although invisible to the naked eye, the DNA mark fluoresces green when illuminated with the proper laser frequency. In using this method, authenticity can be determined many years from now even when the footballs have changed hands," explained Joe Orlando, PSA President.
"It is an extremely effective way to combat potential fakes because the DNA ink has an astronomical 1-in-33 trillion chance of being accurately reproduced by potential counterfeiters," Orlando stated.
"A Massachusetts collector recently submitted a football to us that he bought in an online auction. He thought he had purchased a genuine, autographed 2002 Super Bowl football, but both the ball and autograph were fakes. There was no DNA mark on the football, and the purported signature of New England Patriots player, Otis Smith, was forged," said Orlando.
"He paid $300 for the ball, but if it had been a genuine, autographed Super Bowl football it would have been worth as much as $1,000."
In addition to the DNA-laced marking, a certificate of authenticity accompanies each Super Bowl football certified by PSA. The certificates feature serialized tamper-evident labels that can be verified via the Internet at www.psadna.com. Information on each ball is available to any third party interested in its authenticity.
PSA/DNA authentication was used this year to mark Barry Bonds's 600th career home run baseball, and in 1998 on Mark McGwire's 70th and Sammy Sosa's 66th home run baseballs. Other authenticated historical items include Hank Aaron's career 715th home run baseball and bat, and "Shoeless" Joe Jackson's famous "Black Betsy" baseball bat that was purchased at a 2001 auction for a record $577,000.
About Collectors Universe:
Collectors Universe, Inc. is the leading provider of products and essential services to the high-end collectibles market. The Collectors Universe brands are among the strongest and best known in their respective markets. The company grades and authenticates collectible coins, sports cards, stamps, and autographs. The company engages in collectibles commerce, selling coins, currency, sportscards and sports memorabilia, and entertainment memorabilia through direct sales, auctions, catalogs, and the Internet. The company also compiles and publishes authoritative information about collectible sportscards and sports memorabilia, United States and world coins, and entertainment memorabilia. Its divisions include Bowers and Merena Galleries; David Hall Rare Coins; Lyn Knight Currency Auctions; Odyssey Publications; Professional Coin Grading Service; Professional Stamp Experts; Professional Sports Authenticator; and Superior Sports. This information is accessible to collectors and dealers at the company's web site, www.collectors.com, and is also published in print.
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