Possible altering of bats in question.Please look

[jon_8_us]

I made a deal last week to purchase a 2005 game used Johnny Damon bat from from Mike Nardone(ebay id Dolphinboy).When buying Red Sox bats i usually contact Bobby Texeira to get his input as he knows much about current Red Sox game used.He immediately told me not to buy the bat because there was a good chance it was altered to show game use.Fact is Mr Nardone bought a 05 Damon game ISSUED BWP from Bobby himself from ebay.When i compared the pictures Bobby sent me of the bat there is a dead on photomatch of the knob of the pictures Mr Nardone sent me of the "game used" bat.I will provide all pictures below.With Mr Nardone's pictures followed by Bobby's.Mr Nardone was very defensive and resorted to name calling in all emails since i told him of this.I also asked for a picture of the top of the bat and he told me he is sick of wasting his time and i'll get it sometime this week.So Mr Nardone here is your chance to prove me wrong.The knobs match.I bet the tops do too!This is my opinion and in no way fact.But i believe i have something here.Here's the pictures.I'm sure Bobby will chime in later today when he has a chance.

[jon_8_us]

The altered bat is the pictures on the decking.The bat before is the pictures on the tiles.You decide! Looks like the same bat to me.Especially the knob and the markings underneath the engraved name.
jon

[jon_8_us]

Eric if this email is to graphic i apologize and give permission for it to be edited.This is the exact email i just recieved from the lovely Mr Nardone:

Wow,
I guess having a job and being handicapped is too much
to ask for. What I'll do is quit my job, run right
home, take a picture of the bat, so some f****** idiot
can email me back and say - you know I'm sorry you
were right.

If I was unemployed like you, hanging around doing
nothing all day, I could take a picture right away..

As I stated, you will get your picture, when I have
the time to send it.

I could care less about Game used universe, if they
are all like the idiot BOB, then I'm happy to not deal
with any of them.

None of them buy and everyone has a useless uninformed
opinion. If I see one slanderous comment from you -
f***head, my lawyer will contact you.

I get a free lawyer from the disabled Americans
society and will be more than happy to have him sue
your ass.

Trust me. GO THE F*** AWAY and do NOT EMAIL ME AGAIN.

Every email I receive from *** ********** will be
deleted going forward

[earlywynnfan]

It's too bad he cut off communication, I'd like to know what he REALLY thinks of you!

Strange situation, though. I've bought many very nice bats from him.

I hate these situations!

Ken

[kingjammy24]

i once lived in boston for 5 years and reading that really brought back memories.

rudy.

[jon_8_us]

Please.Someone confirm that i'm not crazy.This is the same bat right?Look at the rack marks on the center logo on both pics they are the same.As is the same with the markings above and below the engraved name on the barrel.And the knob is a match.
jon

[earlywynnfan]

Uh, Eric, you might want to go back and do some more editing; you missed one.

Ken

[Eric]

Thanks Ken

[skipcareyisfat]

When photo-matches go bad ...
I can see a number of marks that appear to match up perfectly. I say let that guy take you to court. He'd be wasting his money. Good luck, Jon!

[skipcareyisfat]

And what does being handicapped have to do with any of this?

[kingjammy24]

dolphinboy, you're on notice!

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/7633/notice2vl7.jpg

rudy.

[jon_8_us]

Rudy i am crying cause i'm laughing so hard!That is hilarious......
jon

[nate]

I actually have dealt with him on a few occasions with no issues. The pictures do match up nicely. If he has both bats I'd like to see a picture with both together. Since he has been reading this....Please post a picture of both bats.

Being originally from Boston dropping multiple "F" bombs in an email is normal communication. :D

[CollectGU]

Look at the 18 again from each bat. I am m not sure they match. Rudy, your help on this would be appreciated....

Thnaks,
Dave

[jon_8_us]

Both bats are pictured.The ones Dolphinboy sent me are the first three.The ones Bobby sent me of the bat when dolphinboy bought it are the last 4.Look at the BWP logo and notice the 3 large scrathes are the same.Also the engraved part of the barrell shows definite marks above and below that match perfect.This isn't even close.It's 100% the same bat.
jon

[nate]

I thought dolphinboy currently has both(?!) bats in question. He should be able to send both together in a single photo.

[jon_8_us]

Oh i misunderstood.Yes he should have pictures of the game used one and the game issued he bought off Bobby.He will no longer answer my emails.I wish someone from here would ask about it but i don't think it's the right etiquette to give his email.
jon

[nate]

The white mark on the lower right part of the knob is in both pictures.

[chicagoglen]

Same bat!!!!!!!!

100%

Glen

[CollectGU]

The white mark on the lower right part of the knob is in both pictures.


Nate,

Nice catch..I agree it's a match...

[Oil Can Dan]

Same bat.

Dolphin boy is teh suck.

[stkmtimo]

Everyone else is right on - this is a match. How pathetic.

Tim

[gameused]

I was the original owner this Johnny Damon bat and I'm sad to see that it was altered for the sole purpose of selling it for more money! I sold the Damon BWP bat on ebay in January of this year to Michael Nardone, ebay username: dolphinboy. Below is the original listing when I sold it on ebay stating that it was a game ready bat:

Up for bid is a Johnny Damon game ready BWP bat from the 2005 season.

This Johnny Damon Model BWP-243 maple bat was lugged to the Red Sox's home dugout but did not see any game action. Visible on the barrel are bat rack marks including Fenway green colored rack marks, lite pine tar to the centerbrand. Johnny's uniform number #18 in gold ink on the end of knob and the cupped barrel. The bat measures 34 inches in length and was obtained from a clubhouse source.

This would be the perfect bat to get autographed by the new Yankee centerfielder and the best lead off hitter in the American league.

I accept paypal, cashiers check or money orders. Shipping is $15 US postal priority air in the USA only.


You can see that this is the exact same bat that I sold to dolphinboy, all the rack marks in red circles match up on the barrel photos and the yellow is where the bat was altered. Also the knob is numbered in gold with a stamped number 4 both the number and the stamped 4 match perfectly, you can also see a small white mark on the knob that matches in both knob photos.

Michael also has another ebay username: princesst72 and is currently selling a "game used??" David Ortiz bat on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180033266132&sspagename=ADME:L:RTQ:US:1


Buyer Beware!!

Bobby

[Oil Can Dan]

How do you any of you know that Johnny Damon didn't use the bat AFTER Bob sold the bat to dolphinboy, HMMMMM????

I would rather donate my money to a charity then buy something "game used" from Mike Nardone.

[gameused]

How do you any of you know that Johnny Damon didn't use the bat AFTER Bob sold the bat to dolphinboy, HMMMMM????

I would rather donate my money to a charity then buy something "game used" from Mike Nardone.

Oil Can,

Are you serious about Damon using the bat? That's a pretty lame!

Bobby

[suave1477]

I look at his items for sale on ebay he has tons of Red Sox Jerseys for sale and a Manny Ramirez Game Used bat + David Ortiz Game Used bat + Alex Rodriguez Game Used bat

[gameused]

He listed the Manny Ramirez Cooper bat as "UN GAME USED"

The bat was purchased on ebay in August: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...2000143 66799 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=60596&item=200014366799)

I wouldn't doubt that this Cooper bat would have been altered if the sh*t didn't hit the fan! He's trying to vindicate himself after being exposed. http://cgi.ebay.com/MANNY-RAMIREZ-UN...QQcmdZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.com/MANNY-RAMIREZ-UN-GAME-USED-COOPER-LARGE-T141-LABEL-BAT_W0QQitemZ120037374441QQihZ002QQcategoryZ60596Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

But we all know the truth he's a "FRAUD"!!!!!!!!!!

This is the third time I have seen a bat altered in recent years and I was the victim of one of those three. A Larry Walker (Cardinals) bat that I bought a few years ago from Jeff Sullivan on ebay, yes the same Jeff Sullivan who sells Cardinals items on this forum! Whoever does this, you need to stop! You are ruing the hobby for all of us and it's a hobby we truly enjoy, sooner or later it's going to catch up with you and your going to get caught!

Bobby

[jon_8_us]

Well it seems unanimous.This guy is a fraud.If he is a member here he should be banned.Thanks guys
jon

[suave1477]

Well I sent him an email and I was extremely polite and just asking for informational purposes about his items and I said there is a rumor ( I never pointed out that it came from here ) about his stuff and that I would be possibly interested in bidding on his items.

This was his response:

"If you have any questions, don't bid. 99% of my items I sell not on ebay. If you take the word of an uninformed loser as fact, than there is no alot I can do for you."

Customer friendly at its finest!!!

[dodgersfan]

Just to let everybody know I have left a voicemail on his cell phone and notified him regarding the situation on the website.
I Have dealt with Mike before and in my opinion he was a good person to deal with.


Rudy

[Oil Can Dan]

Oil Can,

Are you serious about Damon using the bat? That's a pretty lame!

Bobby
Bobby, are you serious? I think it's pretty obvious that I was being sarcastic, given the comment directly below the one you're citing in that very same post as well as my initial comment on this thread.

In a word - no, I was not serious about Damon using the bat after you sold it at all.

[gameused]

I just got a friendly e-mail from Mike!


Hey F**KHEAD,
Instead of being a backstabbing little f**king coward,
why didn't you email me first.

Before you condem someone, gets the facts straight.

Fact, I have 4 others Damon bats from 2005, whose
numbers on the knob are placed exactly as on the
photo, I sent that idiot JON. The bat in question has
18 in a circle towards the middle of the cup end.
Similiar to 2 others I have.

The 18 on the knob is in the exact same place, same
exact location, covering the brown dot and the number
4 almost identically in each case. I bought them from
the same guy I get everything else from. I also have a
bunch of Ortiz bats, that have the exact same number
placement, exact.

My only regret is I spent way too much time dealing
with a f**king loser like you, with no money and
plenty of time on his hands.

All your email is going to be directed to my yahoo
trash, so I'm done dealing with you, LOSER..


I sent him an e-mail back, since it may go to his trash. He can read it here!

Hey Mike,

Your full of SH*T!!

I sold you the bat in January and you did some altering to it.....plain and simple!! Don't try to deny it! Your the coward trying to hide behind your lies, faking use on the Damon bat for the sole purpose of selling it for more, now look the shit has hit the fan and this incident is going to cost you some business, was it really WORTH IT? There are a lot of people that now know what kind of person you really are, what are you going to do now, come up with a third eBay name, so you can sell your so called game used items??


I know you mentioned to Jon that because of your disabilities you can get a free lawyer, what you really need to look into is a free psychiatrist!!!

[nate]

If Mike can back up that statement then post pictures here of all 4 bat knobs in the same photo.

[jon_8_us]

First off you all must realize that he is not gonna post any pictures cause either they don't exist or will condemn him further(if that is possible).In his reply to Bobby all he mentions is the knob.What about the perfect match on all the bat rack marks,the white mark on the knob,and the marks above and below the engraving.This guy is a ripper no matter how many good deals any of you may have had with him.I would call all his deals into question now.Look how he reacts when he is caught!This is a very bad guy....
jon

[nate]

I'm just throwing it out there. If he wants to make that statement then by all means back it up!

[stkmtimo]

There is no way in hell I'd ever give someone my hard earned money who personally attacked other forum members as they did. Attack one of us, you attack all of us. That's NO way to treat a customer.

Tim

[cjclong]

Does anyone have an opinion about the Alex Rodriguez bat he has on ebay right now? I was looking at it and then read this thread.

[jon_8_us]

This is the last one i promise.Here is the latest email from Mike,Dolpinboy,Princess whatever.I got to him through ebay since my emails are automatically returned....

Haven't checked the sight and never will. I've had a couple of past custmers, who have money, call me to say how pathetic you look. It's a desperate cry for help. It's obvious you have nothing going on in your life. Please find another penpal to talk to, I don't have the time for you. You may want to call the Good Samaritans, they help potential suicide cases like you all the time.


WOW......................

[sylbry]

You may want to call the Good Samaritans, they help potential suicide cases like you all the time.

Nothing like getting busted for being a fraud and lashing out at anyone and everyone.

I got to admit I am curious what he will come up with next. Possible senarios include:

1) Threaten to have you deported to Siberia
2) Put you in his tank of sharks with fricking lasers on their heads.
3) Contact his alien friends to have you probed.
4) Lock you in a room with no windows and Celine Dion music playing on repeat.
5) Come to a consensus with the other voices in his head on proceeding to dish out verbal assults and empty threats.

It is easy to act tough over the internet. Some days you just wish you could meet them in person and see how tough they really think they are. Pathetic.

[nate]

I'm not sure about the Arod bat. But the Boggs bat is questionable.
Ebay Item # 120038114899

From reading up on Boggs and seeing some of his bats per Jim Caravello's article.
http://www.gameuseduniverse.com/blog/post.php?topic=114

You will notice the ball marks above the logo. Which seems too uncharacteristically for Boggs gamers.

Check out the article....great pictures of the 1986 allstar game bat that was discussed previously.

[camarokids]

He's back !!!! No not the Viagra ad again or whichever ED drud it was....
Our friendly salesman Mike , he has a nice looking Rocco Baldelli bat on ebay now....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ROCCO-BALDELLI-GAME-USED-SIGNED-L-SLUGGER-G175-TPX-BAT_W0QQitemZ120114218976QQihZ002QQcategoryZ60596Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

But having seen his friendly side, what do you think ...........

[3arod13]

Wow! First time I read this thread. Unbelieveable!

There's no question the bats are the same. No question! It amazes me how the seller still denies it, even when the pictures prove it.

As most of you may be aware, I recently got burned on a so-called arod game/worn glove. Turned out to be a glove made for upperdeck to have arod and griffey sign for sale as a promo glove back in 1999 (Retail $299). I sent the glove back to the seller. Once he got it back in his possession, he got a nasty attitude with me and wouldn't return my money. Filed a complaint via paypal. Luckily, he had the money sitting in his paypal account, so paypal took it and waited for the outcome of the dispute. He never disputed it and I received my money back via paypal two days ago.

He also left me negative feedback. One thing I wish ebay would fix is this type of conduct by bad transactions. Many buyers and sellers won't leave negative feedback for bad transactions because they know they'll get the same. This let's those who are dishonest to continue to conduct bad business, as their feedback doesn't honestly reflect their conduct.

Someone worked that glove up to look game used. Just like the Damon bat. Greed has taken over this hobby. Although most in the hobby are good, it amazes me more and more how many bad people are coming into the hobby.

I guess when a person lacks morales, integrity, and a conscious, they don't care and can sleep at night.

What really makes me shake my head is when it's so obvious what was done, the sellers will still deny it. Also, honest sellers wouldn't respond with the trash mouth like so many do. When innocent, you're willing to do the right thing. When guilty, you only get defensive.

I also think it's sad that a person would use their handicaps or disabilities in their favor, as if they think we are to think that people with these problems couldn't do wrong. Very sad!

Good work by everyone in this forum.

Tony

[5toolplayer]

DO NOT BUY, TRADE, SELL, TALK, EMAIL, WITH Michael Nardone
HE'S ABOUT AS LOW AS THEY GET. STRAIGHT UP CLOWN

[sportsnbikes]

Scott,

Did something recently happen with him?

[Swoboda4]

THE QUESTION NOW IS, WHO HAS BOUGHT FROM HIM (I shall now call him,"The Artist"), AND WHAT ITEM IS IT? You might as well burn them in the fireplace so no other members get stuck with his "art work". Lets turn this thread into a Dolphin Boy Museum of Fraud. Earlywynnfan, you mentioned you obtained bats from him? I will now check my ebay history if I encountered this "Artist"

[jojac]

I don't think people realize how much of his stuff is circulating out there. It would be hard to track because he's sold things to unsuspecting dealers who turned around and sold them to collectors as game used items. Between him and Manny Ramirez there's a lot of supposed game used Red Sox jerseys floating around out there. I'm not sure which one of them supplied the most to this hobby.

[Swoboda4]

Camarokids, I didn't know you collected art. You're considering one of Dolphinboy's recent works?

[Swoboda4]

This gets better and better. As it turns out, Mike Miedema interviewed Mike Nardone in a 5/11/2008 piece for Mears Sunday Extra, entitled :" How the Forgers Ply Their Craft." The article displays Nardone's suspicion at a sellers request to purchase used pants from him. I'm imagining Nardone went to Mike with the story and realized he could purchase goodwill in the hobby as he continued about his "business". One of Mike's (Nardone) very smart strategies is to "cheerfully" refund any item a buyer has second thoughts about. But as we now see, the truth is not met with the same cheerfulness . And since interstate forgery is I believe a federal crime , they're really won't be much cheerfulness coming from his part of New England.