Eli & Giants Facing Big Time Fake Memorabilia Lawsuit
NY Post – Quarterback Eli Manning and New York Giants brass created bogus “game-worn” football gear to pass off as the real deal — and one of the forgeries is sitting in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, an explosive new lawsuit claims. A helmet on display in the hallowed Canton, Ohio, gridiron museum — supposedly worn by Manning in Big Blue’s 2008 Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots — is just one of dozens of fake items the football superstar and his Giants cohorts have created to fool fans and make money from collectors over the years, the lawsuit alleges. Other “forgeries” passed off on collectors include several Manning jerseys, two 2012 Super Bowl helmets and a 2004 “rookie season” helmet, according to court papers. Two-time Super Bowl MVP Manning took part in the scheme so he could hang on to his personal items, according to the documents.
BOOM! Click the NY Post link to read the full story – but if it’s true, I have a whole new respect for Eli. His goofy, unassuming persona is just a deflection for the ruthless hustler he really is at his core. Blatantly abusing the adoration of the Manning family name & NY Giants franchise for his own financial gain like he’s a high-level mobster. No wonder he’s been unflappable under the most pressure-packed moments on the field. He’s cold as ice. Heartless. Soulless. Even with this story breaking, he’s probably still sleeping soundly knowing he’s the Teflon Don. Eli’s most certainly not taking the fall. Heads will roll with a snap of his fingers while he puts on his best “Eli” face & “Duhhh…who? Me?” act for the public. He’s like Edward Norton in Primal Fear, and no one saw him coming until it was too late & there was nothing they could do about it. Eli Manning may very well be a motherfucking boss.
Giants statement on fake memorabilia allegations: “This suit is completely without any merit whatsoever + we will defend it vigorously” #NYG
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) January 30, 2014
Giants statement concludes: “We will not otherwise comment on pending litigation” #NYG
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) January 30, 2014