Extremely rare, authenticated autographed relics, some almost a century old, and others game-used, signed by such iconic New York Yankees as Babe Ruth from 1928, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle spearhead a list of 400 items up for auction during the second annual Yankees Legends Auction being conducted on line by Steiner Sports Collectibles.  Those legendary “Bronx Bombers” from yesteryear are the thread which connect to milestone performances by present-day Yankees Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, two modern heroes who each have relics on the auction block from their record-breaking 3,000 hit and 602 save performances, respectively.

Artifacts from the old Yankee Stadium, including slices of the bricks from both the Babe’s and Iron Horse’s Monument Park Retired Numbers section, are also up for grabs.

Steiner launched the “DJ3K” Collection following the Yankee captain’s epic performance to become the first Yankee to attain the 3,000 hits milestone on July 9, and for the first time, Mariano Rivera’s game-worn jersey is available from that fabled game. Bidding is already at $4,500 for that piece of history. In addition, the official, game-used “Second Out” baseball from Mariano’s 602nd save game on September 19, when he eclipsed Trevor Hoffman’s record, is on the block. Bidding is at $2,500.

Portions of the auctions close on November 27 and November 30.  Spirited bidding is underway.

Another unique item is the full, game-used uniform of David Price, the Tampa Bay Rays hurler who surrendered Jeter’s 3,000th hit, for bidders looking for a less glamorous piece of history, but valuable in its own right.

Among other relics of interest include a signed baseball by the 2009 Yankees World Championship team with World Series Logo;  an authentic bat autographed by “Joltin’ Joe” DiMaggio; and a signed baseball by “The Mick,” Mickey Mantle, inscribed with “# 7.”

We are all passionate about sports, especially if you are person who reads and engages on our site.  After all “fan” is derived from “fanatic” isn’t it?  So we used to satisfy our cravings…or rantings…by hanging out at the local bar, or listening to sports radio or then by hitting chat rooms.  Then along came social media, and the ability to post or get feedback in real time with thousands or with friends…and of course there have been blogs as well, where the unfiltered chatter and opinion lasted for longer than just a few seconds.

However most of that chatter, even with a real-time platform like twitter, happened in a somewhat static environment.  You had a second screen true, but that second screen was not part of the engagement, it was akin to talking on the phone while watching a game or a TV show.  You lose focus on one at the expense of the other.

All of that seems to be evolving now, into an atmosphere where real time scoring and the topic of the day or the week or the second is tied to the action. Teams and broadcasters have started to include such features for fans as enhancements, to mixed success.  However one or two ventures in the mobile space have looked to take the real time scoring combined with unfettered chat, in public or private rooms, and deliver it direct to your iPhone or iPad for free.

The one which we have looked at and tried recently is called PlayUp, which launched in the United States a few weeks ago after having similar mobile platforms working in places like India and England for a few years.

The app is simple and clean.  You download it and get access to any live sporting event anywhere in the world in seconds, along with the ability to invite any of your friends from your address book in to talk, rant, bemoan, comment about the common event you have interest in. The great aspects are that the app is free, the scoring for any event is live, and the ability to  bring friends in takes seconds.  It is also great for Premier League fans who live in the States, or baseball or hockey fans abroad to follow along with friends from anywhere they can use an Apple mobile device (other will probably be coming, along with additional features that have been teased…video and games maybe?). If you don’t want to chat just with friends in private, you can also look to public rooms where common battles can be played out amongst large groups.

In short, it is a simple idea that marries the needs of what sports fans today look for…live numbers, interaction with friends and colleagues and a simple free mobile application that you can bring to the game, to the bar, to the big screen at the party, and not lose touch with the action or the buzz. Although it is being pushed as a first version, it is a version that already has lots of merits and addresses the fan where he follows sports today, on line and in real time wherever that is. Fanaticism just got a little more streamlined

The mobile app can be checked out here.

The United States Poker Federation (USPF), the newly created national governing body for the sport of poker in the United States, announced today the six-person team (plus one alternate) that will represent the country in the first-ever Nation’s Cup, a two-day event involving top players from 12 countries, which will take place in London November 17th and 18th, to be followed on November 19th and 20th by “The Table,” a world championship No-Limit Texas Hold’em tournament with a half-million dollar prize pool and participants from forty different countries.  Both events will serve as the kickoff for the International Poker Federation’s efforts to establish poker as a mind sport and game of skill.  
 
“We are very proud that these six accomplished players and personalities have elected to join us and represent the United States in this very unique team poker event, the first big step in getting the sport of poker recognized for what it really is, a mind sport which involves a great amount of skill and concentration,” said USPF President Peter Alson. “Our team is a very diverse, highly talented group with one aim…to show the world the value poker has to society for players of all levels and to grow the game internationally.”

The Nations Cup is an unprecedented Duplicate Poker tournament featuring 12 national teams – among them the U.K., U.S.A., Germany, Spain and Japan. Spanning two days, it will begin on the iconic London Eye, with tables situated inside the revolving pods, and will conclude with one team being crowned champion, in the equally iconic County Hall. Following the Nations Cup, the IFP World Championship, known as “The Table,”  will commence with an invited field of the world’s best players competing for a sponsored prize pool of $500,000. As of next year, the event will be open to every single poker player around the globe through the IFP’s new platform, to be launched by the end of this year.

Captaining the United States team will be Chicago native Barry Greenstein (@barrygreenstein). Known as “The Robin Hood of Poker,” for having donated large amounts of his winnings to children’s charities, Greenstein, a former software developer for Symantec, has been one of the most successful professional players on the circuit, with three World Series of Poker and two World Poker Tour titles, as well as numerous high finishes in other elite events. His methodical and precise style has earned him a reputation as one of the sport’s best large-field players.
 
Greenstein will be joined on the team by:
 
Antonio “The Magician” Esfandiari
 
(@magicalpoker) , one of the most popular high-stakes poker players in the world, known on the poker tour for his chip tricks and magic at the tables, as well as for his two WPT titles and a WSOP bracelet.
 
Brown University graduate Isaac Haxton (@ikepoker), an expert at chess and Magic the Gathering, is considered one of the best heads up No-Limit players in the world.

Ali Eslami (@AliEslami), along with Phil Laak, took on and beat the University of Alberta’s Polaris AI poker computer, and is known for his highly mathematical and theoretical approach to the game.
 
Jennifer Leigh (@jennicide), known on the poker tour as “Jennicide,” is a self-described “nerd,” with a wide background in the tech and gaming industries.
 
Yale University graduate Vanessa Selbst (@VanessaSelbst) has captured consecutive NAPT championships in 2010 and 2011.

Phoenix Jones, a “real-life superhero” who has organized a group helping to keep the streets of Seattle safe, will tell his full story in an exclusive interview to be published tomorrow at WizardWorld.com. 

Jones, who spoke to noted author and self-proclaimed Nerd Ken Goldstein, was also photographed by famed movie photographer Peter Tangen (see his photo of Jones at right).  Goldstein’s stories and Tangen’s photos and video promise to be the first full disclosures of Jones’ motivations and other details of his life.

“Many aspects of Phoenix’s personality come through in the interviews,” said Goldstein, who as a confident of Jones prior to his unmasking on October 6 in Seattle was able to extract many intimate details of his subject’s life.  “He is Phoenix Jones the superhero, Benjamin Foder the husband and father, and ‘Flattop’ the MMA fighter.  The real man is way cooler than just Phoenix Jones.”

“This is the kind of story that gets me really excited to be in the superhero business. Phoenix is a real life version of what we’ve been reading about for decades,” said Gareb Shamus, Wizard World CEO.

PlayUp (www.playup.com) today announced the launch of the first mobile social network enabling sports fans to follow their choice of thousands of live games in real time while simultaneously discussing the action with fellow fans on their mobile devices. The free app includes real-time scoring and stats, along with the option to create private rooms to discuss the action with friends or join public rooms to interact with fans from around the world – play by play and pitch by pitch.
 
The PlayUp app features real-time scoring and stats for every NFL, college football, NHL, NBA, MLB, and MLS game, as well as soccer, cricket and Australian Rules Football around the globe. That amounts to 20,000 live games per year.
 
Users can create private or public rooms in a snap by inviting friends via their Facebook friends list or a PlayUp directory. Alternatively, fans can join public rooms provided by PlayUp for every game.
 
Available initially for Apple iPhones and iPads with other mobile platforms to follow, the app went live this month and broke into the top five most downloaded free sports apps in the iTunes store in the first week.
 
“There is no better platform for social interactivity than sports, but until now the industry has been unable to marry live sports and social,” said Jonathan Press, CEO of PlayUp USA. “Fans share their comments at games, tailgate parties, watercoolers, and on sports talk radio. We’ll make it easier. Now they have the opportunity to tell the world or select groups of friends instantly and in the palm of their hand. No need to be alone on the couch anymore watching the game.”
 
“This app will not only change the way we consume and interact around live sports, but also create a new commercial model for sports,” said PlayUp co-founder George Tomeski.  “Sports-related SMS and MMS messaging already generates billions of real-time messages worth billions of dollars. New features we will be introducing to the PlayUp platform will tap into that huge usage base to deliver major new revenue opportunities for everyone from players and clubs to bloggers and content providers.”
 
The PlayUp app, debuting in the U.S. this month, can be downloaded at http://playup.com/us/

A variety of fan clubs, podcasters and other groups are making final preparations for this weekend’s Wizard World Mid-Ohio Comic Con, Saturday and Sunday at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.  From cosplayers like the Great Lakes Base of the Rebel Legion and Ohio 501st Legion and Mandalorian Mercs to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and Comic Book Connection Initiative, groups will be on site, meeting attendees and enriching the Wizard World experience.

Some groups that fans will run into on site include:

— Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, which exists to fight censorship and defend the first amendment rights of comic book professionals and readers throughout the United States.
— Great Lakes Base of the Rebel Legion, the local chapter of The Rebel Legion Star Wars costuming group.
Mandalorian Mercs Costuming Group, the world’s premier custom Mandalorian costume organization.
— Ohio 501st Legion, the state’s chapter of the national organization which seeks to promote interest in Star Wars through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for Star Wars-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work.
— Ohio Star Wars Collectors Club, a resource through which those who live in Ohio can discuss new items arriving, toy & collectible show dates and generally anything Star Wars related.
— Open Forum Radio, a community fueled by collective interests which seeks open dialogue and to encourage debate
Outlook Media, whose content contains both local and national focused features that compliment its mix of columns, editorials, arts & entertainment, sports, celebrity interviews, and community news.
— Pendant Production Company, one of the most prolific and popular podcasting companies today, with more than 800 episodes of audio drama.
— The Comic Book Connection Initiative, a small non-profit organization that takes in donated comic books from dealers, publishers, and individual collectors then distributes them to children in homeless shelters, food pantries, after-school programs , YWCA women’s shelter and hospitals.
— The Hero Initiative, the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterdays’ creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work.
— USS Asgard, a chapter of Starfleet International, which  participates in community events such as Toys for Tots, Operation Feed, etc.
— USS Columbus, which does an annual school supply drive for a local school, helps in the Firefighters Toy Drive, and collects food for Mid Ohio Food Bank along with other local clubs.
— USS Lagrange, which has raised hundreds of dollars for the Akron Children’s Hospital and for various food banks in the state.
— WGTR “World Grand Theft Radio,” the nationwide internet radio station No. 1 worldwide Halloween radio station in Sept & Oct. With over 30 original shows a week live, “our mission to make your on air dreams come true!”

Wizard World Mid-Ohio Comic Con features stars James Marsters, Billy Dee Williams, Adam West, Burt Ward, Claudia Christian and Walter Koenig among dozens of celebrities and industry professionals celebrating the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, comics, toys, video gaming, television, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more.

First, there was ESPN, the “Worldwide Leader in Sports,” taking the world of big-time competitive poker from smoke-filled casinos and putting it into the spotlight of a national audience in a sports environment.

It proved a hit, as the 2003 coverage of the World Series of Poker, aided by technology allowing cameras to see players’ cards, let viewers think along with each featured hand.

Now, two related organizations, the United States Poker Federation (USPF) and the United States Mind Sports Association (USMSA) aim to bring poker, along with other strategy-based games, into new realms, with professional sports organizations like the U.S. Golf Association and FIFA as models.

Peter Alson, president of the USPF, and Amy Handelsman, exective director of the USPF and USMSA, recently took some time to discuss some of their initiatives with TheUltimateFan.

TUF: What does the USPF and USMSA hope to accomplish?
PA: First, the main objective is to promote poker as a game of skill, a mind-sport, and to take it away from just being associated with casinos and gambling.  USPF members love poker, we love the possibilities of the game, the way it can be used to hone one’s mental muscle, and how it can be applied as a teaching tool.  The idea is that we are going to be a sports federation … we weill sanction events, rank players, organize or own events.
AH:  One of the longer ranging ideas is to have that guy at the “top of the pyramid,” play on the level of either state-to-state or the more micro level of profession-to-profession, for example hedge fund managers vs. bankers, or plumbers vs. electricians, police vs. firefighters.  It becomes a truly democratic sport, not just associated with Vegas or Indian reservations.

TUF: What is the timetable moving forward? 
PA:  We have our official launch event next month in London, where there is going to be a gathering of the member nations. The first event is the Nations Cup, on Nov. 17, involving 12 of the major market member nations, and consist of a version of poker called duplicate.  It’s not unlike duplicate bridge, a way of emphasizing the skills, in which the teams all see the same assortment of hands, with a single player frome ach team at one of six tables, in two heats.  It’s a hand-to-hand comparison, player-to-player.  That event will be at the London Eye, the world’s largest Ferris wheel, with 32 capsules.  We’ll have 12 poker tables, and use the other 20 pods for exhibitions of other mindsports like chess, draughts and bridge.

TUF: What are some of the successes you have had so far on the advocacy front?
PA:  We have just started the organization, so although we haven’t had any tournaments yet, there has been great interest.  The challenges are when you mention poker, you think gambling, but our goal is to have sponsored prize money events such as the PGA Tour has, or professional tennis, where players do not put up their own money.  There is money to be won, but it’s not wagering their own.
AH:  Mindsports are getting greater traction as we have more conversations. Some of the efforts are in educating the market in the distinction between the old connotation and what our mission is.
PA: We are finding out that you can divorce poker from the money in the sense that on Facebook, for example, 60 million play every month for no money, just for the glory and claiming who is best.

TUF: What do you say to those who say that poker has had its run of popularity and now has gone the other way?
PA: I think that we have seen that one of the revelations so far is that in fact the sport is in a great position to grow because there are a lot of players who want to play but not risk any money, and we give them a way to do that.  In the media, poker’s light may have dimmed a bit, but the fact is that in terms of the number of players, it has grown.  I think that’s not an accurate assessment, but at the same time we recognize that poker has had a number of black eyes of late, with the Department of Justice investigation into online poker and Black Friday.

TUF: Along those lines, what is your reaction to the Full Tilt investigation?
PA: I think the thing is that we are trying to reframe the game and reposition it as not a gambling game but a game of skill that can be played without gambling on it.  I think if we can do that, and I think we can, then poker will find a new audience.  But if we can change the perception in that way, then it seems to me no matter what, eventually the U.S. Government is going to come around.  It could take a couple of years, but they will see poker as something that should be regulated. I equate the current situation to Prohibition.  It doesn’t make any sense for the government to lose out on that potential revenue.  Right now, for whatever reason, they have decided to take an antagonistic stance.
AH: Also, in terms of mindsports study in an academic way, on both Boards we have a law professor at Harvard, Charles Nesson, who is interested in poker as a strategic skill.  He has set up an affiliation with the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard, which deals with the cyber issue, and a research fellowship to be able to propose studies to look at mindsports as a skill: what is the nature of the strategic thinking and how can it apply to a number of different disciplines.

Follow the USPF on Facebook.

We’re usually discussing this Corey Hart here at The Ultimate Fan, but for this story, I’ve broken out this one, from the 80s.  Well, the rocker is still very much with us, and his 1984 hit (off his “First Offense” album), while not likely the inspiration for Eyeglasses123’s top 10 most popular Sunglasses for September 2011, we like the same-name connection…

Eyeglasses123.com, a leading online retailer of designer sunglasses and eyeglass frames, today released data on the top selling designer sunglasses for September of 2011. The top 10 list is based on completed online sales that took place in September of 2011. Eyeglasses123.com offers eyewear on the Internet and has been selling sunglasses and eyewear online for over 10 years.

Here are the Top 10 Best selling styles of sunglasses sold online during September 2011, with the most popular brand & style in the #1 position.

1. Ray Ban New Wayfarer/Icon RB2132 901/58 Black/Crystal Green Polarized

2. Ray Ban Aviator Large Metal/Icon RB3025 W3277 Silver/Grey Silver

3. Ray Ban Aviator Small Metal/Icon RB3044 L0207 Arista Gold/G-15XL

4. Ray Ban New Wayfarer/Icon RB2132 902 Tortoise/G-15XLT 52mm

5. Ray Ban Original Wayfarer/Icon RB2140 901 Black/G-15XLT 50mm

6. Ray Ban New Wayfarer/Icon RB2132 622 Black Rubber/G-15XLT 52mm

7. Ray Ban Highstreet RB4068 642/57 Tortoise/Crystal Brown Polarize

8. Ray Ban New Wayfarer/Icon RB2132 901 Black/G-15XLT 52mm

9. Ray Ban Aviator Large Metal/Icon RB3025 002/58 Black/Crystal Green Polarized 58mm

10. Ray Ban Aviator Large Metal/Icon RB3025 L0205 Arista Gold/G-15XL

This monthly top 10 list is offered as a service to consumers. The list reflects the sales of sunglasses sold at Web sites owned and operated by Eyeglasses123.com.

MISSION Athletecare®, the first and only line of Athlete-Engineered® products, today announced its new partnership with All-Star Carmelo Anthony, and unveiled the launch of Power Grip™ - his signature product that will give athletes a competitive edge.

Anthony made the announcement at a press event at Modell’s in Times Square, N.Y., on Friday, after which he signed autographs for a line of fans that seemed to stretch to the Empire State Building.

Sweaty hands pose serious problems for athletes – not just in basketball, but in all sports that depend on an athlete’s ability to maintain a strong grip on a ball, stick or racket. With the launch of Power Grip, athletes will finally have the solution they need: applying only a few drops of Power Grip to their hands delivers instant and sustained dry grip. MISSION’s proprietary “liquid chalk technology” is designed to work immediately to give athletes a better grip and the confidence that comes with it – exactly what athletes need when playing to win.

“When your hands are wet, your grip is slippery – and that can lead to a ton of problems for your game,” said Anthony. “Ask any athlete: sweaty hands can mean all the difference with a shot, a pass, a block and, most importantly, your confidence. Nothing else has worked in the past. The chalk is messy, and is really just for show, and wiping your wet hands on wet shorts doesn’t help either. Power Grip changes all that.”

“The data speaks for itself,” said Mark French, President of the MISSION Basketball division. “A Pace University survey of over 50 college and high school coaches showed that over 80% of coaches have players who are negatively impacted by lack of hand grip due to sweat accumulation on their hands. That’s a huge problem for teams and athletes at all levels of play, and Power Grip delivers the solution.”

MISSION’s proprietary formula was developed and tested with Carmelo over the last 6 months, honing the product’s ability to improve grip at the very highest levels of athletic performance.  Powder, chalk and towels only offer temporary relief, and often create secondary problems:  they leave dust and dirt on the floor that can lead to slips and injury. Power Grip allows athletes to avoid those challenges, and comes in a pocket-size applicator for easy-to-use portability and convenience.

“Carmelo is unequivocally one of the most dynamic and elite athletes in the world,” said Josh Shaw, Founder of MISSION. “If we can jointly engineer a product that meets his level of play, we know the product will work well for everyone.”

MISSION Athletecare®, the first and only line of Athlete-Engineered® products, is pleased to announce it has entered into a multi-year partnership with the NBATA as its “Official Traction Provider.” The deal follows extensive in-game testing of MISSION’s revolutionary Court Grip™ product, which was launched last week at Foot Locker stores nationwide and online at Eastbay.com.

Athletes apply Court Grip to the soles of their sneakers using a hand-held sponge applicator, providing instant, sustained traction — even on dusty and dirty courts. Its proprietary, pressure sensitive nanotechnology is designed to activate when players make a cut, giving them the ability to make quicker moves, be more explosive when changing direction, and play with increased confidence.

“We’re acutely focused on helping our players perform at their best on the court while minimizing their risk of injury,” said Casey Smith, Chairman of the NBATA. “Maintaining traction on dusty courts is an issue for players at all levels, and Court Grip addresses the problem better than anything we’ve ever used. We’re pleased to have helped bring this gamechanging product to market.”

“By collaborating with the NBATA last season, we were able to incorporate their in-game product reviews and suggestions, which were crucial to finalizing the Court Grip formula and delivery system. As we continue to research, develop and test new basketball innovations, our consumers should feel comfortable knowing that the NBATA is actively involved to ensure our products meet the highest standards,” said Mark French, President of MISSION Basketball.  MISSION and the NBATA will be collaborating on product development, marketing and awareness campaigns within a number of MISSION’s product categories, including Grip, Muscle Care, Foot Care and Anti-Chafe.