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Memorabilia company apologizes for bad taste

BY NEIL BEST

December 14, 2007

Few sports-related businesses are as shameless as the memorabilia world, where if a player loses a non-essential body part, it just might turn up for sale before sunup.

Steiner Sports Memorabilia, though, realized it took one step too far after it sent an e-mail Wednesday night offering its customers an unusual deal, dubbed "The George Mitchell Special Offer!"

Purchase an autographed ball between 7 p.m. and midnight, and if the signer of said ball showed up on Mitchell's dreaded list yesterday, you get a $50 on-line gift certificate . . . presumably to spend on a non-steroid-abusing sports hero.

The company determined yesterday that the sale might have been a teensy bit in poor taste and sent the following to its "valued customers":

"Steiner Sports would like to offer its sincerest apologies to those who were offended by our George Mitchell e-mail special that was sent out last night. The investigation into performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball is a serious matter that we fully support.

"The special that was announced is now expired but we will honor the offer to those of you who chose to participate."

Darn it, I knew I should have bought that Denny Neagle- signed ball Wednesday night!