How can you tell if a jersey is real?

Check the name on the back of the jersey. This was just one of the items the popo has seized as fans descend on Tampa for the Super Bowl on Sunday. Among the estimated $500,000 worth of fake items found at a Tampa Bay flea market stall, were counterfeit jerseys, hats and Nike products.

Junior Raphael Prentice, the proprietor of said stall, was handcuffed and charged with one count of distributing goods with counterfeit trademarks, with additional charges pending. Although this isn’t the first time Prentice and the popo have met, Junior has already served prison time for drug trafficking and possession. So I would say that he hasn’t truly learned from his mistakes, but at least this time his jail sentence should be a bit lighter.

The popo hope this will be the first arrest of many as they continue to track down counterfeiters in the area. Unfortunately for Tampa resident Eric Carter, the arrest came a few days too late. Carter had purchased three pairs of Air Jordans from Prentice for $55 each, but had questioned their authenticity after “the logos fell off and the glue came undone.” Carter returned the shoes but had failed to get his money back.

"I thought I was getting a deal," he said, "and then I got ripped off."

Well remember kids, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Oh and when someone’s name is misspelled, it’s definitely a fake!

Watch out Junior, because the popo are on your tail!

(Photo: AP; source)