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Basketball superstar joins forces with Upper Deck Authenticated to solidify company’s All-Star NBA lineup
North Las Vegas, NV (June 8, 2009) – The Upper Deck Company today announced the signing of Miami Heat Guard Dwyane Wade to an exclusive autographed memorabilia deal, further cementing itself as the leading provider of authentic autographed products of the NBA’s top athletes. Wade joins the company’s exclusive list of current NBA talent including reigning league MVP LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul, as well as longtime company spokesman Michael Jordan.
“Dwyane Wade is one of the NBA’s most admired and dynamic players, so Upper Deck is extremely excited to join forces with a player of Dwyane’s caliber,” said Tim Muret, vice president of Upper Deck Authenticated (UDA), the company’s memorabilia division. “As a former NBA Finals MVP and champion, he further solidifies Upper Deck’s position as the basketball memorabilia leader when it comes to providing innovative products that bring fans closer to the game and their favorite athletes.”
“I’m excited about this exclusive arrangement with Upper Deck,” added Wade. “And I appreciate their authentication program because they witness every one of my signatures. That makes it simple for collectors; there’s no guesswork involved. They know they’re getting the real deal.”
“Adding Upper Deck as an endorsement partner fits perfectly into Dwyane’s goal to associate himself with top quality brands," said Henry Thomas, Wade’s agent.
Since entering the league in 2003, Wade has firmly established himself as Miami’s go-to guy in pressure-packed situations. His MVP performance in the 2006 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks is a testament to his clutch play. After falling behind two games to none to Dallas, Wade led his Miami teammates to four straight victories to secure the franchise’s only NBA title. He averaged 34.6 point per game in the series which included 42 and 43 points, respectively, in Games 3 and 5.
Wade will be signing a wide assortment of products for Upper Deck including basketballs, jerseys, photos, and select game-worn items. As always, UDA’s patented five-step authentication process will be utilized at every autograph signing session to ensure that collectors are getting the real deal. Wade-autographed items including limited, specially-inscribed editions will be available shortly.
About Upper Deck
Upper Deck is the leading sports and entertainment trading card and collectibles company. For more information on Upper Deck and its products please visit www.upperdeck.com.
About Upper Deck Authenticated
Upper Deck Authenticated is the leading provider of authentic sports memorabilia, featuring exclusive autograph partnerships with the world’s greatest athletes including Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Albert Pujols, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade. Through UDA’s patented five-step authentication process, the company guarantees the authenticity of its autographed products by witnessing and recording every signature, and through its unique hologram registry which allows fans to register and verify each autographed product online.
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