Shaquille O’Neal of the Miami Heat signs autographs Saturday during a basketball clinic at the NBA All-Star Jam Session at Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Photos by Christine H. Wetzel.

Old gum chewed by Michael Jordan during the 1991 NBA championship game: $2,500.

Jock strap worn by Spud Webb during his 1985 rookie year: $13.95.

Empty coffee cup used by Jerry Tarkanian from his 20th and final game coaching in the 1992 NBA season: $25,999 (includes a new car from the local dealership that he's pitching for these days).

You won't find these fabricated sports memorabilia items at any of the 20 independent Jam Session purveyors of sports history. But the assortment of keepsakes available could fill a court.

One corner of the NBA Jam Session at Mandalay Bay's South Convention Center features everything from items worthy of being in a museum to toys priced at $5.

The cost of a display ranges from $2,500 for 200 square feet to $5,000 for twice the space.

Thousands of reproduced photos can be purchased, some with autographs if you're trusting.

Some truly classic pieces are available from reputable dealers. The selection isn't limited to basketball.

For $3,499 you can get a large framed photo of Arnold Palmer helping Jack Nicklaus line up a putt during the 1973 Ryder Cup. And it's autographed by both.

"Art of the Stars" is selling paintings of sports' classic moments by artists Opie Otterstad and Stephan Holland.

More affordable price abound for videos, players cards and playing cards, bobble-heads and sports action figures.

But this is a ballers' festival and no one has a wider variety of autographed basketballs at the Jam than Christopher Ryan Weber's HallofFameSports.com.

One of the 45 signed basketballs at his display is one signed by Bill Russell that sells for $350, which is the lowest priced one. The most expensive sells for $3,500 and includes signatures from seven Lakers whose jerseys have been retired by the team: Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Gail Goodrich, Elgin Baylor, Magic Johnson, James Worthy and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Weber, who has operated his business for 15 years in San Dimas, Calif., has sold at other Jam Sessions and said the Las Vegas crowd is different.

"Two years ago at the Jam Session in L.A., about 50 percent of the crowd looked like potential (NBA) season ticket holders. This has been more like a Disneyland crowd," he said, explaining there are more blue-collar families and kids.

• VEGAS HISTORY -- American Memorabilia of Las Vegas is displaying a baseball autographed by Jackie Robinson with a ticket to the NAACP Las Vegas Chapter's 1967 Annual Freedom Banquet held in his honor.

• CELL ETIQUETTE -- Cell phone usage by drivers can be dangerous.

Cell phone users at the Jam are just annoying, especially if they're wearing a pinstripe suit.

Jam tip: Don't stop in the middle of an aisle to make a call with your phone in one ear and a finger in the other. If you need to make a call, stand by a wall.

• READING OFFENSE -- One aspect of the NBA Care's mission is to stimulate kids' interest in reading with a "Read to Achieve" area where kids sit on basketball-style bean-bag chairs while stars past and present read to them.

Saturday afternoon the featured reader was Sam Perkins, who retired from the NBA in 2001 after 17 seasons.

The NBA can take its educational initiative a step further by convincing Jam Session sponsor adidas to begin starting its name with a capital "A" so it falls in line with what students learn about how to spell proper nouns.

• FANTASY DISPLAY -- The Cartoon Network's area includes a stop where kids can get temporary tattoos of animated characters.

Why not add the "Mind of D-Rod" booth for Dennis Rodman to complement Dwyane Wade's "Mind of D-Wade" interactive display.

The "Mind of D-Rod" would be a giant empty headlike structure with the outside showing his tattoos, piercings and ever-changing hair hues.

Kids could come by to get replicas of Rodman's tattoos applied with permanent markers.

• HOURS -- The Jam Session is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. today and Monday, which is the final day.