I’m not much of a UT fan (that’s an understatement), but every few years I end up going to the Leadoff Banquet for their baseball team. They usually bring in a guest speaker, and if it is someone good then I try to go. Not to mention, when you are used to driving 4 hours to get most of your autographs, going to Knoxville to get one isn’t half bad!
This year at the banquet they inducted Todd Helton into their Hall of Fame and retired his jersey number. My friend Jayson used to be on staff with UT’s baseball team and he had purchased a table at the banquet. His wife Julie went with him and so I was able to bring my wife along for a double date.
I wasn’t sure if we would be able to get an autograph or not, but I took a ball anyway. Not too long after we got there I saw a crowd of people gathered around him taking pictures and so I went on over to scope things out. It didn’t look like he would be signing anything. He had pre-signed a bunch of 8×10’s for all the guests beforehand and that usually means that he wouldn’t be signing again.
kept watching to see if there was any chance he might sign. He was taking pictures with anyone who asked, but no autographs. After about 10 minutes I saw him sign for a little boy. I lamented to my wife that he probably wouldn’t be signing for someone like me. That’s when the wifie stepped up to the plate. She said, “I’ll ask him.” Sure enough we got a picture with him and after it was taken, my hot wife batted her eyes at him and asked for an autograph. He obliged. He didn’t sign on the sweet spot, but it still turned out pretty cool!
