I read where Jay Cutler’s gonna be signing autographs this weekend–for a fee.  You can get a basic autograph for fifteen bucks, all the way up to $99 to have a helmet signed.  It’s kind of too bad that it’s come to this, in my opinion.  Back in the day, sports stars were HAPPY to autograph stuff, for free!  I remember getting an autograph from Billy Kilmer, former QB for the 49ers, Saints and Redskins, one of my boyhood heroes.  What a thrill!  And, NO money exchanged!!

Still, I don’t blame the athletes.  So MUCH of this autographed stuff gets sold on eBay, or in collectible stores, why SHOULDN’T they get a cut?  Just because they already make millions, so what?  It’s another example of how pro sports have become business FIRST, sports SECOND.  But–my opinion–it is what it is.  Think about it, today’s pro athlete was born in the 1980s, AFTER the pro sports boom.  To them, this is the only “normal” they’ve known!

 One OTHER point–for some of these older stars, from the 50s, 60s and ’70s, who played for peanuts and have a pitiful pension from the league, making a few bucks from signing autographs is the only way they can keep food on the table.

Still–I wouldn’t pay Jay Cutler $99 to sign a helmet!!  Or anyone else, for that matter.  Well–maybe Billy Kilmer, if I knew he needed the money!

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