M
Mike Jacoubowsky
Guest
(Sent 9/27 to Cyclingnews.com)
Giro brought Alberto Contador to Interbike on Wednesday, to sign autographs.
Sort of.
I'd brought along a couple photos taken during his 2007 TdF ride, including
one my son took, hoping to have them autographed.
His handler (manager?) would have none of it. The *only* thing he'd sign
would be one of two small "posters" (about 11x18 or so) they made available.
Not only that, but they wouldn't even allow him to write anything but his
name. Couldn't even have him write "To Kevin" on it. Someone said the
handler said something about not wanting autographs to end up on eBay or
some such.
Incredibly lame, in my opinion. What, exactly, are they protecting?
Contador's certainly in no danger of over-exposure; he's hardly a household
word in this part of the world (USA).
I don't blame Contador himself; he seemed totally at the mercy of his
handler, and doesn't appear to have much of a grasp of English. He just did
exactly as he was told to do.
So instead I had Phil Liggett sign it instead (Contador 2007, Kevin 2017!).
Phil couldn't understand why they wouldn't allow Contador to personalize an
autograph either.
I guess Contador's handler must be looking at all the damage done to Lance
Armstrong's reputation and worth from personalizing autographs and signing
people's photos.
--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA
Giro brought Alberto Contador to Interbike on Wednesday, to sign autographs.
Sort of.
I'd brought along a couple photos taken during his 2007 TdF ride, including
one my son took, hoping to have them autographed.
His handler (manager?) would have none of it. The *only* thing he'd sign
would be one of two small "posters" (about 11x18 or so) they made available.
Not only that, but they wouldn't even allow him to write anything but his
name. Couldn't even have him write "To Kevin" on it. Someone said the
handler said something about not wanting autographs to end up on eBay or
some such.
Incredibly lame, in my opinion. What, exactly, are they protecting?
Contador's certainly in no danger of over-exposure; he's hardly a household
word in this part of the world (USA).
I don't blame Contador himself; he seemed totally at the mercy of his
handler, and doesn't appear to have much of a grasp of English. He just did
exactly as he was told to do.
So instead I had Phil Liggett sign it instead (Contador 2007, Kevin 2017!).
Phil couldn't understand why they wouldn't allow Contador to personalize an
autograph either.
I guess Contador's handler must be looking at all the damage done to Lance
Armstrong's reputation and worth from personalizing autographs and signing
people's photos.
--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA