Autograph Hell

By Tony Henderson Tony Weightman reckons there are around 3,000 autographs in his collection which will be sold by Anderson & Garland in Newcastle Tony Weightman (left), a spiked trainer worn by Jonathan Edwards (top) and Elton John's tracksuit (bottom) The haul from years of tracking down celebrity signatures by a North East businessman will be auctioned on Tuesday. Tony Weightman reckons there are around 3,000 autographs in his collection which will be sold by Anderson & Garland in Newcastle. He runs management development consultancy Weightman Associates, based in Gosforth in Newcastle, and has gathered signatures during his worldwide travels for work and sporting events. His business career has seen him work for Procter & Gamble, Unilever and at director level for Scottish and Newcastle Breweries. “My first autograph was Mohammed Ali and that started me off. I had idolised him when I was a kid,” said Tony. ...

Sad to hear about the loss of golfer, Charlie Sifford.  I will always remember meeting him - a really cool guy.   (CNN) Charlie Sifford, the first African-American to play on the PGA Tour, died Tuesday at age 92, the Professional Golfers' Association of America said. "His love of golf, despite many barriers in his path, strengthened him as he became a beacon for diversity in our game," PGA of America President Derek Sprague said in a statement. "By his courage, Dr. Sifford inspired others to follow their dreams. ... Golf was fortunate to have had this exceptional American in our midst." Sifford was called the Jackie Robinson of golf for breaking the color barrier in 1961 when he was 38 years old. "I wanted to prove that a black man could play golf," he told   CNN affiliate WEWS   after he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in November. His son told the station that his father was advised by Robinson to use his smooth sw...