The Sacramento Kings are eating dinner at a plush Las Vegas steakhouse, one of those preseason, team-building nights, when a woman walks up to a player and asks for his autograph.
"Your performance in Beijing was amazing, Michael," she says.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, I'd love to sign, but I'm not Michael Phelps," Kings center Spencer Hawes tells her.
The woman refuses to believe him. And his teammates, not about to pass an opportunity to tease him, play along with this case of mistaken identity.
"Come on, Michael, don't be like this, give the woman your autograph," one says.
"Yeah, come on, Michael, I know you're cool, but sign the autograph for her," another implores.
By this time the entire restaurant is watching and wondering if this guy they think is Olympic gold-medal swimmer Michael Phelps is going to come off his high horse.
Steve Kelley | Former Husky Spencer Hawes awaiting chance in NBA | Seattle Times NewspaperClick to expand...