J.J. Watt spots fake autograph on auction football, agrees to make it right

HOUSTON – The Texans' J.J. Watt is perhaps Houston's most-beloved sports star and his autograph is one of the most sought-after signatures in the Houston area.

So imagine how disappointed local resident Shane Allbright was when he learned the football he won at a charity event at Top Golf Thursday had a fake J.J. signature.

"I'd definitely be embarrassed," Houston native and Texans fan Kevin Zuniga said. "Always check your stuff first."

Allbright showed off the signed football on social media tweeting, "One time for @JJWatt...Heroes for Children Top Golf Charity."

But Watt, through his verified account, soon after tweeted, "Man, whoever faked my signature on that ball didn't even know how to spell my name!"

When you look at the signature the football is actually signed "JJ Watts" with an 's' at the end.

But being the Watt Houston has come to love he also tweeted to Allbright, "DM me an address and I'll send you a proper signed ball to auction off. We can't have people doing charity like that."

"For him to find out that 'Hey, you know wait a minute. That wasn't my signature you know. Let me send you the real one.' I think that was really kind of him," Houston resident Mohamed Diallo said.

Other people also were impressed.

"I wouldn't put it past that he would do that for him," Zuniga said. "And it's nice that he actually did it."

In a statement to KPRC2 the Heroes For Children Charity, which held the event, clearly was upset by the fake signature. A spokesperson said, "It has been brought to our attention that these were not authentic items, and we are beyond embarrassed and disappointed to have misrepresented their authenticity. We are refunding the donation and will return the items appropriately. In the future, we will go through the proper steps to ensure authenticity."

The organization said one of its donors donated two footballs and a baseball to be used in a raffle and none of the items were authentic. 

Heroes For Children said its mission is to help families who have a child battling cancer in the state of Texas. They said they are hoping Thursday's event doesn't compromise their mission.