LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING: JACKSON MAN MISTAKEN FOR MARK MCGWIRE TWICE IN ST. LOUIS

David Watkins knows what it's like to live the life of a celebrity. He's done so the past two times that he's visited St. Louis.

All all because some guy hit 70 home runs.

Watkins said that he never really thought he looked like Mark McGwire before all the hoopla and had even been wearing his goatee and short hair before McGwire set foot in St. Louis.

But to those wishing to catch a glimpse of the famous Cardinal, close is good enough.

"It actually started back in July," said Watkins. "All the kids on my son's baseball team started calling me Mark. I thought it was cute but never knew how far it would go."

Just how far was discovered as Watkins and his family visited Six Flags in St. Louis last August after the St. Louis Cardinals had finished one of their home games.

"People were turning around and looking and pointing," said Watkins. "One guy even came over after we had gotten off of the Mr. Freeze ride and asked me if I was McGwire. His friends said that I wasn't, but I guess he just wouldn't take their answer."

Watkins said that parents of children were asking if he was the famous ball player and some were even seeking autographs.

"I didn't really think much about it then. And I still didn't until September," said Watkins.

But Watkins was in for the ride of his life Sept. 27. As he and his family were watching the St. Louis Rams play at the Trans World Dome, Mark McGwire hit his 69th home run.

"We got tired of the Rams game and decided to go over to Bush Stadium," said Watkins. "After the seventh inning the stadium will let anyone in with or without a ticket. So we decided to stop in and see the rest of the game."

The rest of the game came 10 minutes later when McGwire hit his 70th home run. After the game was over, though, was when Watkins started being recognized for his similarity.

"During the game, no one said anything because, of course, they were watching Mark on the field," Watkins said. "They knew it wasn't him in the stands because he was on the field."

Watkins' wife Sonya and son Ryan left early to go to where the players exit to try and get autographs for their collection. They currently have a baseball and hat autographed by McGwire.

"They were down there and I was driving around the stadium to pick them up," Watkins said. "People were pointing and shouting, 'Hey! Mark!' and with the windows down we could really hear them. I got a lot of funny looks and people taking my picture."

But that evening at The Spaghetti Factory on the riverfront was less than peaceful for the family.

"People kept walking past us two or three times looking to see if I was him," said Watkins. "Grown men were walking back and forth to see for themselves."

Watkins said that one lady sent the waiter from her table to procure an autograph from him.

"The waiter came up and said, 'Look, I know you're not Mark McGwire and she's knows you're not but she wants you to sign his name to this,'" said Watkins. "I told him no and signed my own name to her paper. Later she came up to me with the paper and her scorecard from the game and said, 'Whether you're Mark McGwire or not, it was a thrill just watching you eat!'"

After that, Watkins said that he had many people coming up and asking him to sign scorecards from the game and other papers.

"It was really hard to eat," said Watkins. "You could just feel everyone staring at us. They sat us in the middle of the restaurant, so we were in view of everyone."

Watkins' son is getting a little recognition too.

"Ryan is two years older than Mark's son and some have said that he looks just like him too," Watkins said.

Others have said that Watkins' mannerisms also remind them of McGwire.

"My mom and people who I see when I'm coaching little league say I act and move like McGwire," Watkins said. "They say I move my arms and walk and even chew my gum like him. It's not on purpose and I didn't even know I was doing it."

Watkins' wife and family say that he should hire himself out as a body-double or a decoy for the slugger.

"I've written to Rosie O'Donnell because she's good friends with Penny Marshall, who is making a movie about McGwire," Sonya Watkins said. "There was an article in USA Today about Penny having trouble casting someone in the lead. She's wanting Matt Damon, but David looks more like Mark than Matt does.

"So I wrote because Rosie and Penny are good friends and when I called Rosie's show they said to send the story and pictures to them so Rosie could see them," said Sonya. "I really hope she gets back to us."

Watkins says that his mother wants him to go to the zoo in St. Louis so she can show her husband just how people act around him. "She wants me to go up there now and if I do I might take my video camera," said Watkins. "It's just too strange to believe."

Watkins hasn't returned to St. Louis since the event. He and his wife agree that they have a better understanding of how celebrities live their lives.

"We feel sorry for them now," said Sonya. "We know what they go through being followed by their fans. We really feel for them now."

"In St. Louis, there's such a desire to see him in person I think that's why so many people come up to me," said Watkins. "It's nice, but I feel for him."