Cleveland, OH -- Signing autographs often leaves a mark on celebrities -- a messy ink stain.

It's the dirty little secret that has plagued celebrities and autograph hounds for decades -- trying to sign books, records and other memorabilia and constantly having to cap and uncap the permanent markers.

Stories about people fumbling with cap pens don't get much ink, but Sharpie spokesman Mike Finn says the capping crisis not only causes the dreaded "signing stains," but sacrifices another crucial element -- time.

Some celebrities charge for autographs and the time lost by capping and uncapping a marker can mark the difference between sales, especially near the end of a day.

But the page may be turning. Finn says Sharpie is hoping to cap the cap problem with a pen that includes a retractable cap.

Currently, 100 top athletes are putting the capless Sharpies under a rigorous written exam -- they're using them to sign memorabilia at a sports collectors convention in Cleveland this weekend.

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