Your heroes often are happy to meet you

Cleveland legends show appreciation for fans

There’s an old saying that you should never meet your heroes. Balderdash. Over 1,000-plus fans met their heroes at Sprenger Stadium on June 17, and I’m willing to bet they all agree with me. Why? Because the Cleveland Legends who participated in the softball game made sure the fans did not leave disappointed.

Whether it was the night before when Carlos Baerga said he met a fan — no more than 8 years old — who brought him to tears as she showed him a notebook filled with photos of him she had clipped from the newspaper, or after the game when the legends signed autographs and talked with fans of all ages, the event was completely about the fans.

Which brings me back to my point of never meeting your heroes. Why shouldn’t you? After all, they are just normal people who have been gifted, in this case, athletically.

Hours before the game, as

the players were arriving and talking on the field, the fact that these Legends are just normal people could not have been more evident.

Joe Charboneau and Len Barker were talking about getting old and joking about how they weren’t sure if their bodies were up for the game.

Charboneau was also receiving welly wishes because it was his birthday.

Bob Golic was talking about how weird it is that people tell him that their grandmothers love him.

Carlos Baerga was talking with his son and introducing him to some of the other Legends.

Bernie Kosar and Josh Cribbs were running late.

Andrew Davis was standing by the fence, reflecting on his six years on the Crushers roster.

Simply put, they were doing what all people do.

They were enjoying times with old and new friends alike.

But, after talking with the legends, there was one common theme.

They were all excited to meet the fans.

They understood that they are only legends because of the Cleveland fans and wanted to give back to them.

Maybe there are a few people who have had bad experiences with meeting their heroes in the past.

Or, maybe they just had the wrong heroes in the first place.

Because the Legends who graced the field of Sprenger Stadium were definitely heroes worth meeting.

ERIC BONZAR — THE MORNING JOURNAL Former Browns defensive tackle Bob Golic gets a fist bump from former Indians left fielder Joe Charboneau.

ERIC BONZAR — THE MORNING JOURNAL Legends from the gridiron and the baseball diamond came together for a night of laughs, memories and a little bit of softball for the inaugural Cleveland Sports Legend Game at Sprenger Stadium. From left to right are: Andrew Davis, Matt Wilhelm, Josh Cribbs, Bob Golic, Bernie Kosar, Carlos Baerga Jr., Carlos Baerga, Len Barker, Travis Hafner and Joe Charboneau.

ERIC BONZAR — THE MORNING JOURNAL Former Browns defensive tackle Bob Golic tosses batting practice pitches to former Browns wide receiver Josh Cribbs.