Meeting one of my childhood heroes: Tony Fernandez

Writer11

I got the chance to meet Tony Fernandez at a sports celebrity dinner last night and had a nice, long conversation with him. As a Blue Jays fan, this is the equivalent of meeting God. He just seems like a really great guy. After awhile it just felt like I was talking to another guy. This may not be exciting for anyone else, but I wanted to share this with people who could appreciate it.

Anyone else ever meet a childhood hero?

lawnmowerman

I met my childhood hero once but things quickly turned ugly and I had to take him down.

Thats him on the left!




Matt

5STAT

Growing up in MA during the 70's and 80's...it was a mecca for a Boston sports fan!
The 75 and 76 Sox were every little boys dream....and how didn't want to be Bobby Orr..or Larry Bird?

I remember each card season..riding around on my orange 3 speed bike...raked forks in the front..shifter handle on the cross frame...and a 2 foot sissy bar on he back of the seat...YAH that was way cool back then and "I" was styling!! lol
We would all get together and see who had gotten what that week for cards. I ALWAYS had my local team set in my back pocket..and filling a Red Sox ream set from any year was an accomplishment. Of course, years later when I actually got into card investing...ALL my Boston players had to be replaced as they were all beat...but it left for loads and loads on mint cards from 73-79 that I never played with.

So growing up in this area was awesome for any sports fan. A local childhood friend also got into sports and evenutally started to promote some of the biggest shows in our area. During the late 80's thru the mid-90's he had any and every name in baseball! Mantle, DiMaggio, Berra, F. Robinson, B. Robinson, Spaun and Sain, Whitey Ford....it seemed that once a month there was a new name coming to town...and we had met met them all.

It got to a point where I would do a show and just walk buy the table and see who was signing and go about my business...it became a common occurance. I remember a Worcester, MA show where there were extra dealer tickets for Mantle kicking around...the price...$60 each...I bought 2...YES 2....I could have bought up to 30...woops..

Coulda shoulda woulda...lost out on that investment...

It wasn't until 2 years ago...this same promoter started getting back into shows as there is a dry market for good shows here in MA. Again..they were local..Sturbridge, MA..10 minutes from my house.
And it was then that the novelty of what I had passed up in the past struck me. I walked by Hall of Famers and Super Stars and just smiled and made eye contact. There were a few times where we all went out for drinks after with the players...but at the time I think I took it all for granted.

Fast forward 10 years..at a Sturbridge show..I now have my fiance working with me. She's like a little kid on her first day of school...not knowing what to expect...asking 101 questions..and I was just in the dole drum "it's just a show" mode.
We walk into the back staging area, and she's instantly tugging at my shirt.
"oh my God..oh my God"..she just keep repeating.
I walk in .."hey Jim...how's the golf game?"..
"Robert...ready for a good show??"...I say

And again...she's tugging and tugging..."oh my god..oh my god"

"ok what's the problem".I ask....

Her reply..."that was Jim Rice...and and and...that was Robert Parrish!!" "and you just walked in like it was no big deal"..

I looked at her and said.."yah..and that's Fred Lynn..and that guy with his back to you is Dwight Evans...and over in the corner is the Rocket Man Bill Lee..your point?"

It was then that it struck me....I was probably one of the most fortunate people around..and looked at it like it was no big deal. To me they were icons..they were my heroes...but after spending time with them, I realized that they were just ordinary people like you and I..they put their pants on one leg at a time..and have the same BS problems as the rest of us do in life..they just got paid to do what we all wished we could have done.

Fast forward a few more months (last November) and my soon to be mother-in-law who is THE Dave Ortiz fan of MA comes to the show to help out. I hadn't told her that Dave was going to be there..she thought she was coming to help us break down after the show, as it was a few miles from their home.
I knew how much she loved Ortiz...as she constantly tells me.."did you see what MY David did today?....MY David did this..MY David did that...MY David hit a 2 run homer.."

YES...I guess she's claiming David as only HER player...lol

No doubting who she loves...

So, I arrange a private meet and greet for her with David..just as the show was winding down. I tell her to be there around 2...and like clockwork she walks in the door with jeans on and ready to work.
It was the that I told her we really didn't need any help that I had just made her come for a surprise! We wisk her around the main area and into the back rooms..she has no idea what's going on other than there is a cardshow at the hotel. Just before we enter the room I tell her why she is actually there and that she was mere feet away from meeting "MY DAVID."

Well, weak knees and tears of joy soon ensued..she was shaking like a little girl as she entered the room. Papi was awesome...there was no little hand shake..or a small smile..
Papi stood up with the wall to wall of white teethed smile...and gave her the bear hug of a life time!! Her mere 5 foot nothing frame was lost on his arms...
It made her day/month/year...all the above..lol

So looking back, I see things through others peoples' eyes now. I don't take anything for granted and look back on past events and know that I have it better than most. Some people never get to meet a childhood icon..
I've met boatloads of them and never realized how lucky I actually was.

Lothar52

BAHAHAHAHAHA