"Long before Hank Williams Jr. belted out these six famous words, football season had a special meaning to me. Long before all the commercialization of players, teams and sports networks, football season had a special meaning to me. Not so much the season but just the game in general, and how we honored those that made it great. You see, I had a very fortunate childhood. I grew up near Canton, Ohio, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The national shrine dedicated to those who are "legendary."
Growing up near the Hall of Fame meant that each year, our elementary school would take a field trip to visit the hallowed hall. But I wasn't as impressed with this trip each year as I was going there on Saturdays and Sundays with my friend's dad, John Bankert. John, who spent 39 years working for the Hall in various leadership roles, would take us in with him on the weekends so we could run around and enjoy the movies and exhibits. He even put us to work emptying trash cans but we didn't care. John served as the Director of the Hall of Fame from 1996 to 2005. Lewy Body Dementia took his life shortly after his retirement. We learned from John that Hall of Famers are just ordinary people too. We met several over the years and we never asked for autographs. He always said, "A handshake is good enough."
Each year as the football season gets ready to kick-off, I remember those words that John used to tell us. As an adult, I am still fortunate to be around the Hall of Fame. I've been a driver for the Hall for 22 years now and get to drive the Hall of Famers each year when they come back to Canton for Enshrinement weekend. I still never ask for an autograph but always settle for a handshake and maybe a picture. You see, to me, they are ordinary people. Being around them as an adult proves John's point. I get introduced to their private lives. I meet their families, friends, and former teammates. They are just ordinary people who did extraordinary things on the football field.
So each year around this time, I get ready for some football. I know that Sunday night at Fawcett Stadium is the start of another season. A season that some rookie, who is fighting for a position on the team, may someday be back in Canton after his retirement and may possibly find his place in the hallowed halls that I ran around in as a kid. And if I'm still around on that day, maybe I can shake his hand and welcome him to his new home in Canton, Ohio."
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