Hard being a hero

I sat behind a hockey legend earlier this week during Canada's game against Germany. My hockey knowledge is reasonably good from the last 3-4 years, but I'm struggling prior to that and historically, so I didn't really know much about Joe Sakic, even if his name sounded familiar. Turns out he retired last year at the age of 40, after a highly successful career. He never played in Vancouver but he is a local, and was a star for Team Canada and the Colorado Avalanche.

That's the end of my introduction of him, but seeing him sitting at a game, with his wife and three kids got me thinking. I was hoping and trying to watch the game, so was Joe. During the intermissions, and even during the periods themselves, he was bombarded with fans asking for photos and autographs. Granted, it was a one-sided game and not the most enthralling game one could wish to see, but I found myself paying more attention to him and how he dealt with it all, than the game itself.

Now the only reason why I knew who he was and recognised him was because I had bumped into him the night before at a ceremony. He was given a hero's welcome that night, and likewise during this game. He seemed so well mannered and pleasant throughout the various times I stumbled across him, as did his family.

I did however detect signs towards the end of the Germany game, that he just wanted to stop being pestered and catch a bit of the game. I couldn't fault him. It was distracting me and I just wanted to study the game. He genuinely seemed like a nice guy from the few times I saw him, but I could just sense frustration creeping in and he rejected a couple of requests and said he would sign the photos at the end of the game which sounded sensible.

The more I observed it all, the less I envied him more and more. Just one of the prices of fame and success I guess, but it cannot be easy constantly being in demand.

I have met a number of high profile people, mainly sportsmen and women, including some heroes of mine - Everton players to be precise. On the whole, I was quite disappointed with what I saw. You can hear stories frequently of people being disillusioned when meeting their heroes or famous folks, and questioning their attitudes.

Seeing Sakic, seemingly a nice guy, being pestered for most of the game however, just got me thinking, that it was totally reasonable that just some days, it's surely going to become annoying and frustrating. Money and success just does not matter, we all get out of bed on the wrong side some mornings, heck, I do regularly! So to be greeted with hundreds of requests from people who idolise you, must be tough at times.

Maybe I have been a bit harsh on some heroes and idols in the past, if I've seen how they have treated some fans or myself, and they have dropped in my estimation. Maybe they are divas and suffering from muppetitis, especially if they are young and early in their careers and have the attitude already. But maybe they are just having a tough day.