Professional Athletes Connecting with Fans that Need Them: When Athletes actually become Heroes

Recently sports media have been flooded with news of everything that's wrong with sports and professional athletes. In a world of negativity a few worthwhile stories have begun to take center stage and shine a positive light on the impact professional athletes can have.

John Wall, starting point guard for the Washington Wizards, recently cried in a post game interview after playing a game for a friend of his Mayah. She was a six year old that that Wall had connected to during the season who eventually passed away after a fight against cancer.

Travis Hamonic, a defensive-man for the New York Islanders, is putting aside the idea that hockey players don't have soft side. Hamonic meets with young fans after every game, win or lose, that have had a death of a parent effect their lives. Hamonic witnessed the death of his own father when he was ten years old and has a desire to help young people have a positive connection and understand how to better deal with death of such an important person in one's life.

Athletes have a unique ability to connect with fans who suffer from physical, mental or emotional pain.To avid sports fans a favorite team or players isn't just a logo or a jersey, they are a part of life. These are just a few of the professional athletes that are making positive impacts with their fans. A big tip of the cap to these heroes. 

Check out this link for the story of how an Auburn Wide Receiver made a difference in the life of a girl with leukemia.