Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Fan Fest overwhelmed by, well, fans; Calvin Johnson interview
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
At before 8 a.m. Hundreds went through to see inductees Calvin Johnson, Takeo Spikes, Ben Zambiasi, Gary Stokan, Brenda Cliette, Mark Teixeira, Ernie Johnson, Jr. and T. McFerrin and other members of the Hall.
Video: Michael A. Lough/The Sports Report of Central Georgia, www.centralgasports.com
Jim McLendon got an early start Saturday for the full day of work for the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame and its induction ceremony.
First was the Fan Fest, starting at 1 p.m. But fans were ready when the Hall’s executive director arrived before 8 a.m., in line and waiting for the doors to open.
Saturday's Fan Fest, McLendon said, didn't turn away any fans and went almost 45 minutes past its conclusion.
Video: Michael A. Lough/The Sports Report of Central Georgia, www.centralgasports.com
The final fans got autographs and pictures around 3:15 p.m., a full 45 minutes after the event was to conclude.
Fans brought all sorts of helmets, cards, books, photo albums, Frisbees, souvenir helmets and balls of all kinds for the Class of 2019: Calvin Johnson, Takeo Spikes, Ben Zambiasi, Gary Stokan, Ernie Johnson Jr., Brenda Cliette-Thomas, Mark Teixeira, and T. McFerrin.
There was a limit of two items per signee, but odds are that went a little bit by the wayside with fans in from Pittsburgh – by way of a Hawks game – Florida, Alabama, and throughout the state.
"Megatron" learned plenty about his Georgia Sports Hall of Fame colleagues.
Video: Michael A. Lough/The Sports Report of Central Georgia, www.centralgasports.com