By Eric Stock
TAMPA – Our favorite sports stars are more like us than we might think, according to a sportscaster-turned-author from Lincoln who has written a book about our ‘Sports idols’ idols.’
That’s the name of the book penned by Scott Lynn who said sports celebrities who rarely open up to the media happily shared their stories with him of whom they looked up to when they were young. He said the book demonstrates that our sports idols had the same dreams we did as kids.
PODCAST: Listen to WJBC’s interview with Lynn.
“You find out they are real people with real emotions,” Lynn said. “There’s a lot of inspirational stuff, there’s great messages for kids and for parents.”
Lynn talked to about 200 sports legends for the book, including Doug Collins, Jack Sikma, Ozzie Smith, Bill White, Dick Groat and the late Yogi Berra and Joe Garagiola. Collins shared a story in which he idolized “Pistol” Pete Maravich.
“He loved Pete Maravich,” Collins said. “That’s why Doug wore the floppy socks just like ‘Pistol’ Pete. He said he wore the long hair because of him.”
The story comes full circle as Collins got the chance to play with Maravich in his second NBA All-Star Game appearance.
Lynn, whose real name is Scott Betzelberger, played basketball at Lincoln High School and later at Southern Illinois University alongside Mike Glenn, who is also featured in the book.
Lynn will be at a book signing at the Barnes and Noble in Bloomington at 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Lynn has been a sports broadcaster for about 40 years. He currently lives in Tampa, Florida.
Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.
