The dictionary defines a hero as “any person who has heroic qualities and is regarded as a model or an ideal.” Some of today’s heroes are not particularly heroic. Yes, they look fearless on our various media devices with their fists flying, their chainsaws thrust skyward. And yes, we idolize them as they throw another touchdown pass or hit another home run. But the true measure of a hero comes when the game is over or when the cameras are gone and it’s just the fan and the idol.

As a proud Jersey girl – South Jersey, that is – my first heroes were the Philadelphia media stars.