Ron Onesti: Bobby Hull still scoring goals

I have been so blessed to have fallen into a position where I am in contact with the heroes of my youth on a regular basis. Many have become close friends and even to this day, sometimes I just have to shake my head in disbelief as I hang up the phone with Paul Anka, get a text from Bret Michaels or talk about "Dream Making" with Kevin Costner.

Please, I am not trying to brag about this. I am extremely humbled and unlike many of my peers in this biz who are vocal about not being star-struck. I am the first to say just how star-struck I am!

Of course, many of the celebs with whom I come in contact are from the world of music. As I write this, I look forward to a weekend with Robby Kreiger of the Doors, Ted Nugent and Jon Anderson, the voice of the band Yes. It's like this every weekend. How lucky am I?

Growing up in Chicago, my sports heroes were Bobby Hull, Ron Santo and Dick Butkus. Recently, I have become close with one of those boyhood heroes of mine, Bobby Hull. The 12-time All-Star Canadian spent 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks and eight seasons in Canada, winning two Stanley Cups and scoring roughly 1,800 goals. He was nicknamed "The Golden Jet" because of his blazing speed on the ice and blond hair. He was one of the most feared players in hockey with an overpowering demeanor and a truck-stopping slap shot.

It's so crazy to think that, in those days, hockey players didn't wear masks, helmets or mouth gear. Very few players had their original teeth back then!

Hull is 83 now, and as spry as ever. We have crossed paths a few times over the years as we know several folks from the same circles. I would approach him at his table at Tufano's Restaurant near Taylor Street, usually to say hello and greet the people he would be entertaining at the time with his life stories.

A very good friend of mine became his driver and they started talking about his crazy schedule. The guy is out every day, making appearances and selling his memorabilia. My friend Paulie told him all about my theaters and about my "somewhat" busy schedule. He called me and asked if I would like to meet Bobby formally, and I of course emphatically replied that I did.

Bobby wanted to meet me, too, and asked my friend to give me his number. What???

I was at a restaurant when I received the message to call Bobby. Paulie said to call him anytime. Anytime? I IMMEDIATELY excused myself and called the great Bobby Hull. I nervously dialed the number and Bobby answered with a raspy "Hello."

I was doing the Ralph Kramden "Homina, homina, homina" thing. I choked up, as memories of watching Blackhawks games on television with my dad, and the high pitched "A shot…and a GOAL!" from Hawks announcer Lloyd Pettit vividly returned in my mind. Hawk greats Stan Mikita, Chico Maki, Cliff Koroll, Pit Martin, Eric Nesterenko, Keith Magnuson, Dennis Hull, Pat Stapleton, Lou Angotti and "Tony O" - Tony Esposito - all were skating around in my head.

"Hi Mr. Hull," I said. "Call me Bobby," he replied loudly. Of course, I emotionally thanked him for the joy he has brought to countless fans even to this day.

We talked a bit about what I do and ways we can do things together. I invited him to dinner with a few close, lifelong hockey fan friends of mine. We went to La Scarola on Grand Avenue in Chicago. It was kind of a strange night. Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, former news anchor Walter Jacobson and boxing champ David Diaz were all at other tables. Kind of a weird mix, but they and so many others were in awe and came to the table to say hi to Bobby.

Hull spent three hours telling stories and reliving his career. He did it with a gleam in his eye and an infectious smile the whole time. But then he said something that hit me hard, and probably was the reason for our connection.

"My dream was to be a professional hockey player," he said. "Even though I trained hard as an athlete, when I hit the ice, I saw all those smiling faces and I realized that my job was to entertain the fans. We were there the same as Frank Sinatra or Elvis, to entertain the people. And I never forgot that," he said. An entertain he did!

As I watched him share memories, relentlessly take pictures and sign autographs, I saw a youthful Hull, "The Entertainer," still at it. In that sense, he is still an avid player, sharing his favorite Chianti, cigar and memories with wide-eyed fans.

As I have become closer to this sports legend, one of the few of his bygone era we have left, I have seen to the degree the importance of spreading happiness and to foster his legacy really is to him. He is never without a custom autographed jersey or photo, and he never shies away from a fan.

It is that broad smile and hunger to make people happy that truly impresses me about the guy. He is as sharp as ever, remembering story after story, stat after stat. It is when he is with adoring fans that he is most happy. And I just love that sparkle in his eyes when he gets to take people on a journey back to the glory days of Chicago sports.

His "goal" is to spread joy. And that is why I still consider him a player. He shoots and scores his "goals" every single day!

• Ron Onesti is president and CEO of the Onesti Entertainment Corp. and the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles. Celebrity questions and comments? Email ron@oshows.com.