My moment with Lord Stanley's Cup after Blackhawks win

There haven't been too many times as a journalist that I've been star-struck. I've met politicians, celebrities and models. I've spoken with famous athletes and reality television stars.

But last week, my knees began to buckle and my palms perspired as I stared at the Stanley Cup as I stood backstage at Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive in Chicago during the Blackhawks' rally.

Listen, I learned hockey from video games when my mom bought me the original Sega Genesis classic "NHL Hockey." I can barely skate, so how else would I learn how line changes are made or how to explain icing?

Last Friday, the crowd was feisty and it was near-impossible to navigate the sidewalks of downtown Chicago. The heat didn't make it more pleasant. What ticked me off was seeing strollers in the crowd and babies without protection from the sun. One brave member of the Chicago Fire Department yelled at a mother for bringing her baby to the rally without having a bottle of water or sunscreen.

I wiped my brow and stung by disappointment, I nearly gave up trying to make it backstage. But when I decided to cut through the Hyatt Hotel off Wacker, I flashed my press pass at a Chicago police officer who patted me on the shoulder and let me through to the double-decker buses stage left.

There was the Cup, patiently sitting on the road behind the stage, just asking to be approached. I touched it once with goose bumps rising. I could not stop myself, and Daily Herald photographer George LeClaire allowed me to carry out my boyish dream and snapped a photo of me posing with Stanley.

There wasn't a crowd fighting to touch the cup. Fans patiently lined up for a glimpse or a touch, while the Blackhawks players smiled and gladly chatted with them.

About 2 million joined this historic Blackhawks moment, and I have proof.