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Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2008 > August > 07 > Entry
‘Christmas in July’ at G-town
UP CLOSE & PERSONAL:
CHAD SHOWERS BOY
WITH GIFTS, ATTENTION
===LUDWIG AT LARGE salutes Bryce Short and his parents, Dan and Stephanie Short, for their patience with a sportswriter chasing a good story. This event happened on Wednesday night, July 30, at Bengals training camp. But it will never grow old for Bryce, his mom and his pop.===
Five-year-old Bryce Short of Lexington, Ky., had looked forward to his trip to Bengals training camp at Georgetown (Ky.) College all day.
And when he didn’t see his favorite player — wide receiver Chad Johnson — emerge from the locker room with his teammates, tears began trickling down the little boy’s face.
Pretty soon, his cheeks were dry and a smile was plastered on his face.
Johnson, who had been in the bowels of Toyota Stadium rehabbing his surgically repaired right ankle, finally burst onto the field.
Dan Short, an elevator technician in nearby Lexington, picks up the story right here …
“Chad started walking on the sidelines, and Bryce is a big fan of Chad’s. He yelled out, ‘Chad Johnson!’ Johnson turned around and said, ‘What?!’
“Bryce waved at him and Chad waved him down (onto the field). Then Chad said, ‘I want to take him with me to work out.’ “
The crowd, in unison, let out an “Awwwww” as the two walked away.
Bryce, decked out in his No. 85 Chad Johnson Bengals jersey, accompanied Johnson to the upper practice field, where Johnson worked out for 20 minutes while the team practiced on the main stadium stage.
After Johnson finished his personal workout, he had another message for Short’s parents:
“I want to take (Bryce) back to the locker room with me. I’m going to give him something.”
The two disappeared underneath the grandstands.
A little while later, Bryce appeared on the sidelines, holding up a brand-new pair of Johnson’s designer Reebok cleats — one in each hand — held high like trophies.
The crowd, in unison, let out a “Yeahhhhh!”
Johnson gave little Bryce the autographed pair of cleats, and autographed the child’s hat and jersey.
I asked Bryce if he’d like to say something to Chad Johnson, and he nodded a yes.
“Thanks!” Bryce said. “And I really, really, really like Chad Johnson.”
Bryce will start kindergarten this fall. He can hardly wait for “Show and Tell.”
He’ll be able to SHOW his classmates his cleats and TELL them the story about the night he met Chad Johnson.
“Chad’s awesome,” Dan Short said. “That’s very nice, what he did. Bryce is a big fan of Chad’s and he started crying when he didn’t Chad on the field right away because he wanted to see him play. And then, luckily, he walked by and that’s when Bryce screamed at him. It worked out really nice.”
A cold Christmas morning day in Lexington can’t beat a hot July night in Georgetown.
Contact Chick Ludwig at cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com
Permalink | Comments (31) | Post your comment | Categories: Bengals
Comments
By Brian
August 7, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this
Outstanding.By hakko936
August 7, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this
The fact that Chad turned and acknowledged the young boy probably made his day. The rest of it made it a lifelong memory. I think sports figures too often forget to acknowledge fans. I am happy to hear Chad didn’t.By bob
August 7, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this
I dont know why everyone in Cincinnati dogs on Chad Johnson. He’s an outstanding talent, who is genuinely a good person.By teddy
August 7, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this
i doubt chad would have done this if there wasn’t other fans, and more importantly media, around to report it to help clean up his image.By billy
August 7, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this
you’re just a tool #85 uses to make himself look good after 10 months of him treating cincy-area media like a jerk.By not impressed
August 7, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
If Chad was doing it for the fan, great, but he has showed in the past year that he doesn’t care about anyone but himself. If there was no way for the media to get ahold of the story, I doubt it would have went down that way. Look at me and what great things I do!!! Dude has alot of growing up to do before I’d let him become my kids’ hero. We need to open our and our childrens eyes to what deserves “hero worship”. Character, loyalty,honesty,modesty all come to mind of which he has none of. Do you want your kids to act like him? I sure don’t.By bob
August 7, 2008 1:34 PM | Link to this
Damn! No wonder no one wants to hang around Cincinnati. I dont get it.By Mike
August 7, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this
It is a shame Chad only did this for the media. Ha! Did you notice it took 8 days to get posted? and do you think reporters hang out behind the lines with the common folk? They are in the locker room and on the practice field. Why can’t people realized that an athlete’s public persona may not be who he truly is? Chad, though self centered,has proven many times to be kind and caring. Enjoy the moment, even if it didn’t happen to you.By Mike
August 7, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
It is a shame Chad only did this for the media. Ha! Did you notice it took 8 days to get posted? and do you think reporters hang out behind the lines with the common folk? They are in the locker room and on the practice field. Why can’t people realized that an athlete’s public persona may not be who he truly is? Chad, though self centered,has proven many times to be kind and caring. Enjoy the moment, even if it didn’t happen to you.By admobius
August 7, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this
What the hell does this have to do with Jeremi Johnson? The headline said it was a link to a story about Jeremi Johnson.By not impressed
August 7, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
Dear Mike: You’re the reason Chad is like he is. How blind can you be? This is not generated from the media, it’s generated from his actions and statements. Quit living in denial because you want to give someone the benifit of the doubt when in this case, there is no doubt. What exactly do ostriches eat? It’s ovious you’ve had your head in the sand for too long. Wake up and start holding these spoiled brat “pro atheletes” to their title which earns them millions…”Professional” Look it up!By not impressed
August 7, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this
Dear Mike: You’re the reason Chad is like he is. How blind can you be? This is not generated from the media, it’s generated from his actions and statements. Quit living in denial because you want to give someone the benifit of the doubt when in this case, there is no doubt. What exactly do ostriches eat? It’s ovious you’ve had your head in the sand for too long. Wake up and start holding these spoiled brat “pro atheletes” to their title which earns them millions…”Professional” Look it up!By not impressed
August 7, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this
Dear Mike: You’re the reason Chad is like he is. How blind can you be? This is not generated from the media, it’s generated from his actions and statements. Quit living in denial because you want to give someone the benifit of the doubt when in this case, there is no doubt. What exactly do ostriches eat? It’s ovious you’ve had your head in the sand for too long. Wake up and start holding these spoiled brat “pro atheletes” to their title which earns them millions…”Professional” Look it up!By Elizabeth
August 7, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this
For everyone saying that Chad did this for the media attention, you have no idea what you are talking about. I have friends who were working at Cardboard heros when Chad came in 2 years ago to sign autographs. After the session was over, and the media was gone, he took all the employees around the Dayton Mall and bought them all new sneakers and the new madden game. There are good people out there, stop giving him such a hard time.By hakko936
August 7, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this
I am as skeptical as anyone about Chad, but isn’t it possible that he did this on his own to be nice to a kid? 8 days for the media to report it, no picture, and what sounds like a relay of the story? Doesn’t sound like he was playing it up for the scribes.By RayDoggBengal
August 7, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this
You can tell the comments from people who haven’t meet him away from the press. How come no one ever gives an example of Chad dissing the fans? This I know, back when the current uniforms came out I was at the media event, Carson left right away and didn’t say anything to the few fans who was there. At the end there was like 8 people left 7 fans and Chad, he stayed until everybody took their pictures or had their stuff signed.By Homer J
August 7, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
Not wanting to play for the Bengals does not make this guy a bad person. I believe that just becasue you hate where you work does not mean you hate the city you live in. It would be the same as saying that a Firefigher stuck at a bad firehouse was a horrible person becasue he wanted to go to a more functional one. Dude is an alright guy, he wanted to leave, he didn’t. Thats all there is. He does not hate you or Cincinnati, he just does not care for Mike Brown…do you?By glenn
August 7, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this
he’s still a JERK !!! Please stop Chad..everyone knows that this is a pr move!By DC
August 7, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
I’m so glad to hear this story! I don’t care if it was for the media or not,it was awesome and that child will never forget it! My autistic son is a fan of his. My other son was a fan of Michael Vick. A HUGE fan.It broke my heart when he discovered his hero wasn’t such a great guy. It’s a shame. So I’m so glad Chad did this-little guys aren’t as cynical and jaded as big guys-they just love their heros. I wish alot of these players would realize that and behave accordingly.By brian Hawley
August 7, 2008 4:10 PM | Link to this
a few years ago the bengals gave my gf’s brother access to a pregame practice due to him breaking his femur in a football game (4 yrs old). Chad spent more time than anyone with them and then asked if they had tickets to the next days game. when they replied that they didn’t he told them to show up to the players entrance a few hours before the game. Chad then gave them his tickets for the game. chad never complained until he got his new agent.By preacher,franklin,ohio
August 7, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this
praise the lord thank you jesus he did good thing for child and family geter done for jesus god bless you all,love in chirst preacher.By preacher,franklin,ohio
August 7, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this
praise the lord thank you jesus he did good thing for child and family geter done for jesus god bless you all,love in chirst preacher.By preacher,franklin,ohio
August 7, 2008 6:58 PM | Link to this
praise the lord thank you jesus he did good thing for child and family geter done for jesus god bless you all,love in chirst preacher.By jimi
August 7, 2008 7:00 PM | Link to this
if chad played for cleveland he would be perceived as one of the great people in the nfl.By Dylan
August 7, 2008 8:50 PM | Link to this
I don’t think that any of us could withstand the constant pressure and scrutiny of today’s sports media and come out on the other side infallible. Did Chad mess up? I’m sure he has at some point. Should he have thought it instead of saying it? Yeah. But who hasn’t said words like that. It’s what makes us all human. The point is Chad Johnson is a hero to many, especially like that young boy. And whether it is vanity, kindness, or an understanding of the impact he has on others, Chad Johnson went out of his way to touch this boy’s life to such a degree that he’ll never forget it. And it’s not the first time he’s done it. He did it when he was loved by everyone, so I think that says something. I agree with what DC had to say- “little guys aren’t as cynical and jaded as big guys-they just love their heroes”. I’d say I am somewhere in the middle when it comes to my age, but I pray I never become so cynical. I am wise enough to know that a hero is only human, but I will always love my heroes.By Lay Off
August 8, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this
Lay off of Chad. He has proven time and time again he appreciates the fans and signs every autograph. Say what you will about his offseason antics, but he is just a regular nice guy. We are all different at work.By Ron
August 8, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this
Apparently, none of you have met Chad. When I met him, there were no members of the media yet he was extremely engaging. He just wanted to have fun. He smiled from ear to ear. He was cordial and sincere. While I was extremely upset about his contract position, I never, not even for a moment, thought that Chad was any less sincere and devoutly interested in just having fun. I am not surprised at all that he would take a kid onto the practice field with him. He likes to make people smile. Clearly, his actions yielded a smile from the little boy. Way to go, Chad.By harry ewing
August 8, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this
Chad showed CLASS & hoping the team joins with same.By uncoolio
August 8, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this
Chad has alway treated the fans in a special manner. The press tried to portray chad as evil. Johnson is the Bengals best player and the only Bengal on the team that is a cant miss for the hall of fame. He leads the league year in year out —Chad we love you—screw the press—jealousy is their motive. WHO DEYBy RIchH
August 8, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
Nice story, but I still can’t stand him. Chad threw his team, city, & QB under the bus for 7 months & now b/c he did a cool thing for a young fan I’m supposed to love him again? I THINK NOT!!! When he stops running his mouth & starts playing hard I’ll be on his side again.By Maria
August 12, 2008 12:54 AM | Link to this
I was actually at practice that night and got to see this take place firsthand. During the summer I was just as tired as anyone to hear all of the C. Johnson drama, but after seeing this take place and seeing the pure excitement from this little boy’s face, I gained a whole new respect for Chad. I can tell you that it was no publicity stunt. Chad was out of sight with the boy the whole time. He wasn’t in front of cameras and he wasn’t trying to get a story. All I know is that Chad went up in my book that day. You can see people’s true character by the way they deal with kids and point blank, Chad made that kid’s year!