Cleveland rocks ... and rolls, sadly

So getting into Cleveland at 10 on a Saturday night isn't so bad. You check into the hotel. Hang up the shirt for Sunday's game, then hit the streets of the Land of Cleves.

And of all the thousands of things I expected to do Saturday night, what happened was not anywhere on the list.

As I blew through the revolving door, a large crowd of people were on the sidewalk outside the hotel. And there, coming right at me in his trademark white tuxedo with all the sequins on it, was Little Richard. He's in town for part of the weeklong celebration of this year's inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

And he was in a wheelchair.

This is not breaking news. The Good Golly Miss Molly rock star has had failing health for a couple of years and had a heart procedure last year while he was prepping for hip-replacement.

Still, it was a shock to see him being wheeled into the hotel. He's 75 now and was smiling and seemed like he was ready to party. But the thought of one of our icons being wheelchair-bound is saddening.

It was the same feeling I got when I was covering a golf tournament in Florida and Jack Nicklaus, just weeks removed from hip-replacement surgery, was hobbling around on a cain.

It's just tough seeing the heroes of our youth showing their mortal side.

I did the only thing I could think of after the chance meeting -- I went and had a beer or six in Little Richard's honor.

--Eddie Sefko