For those of you who know me, the last thing I ever do is direct attention to myself. While I have been known to promote the athletes and the things they are involved in, when the spotlight falls on me, it is a different situation.

While I am never shy to promote articles and columns that I write, or TV and radio appearances I have made, it is always in the name of directing the attention to the youngsters that I have covered for nearly five decades.

So many times, parents, coaches, athletes, fellow media members and friends want to nominate me for this award or this honor, and I usually try and downplay and avoid the exposure. I am not, or never will be, the story!

Last weekend in Palm Beach Gardens, I had the pleasure of attending the National Wrestling Hall Fame, Florida Chapter event. In the past, I am called upon to emcee and help induct those who have truly raised the bar in the sport. It is something that I always look forward to doing.

As a member of the media since the 1970s, I have been blessed to have met many people and been instrumental in helping to promote many athletes who have blazed a trail of success in the state of Florida.

While many people know me for the work I have done in football, promoting and helping nearly 5,000 athletes obtain college scholarships and putting names out for all to see, the sport of wrestling is something that very few equate me with.

Wrestling has indeed been a part of my life since 1965, when my father took me to the state championships, which were being held in Miami. Over the next 44 years, I would have the chance to attend 39 state events, and for the past 20, I have served as the "Voice of the Florida State Wrestling Championships", which has given me the opportunity to meet so many tremendous people the sport produces.

As a member of the media, I have also been able to write for the Miami News, Miami Herald, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Hollywood Sun-Tattler, South Forida Sun Times and Wrestling USA, promoting the sport.

I have also been very lucky to have been the "Voice of the BCAA Wrestling Tournament" the past 12 years and worked countless district and regional tournaments from Coral Springs to South Broward, Hollywood Hills, Miramar, Cardinal Gibbons, St. Thomas Aquinas, Everglades, Flanagan, Nova, Western, McArthur, Douglas, Deerfield Beach, Stranahan and just about every other school in the county.

While it is not easy for me to self promote, my reason for writing this column is to share a special time I had last weekend, as I joined six other South Floridians in the Hall of Fame. The honor is still overwhelming and something that I never looked for.

Like the time six years ago when I was inducted in the Broward Wrestling Hall of Fame or awarded Man of the Year in Miami-Dade County for my service to youth sports, it is something that I never searched for when I started doing this many, many years ago.

I wanted to thank some of our BCAA people who had a hand in my induction last weekend in a first class event that saw two close friends, David Soderholm (Miami Palmetto) and Ken Sucher (Miami Lakes) join me in the Class of 2009.

My path to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame was paved by BCAA wrestling officials Rick Tucci and Bob Madge – both Hall of Famers – who never accepted the word NO from me when putting me up for this honor.

Tucci is someone who is recognized by the sport worldwide as an official who has worked countless Olympic and World events. I have known and respected him for decades, and his friendship means a lot. Madge is another Hall of Famer who has given his life to this sport, and the very fact that he made sure that I was part of this class, speaks volumes about the way I feel about him.

Also coming out and giving their support to me are Hall of Fame coaches Ron Schulz (Nova) and Frank Pettineo (Cardinal Gibbons), who have carved quite a path in the sport and have given youngsters a solid direction.

One of the best friends I have had over the past 20 plus years is Allen Held. There is little doubt that this classy, hard-working coach is next in line to join the Hall of Fame. He has developed wrestlers and football players over the past three decades at Hallandale and South Broward, and has been successful with very little fanfare.

I cannot thank enough people who have been there supporting me and giving me the opportunity to make a difference in their lives, and while being on the other side of the microphone was unusual to me, I have been told to accept it and move on. I will, but wanted to share this with those of you who continue to read my column each week here on the BCAASports.com website.

Now, it's back to work and back to doing what I love to do – promote athletes, and football begins next Monday!

You can reach Larry Blustein via e-mail at FloridaKids1@hotmail.com. He can also be heard every Thursday night (9-10) on the Miami Dolphins High School Gridiron Report on WQAM (560 AM).