I had the distinct honor of spending time with the wrestling heroes who were selected for the NCAA 75th Anniversary Team, as they socialized then went on stage to receive their recognition for their achievements.    As a person who has worked with the top athletes in the nation for the last 18 years, and has been working as a journalist within wrestling for 23 years, I usually don't get all worked up about being around great wrestlers. However, today was something special, and I will long remember the few hours I spent with these wrestling heroes.    The NCAA and the National Wrestling Coaches Association worked together to organize an on-line vote for fans to select the 75th Anniversary Team. A group of 47 star athletes were selected, and only 15 were chosen. There were five lightweights, five middleweights and five heavyweights. It was a popularity contest, for sure, but those nominated were an amazing group of heroes from the rich history of the sport.    Of the 15 wrestlers selected by fans for the special honor, there were 11 who were able to attend the function today. The NCAA and the NWCA put on a short social prior to the presentation, and many of these stars and their families were able to attend.    I came to the social at the same time as three-time NCAA champion Lee Kemp, a person I have known for many years. Kemp was one of the best wrestlers, period, in history, with three World titles to go with his three NCAA titles. He had his Olympic dream stolen with the 1980 U.S. Olympic boycott. Lee came in with his family, including a number of his children, and we had a nice chat.    The first honoree I had an extensive talk with was Carlton Haselrig, the three-time NCAA champion from Pitt-Johnstown who was one of the most dominant heavyweights ever. Haselrig was with his college coach Pat Pecora, who he drove with from Western Pennsylvania yesterday. Haselrig left wrestling to play pro football with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and was an All-Pro one year. We talked about how fellow wrestler Stephen Neal had done so well in pro football after leaving wrestling. "More wrestlers should try it" said Haselrig, who noted that the conditioning and training that wrestlers go through gives them a big advantage in football.    Kurt Angle, the two-time NCAA champion from Clarion, came in with a TV crew in tow, filming for his WWE show. He got a big hug from his college coach Bob Bubb, and hung out with his Pittsburgh cronies, including Haselrig and Pecora. Angle had a microphone clipped on him, so all of his comments were going into the WWE show which will be aired sometime in the future. Kurt and I said hello, and he called me "Mr. Abbott," what he used to call me when he was a World and Olympic champion. For some reason, the "Mr." seems a bit formal, but it shows that in spite of his antics acting on TV, Angle remains a respectful and polite person.    I visited with three-time NCAA champion Eddie Banach of Iowa, who I knew all the way back in high school. We were on the same New York State Junior National Team in 1978, when we were high school seniors. Eddie is a friendly person who is always asks about USA Wrestling and my family every time we visit.    There was a large blowup poster of the team which the NCAA had produced, a nice gift that fans will receive when they come to Saavis Center tomorrow. They asked the athletes to sign framed copies of the poster, which they all did thankfully.    Others starting showing up, including three-time NCAA champion Tom Brands of Iowa and three-time NCAA champion Yojiro Uetake of Oklahoma State. I took an opportunity to visit with Mr. Uetake, who flew all the way over from Japan to participate in this ceremony. We talked about Myron Roderick, his coach in college, who once told me that the greatest wrestler he had ever seen was Uetake. Mr. Uetake, who goes as Mr. Obata now, told me that he had not visited with Roderick since he had his stroke recently. He said he plans to see Myron next year. Uetake indicated that he had great respect for Roderick, who "helped me, not just with wrestling but with life."    Soon, the colorful Wade Schalles showed up, and the two Clarion wrestlers, Angle and Schalles, were taking pictures with Coach Bubb and with their Sports Information Director Rich Herman. Many pictures were being taken, as these great heroes spent time chatting with each other. Near the end of the social, the legend Dan Gable, a two-time NCAA champion for Iowa State, showed up. Gable had a cane from a recent hip replacement, his second, and like always, he was a magnet for other people's attention. Tom Brands, an amazing person in his own right, said, "there is my coach Dan Gable. He is an extraordinary man."    After eating some of the finger foods and drinking a few soft drinks, we were all escorted to the other end of Union Station for the formal ceremony. When we arrived at the other end of the mall, there was already a large group of people collecting to see the show. There was a formal script, written for veteran announcer Don Blasingame, and a full master staging area, complete with many televisions, sound boards, a mixer and laptop computers. This presentation was going to be a great production.    We were soon joined by the Smith brothers, four-time NCAA champion Pat Smith and his older brother, two-time NCAA champion John Smith, two of the coaches for the Oklahoma State team that is dominating this event. I know both John and Pat well, and always make sure to visit with them when I can.     Soon, Stephen Abas, a two-time NCAA champion for Fresno State, arrived. We talked a little about his recent trip to Uzbekistan for the World Cup, where they had travel delays for days and almost missed the trip. Abas won all of his matches in the tournament, a great showing. Of course, we spent a little time together this summer, when Abas won his silver medal at the Athens Olympic Games.    We lingered around behind some black curtains, waiting for our time to go on the stage. They had an entire script written, but first the NCAA showed an inspiring video tape about the 75th anniversary of the NCAA Tournament. The athletes watched the video on the TVs on the stage, peaking between the curtains, or walked to the control center where the show was being produced.    Uetake was the first to be introduced, and he had a big smile on his face as they were reading his achievements. He walked out onto the stage and was applauded by thousands of fans below the stage, which was a story above the ground on the second floor of Union Station.     I spent time talking with Angle again, who was chatting with Pat Santoro, who was there to accept an award for his athletic director. Angle starting talking about the new guy in his weight, Daniel Cormier, who he felt was very tough. He also recalled how much he hated wrestling those "Russian studs, who were a block of muscle."    I visited with Lee Kemp, who was remarking how his five year old child was keeping him young. He noted that one of his contemporaries, Mark Churella, had kids of his wrestling for All-American honors this weekend at the NCAA meet. Ubata came off the stage at one time to grab an overcoat, because he said that it was cold out on the stage. A wind gust blew in, and the script cards being read by Don Blasingame blew all over. Blasingame kept his cool, the athletes retrieved the cards, and the show went on.    Angle also talked a bit about the WWE, and said he often felt "beat up." He talked about some movie deals that were ahead for him perhaps. He said that it was fun to entertain in the WWE, that it is like playing.    Haselrig said that he was having a good time, "hanging with these cool cats." He was one of the last ones to go out there, and was having a good time seeing his peers recognized by the crowd.    All of the 11 heroes were on the stage, and received a tremendous ovation. Angle was asked to speak for the members of this team. "I looked up to these guys when I was a kid. They were my heroes. They inspired me to be my best," said Angle, who has become a great public speaker since becoming a famous person. "This is like winning another Oly