Super MVP Isn’t the Big Cheese at Disneyland

So, do they really go to Disneyland?

Steve Young did in 1995 after passing for a record six touchdowns in the San Francisco 49ers’ 49-26 Super Bowl victory over the San Diego Chargers and being named the game’s most valuable player.

“You get your $1,500 and you say, ‘I’m going to Disneyland,’ ” Young said this week. “The thing about the fine print that you don’t realize is, you’re going, and you’re going tomorrow. ...

“I brought Jerry Rice along and split the $1,500 with him, and took him to Anaheim. They had a big parade, and it was really kind of cool. On top of the float was myself, Jerry Rice and Mickey Mouse, of course, and in front was the band, going down Main Street in Disneyland. It was a huge deal; people were screaming. On the side of the float, it said, ‘Steve Young, Super Bowl MVP,’ and I thought, ‘This is the greatest moment of my life.’ People are screaming, ‘Steve, you’re the man, you’re the man,’ and I remember thinking for a brief moment, ‘I am the man.’ ...

“And so we finish the parade and the band stops playing ... and everything got quiet. Now I’m just standing there with Jerry and Mickey Mouse. And there were these two little boys -- I remember this so vividly -- they were sitting there dressed the same, the same shirt, like 6- and 8-year-old brothers.

“They’re sitting there waiting for the stupid thing to go so they can get on to the fun. And the younger one looks up and sees Mickey Mouse ... and starts to charge the float. And I’m thinking to myself, ‘Watch out, the kid’s going to get run over.’

“And his older brother pulls him back and says, ‘You can’t get near him; the two big guys won’t let you.’ ”

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-- Diane Pucin