Rand: Vikings receiver Johnson answers a mother's plea

The feel-good story of this past weekend was the tale of Mackenzie Moretter. She's a Shakopee girl who was surprised by nearly 300 guests showing up at her 10th birthday party after her mother, Jenny, sent out a plea on Facebook when it appeared none of the girls invited were going to come.

Vikings wide receiver Charles Johnson was among the notable attendees, and some might have wondered if he was motivated by easy publicity. But after talking to Johnson on Tuesday, it's clear his intentions were as earnest as they are when he reaches out to catch footballs on Sundays.

Johnson said his wife, Kalyn, read about Moretter's situation through a Facebook group. Mackenzie has a genetic disorder called Sotos syndrome, which can cause kids to grow faster than normal and also cause developmental delays.

"At school she struggles and is often alone on the playground," her mother wrote. She left an open invitation to her daughter's party.

"I told my wife to find out the details, and if it fit the schedule I would attend," Johnson said. "I didn't really want anybody to know I was coming. I didn't want the event to be about me — I wanted the focus on Mackenzie. It was a huge turnout. It was crazy to see how many good-hearted people there are on Earth, and to see the light in her eyes."

Johnson said he was particularly struck by how Moretter struggles to make friends because she is different from other kids. It was something to which he said he could relate.

"People tend to shy away from things that are different," he said. "I pride myself in being different. I like to stand out in the crowd. I expressed that to her."

It's a great message, and it is a creed by which Johnson says he lives. If there is a stereotype of an NFL wide receiver, Johnson — who filled a void for the Vikings last year with 475 receiving yards — seems to defy it.

"If you follow the crowd, you're only going to go as far as the crowd. I do my own thing. … Right now, I have a nose ring. I have my toenails painted," he said. "I've never smoked a cigarette, never done any drugs. I don't do a lot of things. I'm fine being the guy who goes to the club and is sober."

Johnson also describes himself as "low-key," usually spending time with his wife and three daughters or by himself.

Some of that alone time lately has been spent researching Sotos syndrome because he finds it fascinating and he plans on staying in touch with the Moretter family. He has also thought back to Saturday's party, the kindness of strangers and his own daughters.

"I would hope people were willing to do the same for them," Johnson said.

Michael Rand