There is something to be said for not having your hero be the narrator. How stupid does it sound when you have a character going on and on about himself or herself, like the biggest bore at the party.  Much less tedious if a side character says things about the hero that the hero would (presumably) be too modest to say about himself or herself.  Of course, if you are Arnold Schwarzenegger  or Tom Cruise, modesty is not an issue...but then, personally, I don't consider either of them heroes