<?php
//connect to database
$db = mysql_connect("localhost", "user", "password") or die(mysql_error);
mysql_select_db("dbName");
//build an option element for each hero
$query = "SELECT * FROM hero";
$result = mysql_query($query);
while ($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($result)){
print <<< HERE
<option value = "$row[heroID]">$row[name]</option>
HERE;
} // end while
?>