I Need a Hero
When was the last time something really amazing happened in pro sports. Yeah, I know there has been a lot of cool plays and amazing acts of athleticism….but when is the last time we’ve seen a Hero?
I’m not just talking about cycling this time. Think about all sports and let me know the last time a real, honest to goodness, Hero existed. (I think that Jens Voigt might be the closest thing we’ve seen in a long time.) Sports figures have become more like celebrities, and when we’re not reading about the latest doping scandal or wild antics, there are some decent quality sports being played. But what I’m looking for is a Hero. Not someone who throws the winning touchdown pass with 3 seconds to go in the game…..something much, much bigger.
What I want is a real Hero to emerge.
If you’ve got kids, there’s no doubt you’ve seen the movie…Cars. Well, you know how Lightning stops just a few feet before the finish line…giving up the Piston Cup so that he can go back and help his crumpled up fellow competitor, The King? Thats the kind of Hero I’m talking about. A Hero that will do something so incredible in their sport that the whole world sits up and takes notice. An action so great, that it is talked about for decades to come. Yeah, I know it might sound corny, but we need a Hero to do something as great as this.
[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/16464079[/vimeo]
I think the world of sports needs it. We need a Hero. Why, you ask? Well, our kids need a positive influence and role model that they can build their future on. The rest of us could use a little dose of positive influence as well.
But who’s it going to be….and how is it going to take place? I’m willing to see this happen in any sports genre, but it sure would be fantastic if we see it coming from a Pro Cyclist. Who’s it going to be? Let me see you script this one together.
Check out Chris Horner:
http://bit.ly/95Gcfu
“The famous are rarely significant, the significant rarely famous.”
The celebrities of all walks who we look to as heroes were heroes before they were famous.
Look in the mirror Darryl, you’re a hero to somebody.
Google Pat Tillman.
I’m not one to put the tag of hero on any sporting person. There are too many heroes outside of sport who are the genuine article.
The fireman who rushes back into a burning building, the lifeboatman who braves the worst storm to save a life, or the soldier who risks his own neck save his comrades.
The disabled person who overcomes all the odds to achieve what was not possible or the badly injured who completes, lets say a marathon.
For sporting people all you can hope for is that they are good role models. I think that doing something you love, even if you are the worlds best at sport doesn’t qualify for the tag “hero”.
But, if you force my hand then my sport of Rugby has the Englishman Jonny Wilkinson, the youngest player ever to play for England, won the Rugby World Cup with an extra time drop goal in 2003 and is renowned for his modesty, his hard work and shunning of the celebraty lifestyle in the pursuit of excellence.
Like I said, he’s been at the very top of his sport, a totally awesome role model, but as he’d be the first to tell you, a hero he ain’t.
Great words of wisdom as always, my friend. You’re totally right about looking for heros in all areas of life. I appreciate your words.
Darryl
It’s possible with so much information and media surrounding modern-athletes, that we know too much about them. It turns out that they are all people, with flaws, just like us.
For me, it’s no longer the impressive performance or record-breaking feat, but the style and character of the person who has strived to achieve. Like Jens and many others.
No doubt, it is hard to put anyone on a pedestal these days, when we’ve been burned so many times. But even so, there is still hope.
You’re so right….we really do get to find out everything about them these days don’t we? That probably does play a part in the heroism, and it also allows them to show what kind of hero they are outside of the playing field as well.
Darryl
If one came along more than once a generation we’d hardly take notice. That’s what makes them special in a field that often attracts the selfish on a quest for individual achievement, fame, riches and ego. Those very selfish desires often drive athletes to win. They often have to pay a very high personal price as well.
Good point, thanks for sharing it Andrew. I’m not sure who we would consider the last “true hero”, but I’m hoping one more comes along in my lifetime.
Darryl