Sports is the only way to be a hero

[Inlineskater]

Whenever I see on TV (or even at school) they say things like follow your dreams and sports figures are always portrayed as heros. Should everyone focus so much on trying to be a proffesional sports player, I mean only so many people can be "the best". Has everyone forgotten A)The original purpose of sports, to have fun, exercise and blow off steam? B)There are plenty of other worthy dreams other than sports (though less publized) C)Sports are WAY more fun to play than to watch.

[Osborn F Enready]

What is a hero?

Selfless, noble and honest?

I haven't seen many sports icons that meet that mark.

I think many people confuse icons, celebrities and heroes because they have lost sight of what makes a hero different from icons and celebrities.

[Inlineskater]

I agree totaly with that. Just what I was getting at, the media constantly portrays sports figures as heros because they are good at something, not because they have good character. Sports figures often cheat if they can, someone who makes a million or more dollars in a short amount of time and spends it all on themselves isn't selfless, I don't follow them enough to know about their honesty though.

[Stewbert]

Heroism comes in many forms, although they are usually portrayed as famous, high achieving role models. I agree that the media is overlooking the real heroes and replacing them with their shiny bling. Though talent, bravery, and those cliched elements of a hero are noble, many of us forget that:

Theres a hero
If you look inside your heart.
You dont have to be afraid
Of who you are...

... you know the song (Mariah's only good song in my opinion)

[Jack]

After 9/11, the term hero was so overused it became meaningless.
Were all the firefighters/cops/paramedics heroes? No. Some we may never have heard of acted as cowards, others were just doing their jobs. Some went beyond the expectations of their jobs and did indeed behave heroically.
Many of the victims behaved heroically, others didn't.
Is anyone who survives a dramatic event a hero? I don't think so.

[Inlineskater]

Hero definetly has been over used, the media overlooks real heros and replaces them with there shiny bling. Everyone agrees on that, its not a debate:( . No fun. Let discuss whether sports should be so comercialised. The original purpose behind them is to play them and enjoy yourself. Now people are so interested in watching people who are very talented play the game for them. I am not sure of the rest of your opinions, but I would wrather play a good game of football (even though I am terrible at it) than watch the superbowl anyday. Should sports be so commercialised?

Happy Gobbler day, (and happy belated turkey day for all you canadiens!

[Castle]

Quote by: Inlineskater Let discuss whether sports should be so comercialised.

In what sense? That it's not fair that athletes get paid so much? That people should play sports instead of watch them? Or something else?

[Inlineskater]

Quote by: Castle In what sense? That it's not fair that athletes get paid so much? That people should play sports instead of watch them? Or something else?

I beleive we should discuss both of those questions.

[Castle]

Quote by: Inlineskater I beleive we should discuss both of those questions.

Sounds good:
1) Athletes get paid so much because that's what the job they do is worth. That's how much people are willing to pay them to do what they do. Why is that a problem?
2) Let people do what they want. You'd rather play a game than watch? Great. But others enjoy watching others play. You think that this is destroying the original purpose of sports? I'd merely say that its adding to it. Originally, all you were supposed to do was play sports. Now you can play and watch.

[MrSparkle]

It's not the only way to be a hero, you could also sing or be a slut. Come now, there is no media blockade on heroes. Most children have celebrity heroes because they watch too much TV.

[Jack]

you could also sing or be a slut

Paris Hilton has been both, and still isn't a hero except maybe to pre-teen girls who haven't a clue (and of course Brittney Spears).

[kubedawg]

Quote by: Inlineskater I agree totaly with that. Just what I was getting at, the media constantly portrays sports figures as heros because they are good at something, not because they have good character. Sports figures often cheat if they can, someone who makes a million or more dollars in a short amount of time and spends it all on themselves isn't selfless, I don't follow them enough to know about their honesty though.

I remember probably 2 years ago this football player here in town decided to turn down a possible million $$$ contract to do what he loved which was to play arena football instead, sacrificing a lot of money to stay with the Talons. He could have been making $1mil easy, but instead makes just over $100k because he does what he loves. He's certainly not a hero, but I look up to him and I only heard about the story once.

[brien]

Sports are great but the level that American society has elevated them to is absurdly ridiculous. Sports heroes are as silly as Follywood stars. Sports players deserve an honest place at the table of respect, but to elevate them into the god like figures along with film stars, rock stars, and other famous people who gain fame through any other means except by extroadinary circumstances or intellectual superiority, is intellectually bankrupt. It appeals to the least common denominator of the population.

Something is fundamentally wrong with a society that worships, rap stars, rock stars, sports stars, and Follywood stars at the expense of Nobel Peace Prize winners, Pulitzer Prize winners, or the many nameless heroes who in their everyday lives have demonstrated extroadinary behavior under the harshest of human conditions.

This "star power" is a direct reflection of the intellect of the people who buy tickets to the events, watch the events on TV, and otherwise support these "stars" financially.

I am not condemning the recognition, but rather attempting to put it into a more intelligent perspective. I admire a good athelete, musician, or actor for their talents but to elevate them into a status that annoints them as a hero is foolish and reflects back on those who do it in a negative manner because there is no intelligent reason for it. It is rather immature, not unlike the 13 year olds who screamed deafening decibel levels at the Beatles concerts which eventually forced them to perform only in the studio.

David Bowie Heroes Lyrics I I WISH YOU COULD SWIM LIKE THE DOLPHINS LIKE THE DOLPHINS CAN SWIM THOUGH NOTHING THOUGH NOTHING WILL KEEP US TOGETHER WE CAN BEAT THEM FOR EVER AND EVER OH WE CAN BE HEROES JUST FOR ONE DAY (INSTRUMENTAL INTERLUDE) I I WILL BE KING AND YOU YOU WILL BE QUEEN THOUGH NOTHING WILL DRIVE THEM AWAY WE CAN BE HEROES JUST FOR ONE DAY WE CAN BE US JUST FOR ONE DAY I I REMEMBER: (CHOR ANTWORT) I REMEMBER STANDING BY THE WALL: (CHOR ANTWORT) BY THE WALL THE GUNS SHOT ABOUT OUR HEADS: (CHOR ANTWORT) ALL ABOUT OUR HEADS AND WE KISSED AS THOUGH NOTHING COULD FALL: (CHOR ANTWORT) NOTHING COULD FALL AND THE SHAME WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OH WE CAN BEAT THEM FOR EVER AND EVER WE CAN BE HEROES JUST FOR ONE DAY WE CAN BE HEROES WE CAN BE HEROES WE CAN BE HEROES JUST FOR ONE DAY

Fame by David Bowie

Fame, (fame) makes a man take things over Fame, (fame) lets him loose, hard to swallow Fame, (fame) puts you there where things are hollow Fame (fame) Fame, its not your brain, its just the flame That burns your change to keep you insane (sane) Fame (fame) Fame, (fame) what you like is in the limo Fame, (fame) what you get is no tomorrow Fame, (fame) what you need you have to borrow Fame (fame) Fame, nien! its mine! is just his line To bind your time, it drives you to, crime Fame (fame) Could it be the best, could it be? Really be, really, babe? Could it be, my babe, could it, babe? Could it, babe? , could it, babe? Is it any wonder I reject you first? Fame, fame, fame, fame Is it any wonder you are too cool to fool Fame (fame) Fame, bully for you, chilly for me Got to get a rain check on pain (pain) (fame) Fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame ,fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame Fame Whats your name? Feeling so gay, feeling gay

[Scribbler1]

Charles Barkley once said what he does is a JOB, not a sport. That puts it in perspective to me.

A hero is someone who does something FAR beyond what he normally does, and usually at great personal risk or cost.

[Osborn F Enready]

Scribbler said: A hero is someone who does something FAR beyond what he normally does, and usually at great personal risk or cost.

As well as being something too much to ask of another person, usually.

[Inlineskater]

The person kubedawg said who plays at a local team in stead of playing for millions of bucks, well I don't know if that is entirely admirable. I mean it certainly isn't greedy, but all he did was choose what he would wrather do, and he didn't want to make a million dollars because he already had all he wanted. He had a great job with a good salary. When I grow up I don't want to make tons of money either, I've seen what money does to people. Not to mention, most of the time the kinds of money making jobs require you either live in sub-urbs/city or have a long commute. I just want to have a job and lifestyle I love, and that is what that athlete did. Who wouldn't?

[kubedawg]

Well, often times, money can blind people from true happiness.

[Devout_Muslim]

1) Athletes get paid so much because that's what the job they do is worth. That's how much people are willing to pay them to do what they do. Why is that a problem?

Because people who actually have to get up at 7am everyday and slave their asses off working for the man are far worse off financially than sporting "heroes"- who play sport for fame and huge sums of money.

[brien]

Quote by: Devout_Muslim Because people who actually have to get up at 7am everyday and slave their asses off working for the man are far worse off financially than sporting "heroes"- who play sport for fame and huge sums of money.

LOL It is the very same people to whom you refer above who are the ones supporting these "heroes"

[brien]

Quote by: Devout_Muslim Because people who actually have to get up at 7am everyday and slave their asses off working for the man are far worse off financially than sporting "heroes"- who play sport for fame and huge sums of money.

LOL It is the very same people to whom you refer above who are the ones supporting these "heroes"

Sorry for the double post.