With cultures around the world being so drastically different, it’s hard to imagine many commonalities between all of them. Psychologists will tell you there are several basic human emotions- happy, sad, or surprise to name a few- that can be universally recognized. Some actions are universal as well, like a mother loving and caring for her child. And in a world full of stories, heroes and villains are also universal.
We don’t think about it, but having heroes within our society is kind of like having guidelines to life; if our villains reveal who we are not and what we stand against, then by default, our heroes tell us who we are and what we stand for. We look to these heroes for leadership in tough situations, inspiration when faced with challenges and even rescue when we need saving.
It sheds light on the question, is there a hero in professional sports?
Let’s start with the currently most talked about pro athlete: Colin Kaepernick.
Kaepernick has been deemed both a hero and a villain for his choice to sit during the national anthem because he feels this country is oppressing him, and others, for being black. Kaepernick stated he would resume standing when he feels significant progress has been made in regards to this issue.
Is he a hero? I vote no.
On the surface, Kaepernick is using his status as a professional football player to encourage change on an issue he feels strongly about. But I disagree. If Kaepernick was serious about seeing change, he could easily donate some of his millions of dollars to an organization that can have a serious impact. But he didn’t. Instead, he chose to simply sit rather than stand. But why? Simple.
I’m guessing Kaepernick has known for a while now that he wouldn’t be seeing his name in the starting lineup come regular season. To be honest, he’s lucky he even made the team and wasn’t cut. In a sort of final act, Kaepernick is putting on a show that is as much simplistic as it is controversial in an attempt to keep his name relevant as his career takes one last dying breathe. Admittedly, it worked.
Shifting over to the NFC East, Tom Brady is the ideal hero. Unlike Kaepernick who was a first round draft pick, Brady was a 6th round pick to the Patriots due to limited playing time at the collegiate level, below-average athleticism and an “atrocious performance” at the NFL scouting combine. Yet, despite his ‘mediocrity,’ Brady is, arguably, the greatest quarterback in the league. What could be more inspiring than that?
But is he a hero? I vote no.
While Kaepernick is riding the bench due to his (lack of) skill, Brady will be sitting the first four games of the regular season due to the Deflategate issue. It’s true, however, that many claim a few deflated footballs won’t tarnish Brady’s legacy. Take sport writer Chris Chase, for example:
“This is a stain that will never go away. But year’s down the road, here’s the reality: Nobody is really going to care about Deflategate, even the people who are the most vehement Brady critics today. Brady won’t be a Pete Rose or Barry Bonds, unjustly kept out of the Hall of Fame because of his own transgressions, he’ll be a first-ballot Hall of Famer and it won’t be close or controversial. Football is a different animal. Perform and all is forgiven.”
And all may be forgiven. But that doesn’t make Brady a hero.
Stepping away from the NFL for a moment, Charles Barkley may have put it best when he said in a 1993 Nike commercial “I am not a role model.” And I know, we’re taking heroes here, but Barkley brought to light an important point: just because someone is famous, from sports or otherwise, doesn’t make them a hero. A sports hero, maybe. But those are a different breed because they’re here to win. And to do so, some cheat (Tom Brady). Some storm out of press conferences when they don’t win (Cam Newton). Some take performance enhancing drugs (Lance Armstrong). Some lie (Ryan Lochte). Some rape (Kobe Bryant).
The truth is, if you want a real hero, you can’t always look to the headlines to find one.
If you want a hero, try Anquan Boldin. (Be honest: do you even know what team he plays for?) Boldin’s foundation is dedicated to expanding the educational and life opportunities for underprivileged kids. The foundation awards about $10,000 annually in college scholarships and has given out 13 full rides to 4-year universities since it’s existence.
Or how about Jason Witten, who’s SCORE Foundation is dedicated to helping victims of domestic abuse?
There are many more just like Boldin and Witten. Unfortunately, we live in a society where volunteering and working with non-profits to actually help people will constantly be in the shadows while controversy and drama takes center stage.
I guess what I’m trying to say is there are heroes in sports. You just have to look past the Colin Kaepernicks of the world to find them.
