Anyone can be a hero. Raise a boy to become a man and he will always see you as not just his father, but his hero. Do your duty when called upon- rush into a burning building to save a life- and that person will feel forever indebted to you. Anytime you make a lasting impression on a child’s life, they forever look up to you. How is it, then, that so often our heroes are sports figures? Save for a select few who have the unique opportunity to be directly impacted by an athlete, most superstars become heroes simply by doing what they love. Entire cities worship at their feet because of their ability to play a game.
Sports heroes come in two forms: those we revere and those we love. What causes this difference? The presence of flaws. It is much easier to love an athlete when we think of them as no different than ourselves. Sure, they are far superior physical specimens than we could ever dream of being; but take them out of their sphere of dominance- take them off of the basketball court- and they are just like everyone else.
Larry Bird was one of the most loved athletes ever, but not just because of what he accomplished on the hardwood. What set Larry Legend apart was his vulnerability. When the season ended, he didn’t go to his mansion in the Hollywood Hills and party like a playboy. No, instead Larry simply went home. He went home to his farm in Indiana and returned to being the Hick from French Lick. He got on his tractor and mowed his lawn, like he was just a normal guy. People loved Larry’s game because of his sweet stroke and uncanny court vision. People loved Larry because they saw themselves in him.
Magic Johnson didn’t go back to his home in Michigan. He went to those parties at the Playboy Mansion that Bird missed out on. Magic was the typical Hollywood star. Even with that great smile and love for the game, not everyone liked him- just ask any Boston fan in the ’80’s. And then he contracted the HIV virus. All of a sudden, Magic was human. He was normal, just as vulnerable as you and me. He was Magic, but he was also still Earvin. Now it is almost impossible to find a person who doesn’t like Earvin Magic Johnson. Before his mortality became evident he was revered, worshiped even. Once people realized he was mortal, he became loved by all.
Sure, you say, everyone loved Bird and Magic- that’s because they never gave people a reason not to. Maybe they weren’t loved for their flaws, but just because of their greatness. Then take a look at the career path of LeBron James. LeBron was the first athlete to enter a professional sport already carrying the burden of being expected to become the greatest of all-time. Somehow, he rose to the challenge and became everything we expected and more. He was lovable, yet even he still had his doubters- people who simply didn’t want to see him reach Jordan’s level of immortality. Then he made ‘The Decision’, and he became the biggest villain in sports. He didn’t cheat on his wife, didn’t spit on a child in the stands, didn’t gamble on a game, didn’t get caught taking steroids, didn’t start a brawl. For all we know LeBron James has never even run a red light. Yet we hated him because he chose to do what anyone would have: leave his current job- when his contract ended, no less- for one with better co-workers, a higher upside, and a better climate (and you better believe anyone living in Cleveland would bolt for Miami faster than they could say “I’m taking my talents to South Beach” if they had that opportunity).
LeBron went from savior to Satan, and he hated it. You could see it in his face and the way he played, there was a rage building inside him that was never there before. He struggled, and the world relished in it. His old team was terrible, so his hometown began adopting whoever was playing against as their new team. They went so far as to burn his jersey in the streets. It hurt him, and it showed. Yet he still fought through it all and led his new team to the NBA Finals in their first season together, and then the best thing that ever happened to him occurred: they lost. In the days and weeks after the Dallas Mavericks snatched the championship from his grasp one can only imagine what was going on in LeBron’s mind. Finally he emerged from his darkest days and he decided he had to change. Starting with those lockout mixtapes, you could see the difference- LeBron was having fun again. With a new mentality, LeBron led his team back to the Finals. This time, we wouldn’t be denied- he put in a performance for the ages, securing that elusive first title. Then he led his country into London and brought back a gold medal. Since then he hasn’t looked back, playing the best basketball of his life… and maybe the best we’ve ever seen.
Can you guess what has happened since his rededication? Those haters, at once seemingly as numerous as fish off the Florida coast, began to disappear. Now even the fans in Cleveland, the very same ones who burned his jersey and cursed his name, are talking about the potential of the return of the King. After seeing him at his most vulnerable, just as miserable as any of us would be in his position, it became almost impossible not to feel for him.
After all that has happened, no matter how many banners he raises, he will never be worshiped in Miami like he would have been in Cleveland. But he will be loved, and maybe that’s all he ever wanted.
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I hope you enjoyed reading! If you have any questions, comments, or other suggestions on how to improve the column or any other topic feel free to contact me at my email address [email protected], on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/adam.colman.9 or on Twitter @AdamRColman.
Thanks for the support!
Sports heroes come in two forms: those we revere and those we love. What causes this difference? The presence of flaws. It is much easier to love an athlete when we think of them as no different than ourselves. Sure, they are far superior physical specimens than we could ever dream of being; but take them out of their sphere of dominance- take them off of the basketball court- and they are just like everyone else.
Larry Bird was one of the most loved athletes ever, but not just because of what he accomplished on the hardwood. What set Larry Legend apart was his vulnerability. When the season ended, he didn’t go to his mansion in the Hollywood Hills and party like a playboy. No, instead Larry simply went home. He went home to his farm in Indiana and returned to being the Hick from French Lick. He got on his tractor and mowed his lawn, like he was just a normal guy. People loved Larry’s game because of his sweet stroke and uncanny court vision. People loved Larry because they saw themselves in him.
Magic Johnson didn’t go back to his home in Michigan. He went to those parties at the Playboy Mansion that Bird missed out on. Magic was the typical Hollywood star. Even with that great smile and love for the game, not everyone liked him- just ask any Boston fan in the ’80’s. And then he contracted the HIV virus. All of a sudden, Magic was human. He was normal, just as vulnerable as you and me. He was Magic, but he was also still Earvin. Now it is almost impossible to find a person who doesn’t like Earvin Magic Johnson. Before his mortality became evident he was revered, worshiped even. Once people realized he was mortal, he became loved by all.
Sure, you say, everyone loved Bird and Magic- that’s because they never gave people a reason not to. Maybe they weren’t loved for their flaws, but just because of their greatness. Then take a look at the career path of LeBron James. LeBron was the first athlete to enter a professional sport already carrying the burden of being expected to become the greatest of all-time. Somehow, he rose to the challenge and became everything we expected and more. He was lovable, yet even he still had his doubters- people who simply didn’t want to see him reach Jordan’s level of immortality. Then he made ‘The Decision’, and he became the biggest villain in sports. He didn’t cheat on his wife, didn’t spit on a child in the stands, didn’t gamble on a game, didn’t get caught taking steroids, didn’t start a brawl. For all we know LeBron James has never even run a red light. Yet we hated him because he chose to do what anyone would have: leave his current job- when his contract ended, no less- for one with better co-workers, a higher upside, and a better climate (and you better believe anyone living in Cleveland would bolt for Miami faster than they could say “I’m taking my talents to South Beach” if they had that opportunity).
LeBron went from savior to Satan, and he hated it. You could see it in his face and the way he played, there was a rage building inside him that was never there before. He struggled, and the world relished in it. His old team was terrible, so his hometown began adopting whoever was playing against as their new team. They went so far as to burn his jersey in the streets. It hurt him, and it showed. Yet he still fought through it all and led his new team to the NBA Finals in their first season together, and then the best thing that ever happened to him occurred: they lost. In the days and weeks after the Dallas Mavericks snatched the championship from his grasp one can only imagine what was going on in LeBron’s mind. Finally he emerged from his darkest days and he decided he had to change. Starting with those lockout mixtapes, you could see the difference- LeBron was having fun again. With a new mentality, LeBron led his team back to the Finals. This time, we wouldn’t be denied- he put in a performance for the ages, securing that elusive first title. Then he led his country into London and brought back a gold medal. Since then he hasn’t looked back, playing the best basketball of his life… and maybe the best we’ve ever seen.
Can you guess what has happened since his rededication? Those haters, at once seemingly as numerous as fish off the Florida coast, began to disappear. Now even the fans in Cleveland, the very same ones who burned his jersey and cursed his name, are talking about the potential of the return of the King. After seeing him at his most vulnerable, just as miserable as any of us would be in his position, it became almost impossible not to feel for him.
After all that has happened, no matter how many banners he raises, he will never be worshiped in Miami like he would have been in Cleveland. But he will be loved, and maybe that’s all he ever wanted.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I hope you enjoyed reading! If you have any questions, comments, or other suggestions on how to improve the column or any other topic feel free to contact me at my email address [email protected], on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/adam.colman.9 or on Twitter @AdamRColman.
Thanks for the support!
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