Sports Byline USA Insight

Sports Heroes, Rare and Few

Sports heroes are those who, when the game is on the line, come through in the clutch or contribute consistently to their team’s success. Over the years of talking with great, successful athletes, like Michael Jordan, Joe Montana, Reggie Jackson, Billie Jean King, Tiger Woods and others, I’ve found a commonality. These sports heroes, and others like them, are not afraid to fail. It’s the foundation of their greatness. In those who qualify to be called “sports heroes”, the fear of failure is a positive, motivating source. It makes them focus better, try harder, and more times than not successfully come through. As Michael Jordan once said to me, “If I succeed, I want the glory, if I fail I’ll take the blame.” In essence, sports heroes aren’t afraid to be the hero, or the goat.”

Most of us like comfort. The life path of least resistance is preferred over the challenging one. Getting from point “A” to point “Z” without consternation and disappointment is the prayed for goal of most. For sports heroes the challenge of overcoming the odds, talented other players, obstacles, injuries and negativity only works to push the truly talented athletes to greater heights and sports hero status. Any athlete can catch “lightning in a bottle”, but the great ones do it time and again in clutch moments. Even though athletes are highly trained and skilled, most of them also fall into a “comfort zone of commonality.” The ones that fall into this “comfort zone” are afraid that if they try and fail, they’ll then be seen by their peers and fans as losers. The star athlete and sports hero always wants to test their skills. They see their success or failure only as a learning experience and one to be applied the next time they face a challenge. I have always found that athletes who not only have talent, but also a strong ego and self confidence are always successful and are our sports heroes.

Earlier I said, “there are plenty of sports heroes, but few, if any, heroes in sports.” Let me explain. Having visited Iraq and Afghanistan, and having seen wounded soldiers at the Landstuhl Medical Center in Germany, I know heroes. Sports are just games; war is a living hell. Heroes in sports must be players who have transcended sports and made a difference. Over time there have been only a handful of athletes who have truly been “heroes in sports.” When you think about those who are deserving enough to be called “heroes in sports”, I’m sure you’ll see the difference. Roberto Clemente gave his life in a plane crash en route to aid earthquake victims. Ted Williams, and a handful of other athletes, sacrificed some of their playing careers to serve in combat. And most recently Pat Tillman, who gave up a lucrative NFL career to serve his country, gave his life fighting in Afghanistan.

The next time you start to think about, or call an athlete “a hero”, please think about whether you’re talking merely about their athletic abilities, or whether you’re elevating them to a pedestal they truly deserve. The difference is important.

I’m Ron Barr.

Ron Barr is an Emmy award winning writer and the host of the nationally and internationally syndicated sports talk show, Sports Byline USA.

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