It wouldn't have made me a hero to suggest I be pulled and replaced with the next best pitcher, but it would have been the right thing for me to do - for my team. I obv haven't pitched in a WS, but as a baseball pitcher back in the day, I remember times when I recognized I didn't have my stuff, but I selfishly still didn't want to be pulled because I kept thinking I could try harder and it would magically come back. I liken this to a pitcher in game 7 of the world series recognizing that he, for whatever reason, doesn't have his stuff that night - and suggesting to his coach that he be pulled and replaced. Heroism of that type has more impact and does more good than a thousand Simone Biles or any other athlete whose success is measured by the wealth and fame that now rule our culture. That kind of heroism is not honored by the rich and powerful of our day but leaves a lasting mark.the only mark that matters. Yet, the biggest heroes in my book are anonymous: no fame, no bling.people who did their duty, raised kids, won wars, held the line. Listen to the testimony of those who played for om when he won a state championship coaching high school basketball, a sport he didn't even know, to his legendary Packer teams to guys like Sonny Jurgensen on a long-time loser Redskins franchise that he turned into a winner in one season.and you'll understand how the word "hero" might apply.īeyond sports, there are a handful of historical figures who I consider personal heroes. He was a devoutly religious man who died courageously at a relatively young age. The only sports figure to hold that status for me was Vince Lombardi, a flawed person (as all of us are) but arguably the greatest coach who ever lived. I've followed sports closely since I was a kid and have been a big fan of various players, starting with Willie Mays when I was 11 years old, but I never considered any of them "heroes".much less these phony cardboard cut-outs today. It's a mark of the moral poverty of our time that so many assign the status of "hero" to athletes and celebrities.or politicians for that matter. It's fake heroism for an age of fakery, and I'm not buying it. We can't read her mind, so I won't pillory her.īut to dress this up as wonderful and heroic? Please. She withdrew from the capstone event of her career, even as that event was in progress, for her own reasons.which may be good ones. Look, she's been a great athlete and done some amazing things. History will put that epitaph on the gravestone of this civilization. Women’s advocacy groups have thanked her.<<Īll this for withdrawing in the middle of the competition while saying, among other things: "This Olympic Games, I wanted it to be for myself when I came in - and I felt like I was still doing it for other people." CNN called her performance “ impactful.” She has been hailed for her strength and for “ setting an amazing example” and being a great athlete and role model. Articles have been written extolling her bravery and declaring that her achievements this week have sent a “ powerful message” to the world. The White House Press Secretary expressed “gratitude and support.” Deadspin gushed over “ the most impressive move of her career.” Former Olympians joined in the group hug. >Prominent politicians like Ayanna Pressley and Cori Bush have made public statements applauding her. To wit, and I take this directly from my son's piece yesterday on the story: What does kind of gag me, however, and this was as predictable as the sunrise, was the instant project by the Usual Suspects to turn the woman into a hero. Something tells me she'll be fine in the end. I can understand both sides of the debate and feel no animosity toward Simone personally. That said, it's been interesting to read the threads here and on the other board. And politics aside, I'm not a huge fan of gymnastics anyway. Honestly, because of the aura of politics and Wokeism that surrounds this Olympics, like it seems to surround everything else these days, I haven't really tuned in and didn't even know about Simone's shocking withdrawal until reading it here.
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