TYSON...he gets my vote for anti-hero. Shoot he may even be the anti-Christ. Tough, and a great intimidator but not a very good boxer.
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Sports Idols
- Thread starter JSMOOTH
- Start date
Hmmm...can tell there must not be too many here that live south of the Mason-Dixon line. Because if you were to ask that question around these parts you'd get one, loud, unanamous answer...DALE ERNHART!
Not necessarily who I would pick, but it's interesting to note the contrast in answers depending on the region of the country (or should I say region of N America) one lives in.
A lot of good discussion going on, but it seems we have a clash of perspectives on the subject.
Are we talking about idolizing (or admiring) an athlete for what he or she brings to the field, or are we taking about the way the athlete handles his or her public and personal life according to chapter and verse as written by the media?
It's interesting that for most Americans, the two are usually intertwined (especially so for those of the over 40 generation)...not as much so for other parts of the world.
I, personally, can find myself admiring what a Tyson, a Webber, (and yes Nolan, even a Dion Sanders) brings to the contest, while at the same time detesting the type of human being they seem to be. I can find myself admiring their performance in the contest for what it means in terms of the human spirit striving to develop a talent to the point where it sometimes becomes human art in action.
They may (or may not) be miserbable human beings at everything else in their lives, but I can feel myself becoming exhilerated and enriched having been able to watch them perform.
As a way of analogy...my mother for years loved to hear Willie Nelson's records on the radio. Absolutely sent her to the moon with his silky-smooth tone and artful phrasing. But when he started showing up on TV shows, she was appalled. "Why...just look at his hair", she'd wail (you gotta realize, this was the early 70's when anybody with hair longer than a crewcut was a commie). "He looks so dirty and nasty...how can he look that way and make the beautiful music that he does?"
I was constantly trying to get her to understand that his appearance had nothing to do whatsoever with his talent...his art. And, further, that her problem with his appearance was just that...HER problem...other's actually liked long hair and interpreted his choice to wear it as a virture. But no matter in which camp one belonged, how they viewed his appreance had no impact at all on his talent. His art should be evaluated on how he develops and uses that talent and nothing more.
With that in mind...one sports figure that comes to mind that fits that analogy for me was Muhammed Ali. I've found myslf on the opposing end of most of his stated viewpoints and values through his career, yet to watch him in the ring in his prime....ahhhhh, pure poetry in motion. He was truly beautiful to watch.
Anyway...just my two centavos for what it's worth.
Not necessarily who I would pick, but it's interesting to note the contrast in answers depending on the region of the country (or should I say region of N America) one lives in.
A lot of good discussion going on, but it seems we have a clash of perspectives on the subject.
Are we talking about idolizing (or admiring) an athlete for what he or she brings to the field, or are we taking about the way the athlete handles his or her public and personal life according to chapter and verse as written by the media?
It's interesting that for most Americans, the two are usually intertwined (especially so for those of the over 40 generation)...not as much so for other parts of the world.
I, personally, can find myself admiring what a Tyson, a Webber, (and yes Nolan, even a Dion Sanders) brings to the contest, while at the same time detesting the type of human being they seem to be. I can find myself admiring their performance in the contest for what it means in terms of the human spirit striving to develop a talent to the point where it sometimes becomes human art in action.
They may (or may not) be miserbable human beings at everything else in their lives, but I can feel myself becoming exhilerated and enriched having been able to watch them perform.
As a way of analogy...my mother for years loved to hear Willie Nelson's records on the radio. Absolutely sent her to the moon with his silky-smooth tone and artful phrasing. But when he started showing up on TV shows, she was appalled. "Why...just look at his hair", she'd wail (you gotta realize, this was the early 70's when anybody with hair longer than a crewcut was a commie). "He looks so dirty and nasty...how can he look that way and make the beautiful music that he does?"
I was constantly trying to get her to understand that his appearance had nothing to do whatsoever with his talent...his art. And, further, that her problem with his appearance was just that...HER problem...other's actually liked long hair and interpreted his choice to wear it as a virture. But no matter in which camp one belonged, how they viewed his appreance had no impact at all on his talent. His art should be evaluated on how he develops and uses that talent and nothing more.
With that in mind...one sports figure that comes to mind that fits that analogy for me was Muhammed Ali. I've found myslf on the opposing end of most of his stated viewpoints and values through his career, yet to watch him in the ring in his prime....ahhhhh, pure poetry in motion. He was truly beautiful to watch.
Anyway...just my two centavos for what it's worth.
As a matter of fact, I do.
John Rocker
Seriously! I admire him.
(bet your really wondering what race I am now)
Idol is a risky word to use - but probably the most inspirational sportsman of all time has to be Ali - when he was re-presented with his Olympic medal I can safely say it was a very moving moment - and shows that even in one of the most commercial of sports true sportsmanship really shows through.
I am a great believer in sportsmanship being true natural ability (money should not come into it) and in recent years no-one has achieved as much as Steven Redgrave (yes I know he is a Brit) but to win 5 consecutive Olympic Gold Medals over 16 years far outwieghs any other professional sportsmans achievements in recent years wherever you come from in the world
I am a great believer in sportsmanship being true natural ability (money should not come into it) and in recent years no-one has achieved as much as Steven Redgrave (yes I know he is a Brit) but to win 5 consecutive Olympic Gold Medals over 16 years far outwieghs any other professional sportsmans achievements in recent years wherever you come from in the world
Two personal faves - Tony Adams and Steve Waugh. Admire those sportsmen who you'd follow into the trench without a second thought....
