Looking Up to Heroes

  
One of the podcasts I subscribe to is a weekly commentary by sportswriter Frank DeFord, who works for Sports Illustrated and NPR.  His most recent commentaries have centered on the subject of heroes in sports, and how people - particularly children - look up to athletes.

In his latest commentary, Frank DeFord suggests that Ichiro Suzuki, the prolific hitter and outfielder for the Seattle Mariners, is underappreciated and deserving of more praise for his consistency in excellent hitting.  While "he's not the best player of his era," DeFord states that Ichiro does "better at what he does best than any other athlete of his time."  He's also an international superstar who has immensely made an impact on the popularity of American baseball in Japan.

DeFord's previous commentary begins with the statement that it is "a terrible time for the children of America" because they've always been told to look up star athletes, only to find that nowadays, the "star athletes" seem to either be mired in controversy, scandal, battling injury, or in the twilight of their careers.  Citing figures such as Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong, Ben Roethlisberger, Roger Clemens, Michael Phelps, Alex Rodriguez, and LeBron James, DeFord suggests that kids will soon have to look up instead to actors, reality-show people, or politicians.  Of course, DeFord's commentary is firmly tongue-in-cheek, but he has some flaws in his argument I think.  First of all, he concedes that he is making a general statement by the fact this his following commentary is ushering high praise for Ichiro Suzuki, a star baseball player.  Second, I think it is hard to argue that a child shouldn't look up to a star athlete simply because they are injured or playing in the final years of their career.

I do believe, however, that DeFord is using humor to make the point that our society should reconsider how we make athletes the heroes or stars that children are encouraged to look up to.  Certainly we can all admire the gifts and talents of athletes who display incredible ability and competitiveness.  But as DeFord illustrates, star athletes are flawed human beings just like everyone else, and there are consistent examples of athletes making poor decisions in the face of overwhelming privilege, popularity, and prosperity that is thrust upon them.  The same can be said for actors and politicians, who are also admired to the point that they become heroes (usually more so for adults, or "grown-up" kids).

The truth is that, while many celebrities possess skills or traits that are universally admired, the individuals that most kids and adults more commonly look up to are people that are considered normal, everyday human beings.  People that aren't flashy or maintain a celebrity status, but instead possess admirable traits and qualities such as generosity, kindness, mercy, patience, joy, wisdom...you get the idea.  Such traits sound familiar, as we have learned about the fruit of the Spirit that are promised to those in whom God is at work sanctifying.  Those who look to Christ as their Savior and grow in the maturity of their faith begin to bear such fruit in their lives that is plain for others to see.  Like Ichiro Suzuki's consistent excellence in hitting, they begin to display a remarkable consistency in how they live their lives in front of others, and how they share and give of themselves to those around them.  These aren't usually impersonal athletes or actors that have never been met, but are parents, relatives, neighbors, teachers, friends, and co-workers.  These are the individuals that our society should be encouraging young children to look up to, and I am grateful that I was surrounded (and continue to be surrounded) by such examples in my life.

To learn more about Frank DeFord's podcast, visit his website, Sweetness and Light.