The Bigger They Are (In Your Heart), The Harder The Heartbreak

Most kids are going to hero-worship based on a player’s on-field performance anyway, so it’s better not to sway them either way based on what you might know (or don’t know) about them off the field. As they’ll evntually learn there’s no Santa Claus, they’ll learn that their heroes are capable of human error.

Nothing surprises me about athletes anymore, and I try to focus my attention on what they do in their line of work. Do I enjoy Kobe Bryant’s abilities any less because he was accused of rape a few years ago? I say no. Maybe a bad example anyway, because Kobe’s image could never be accused of being squeaky-clean in the first place.

For me personally, my dislike of guys like Bonds and Clemens had more to do with who they played for than anything else. The other things about them (or what I heard about them) was icing. But when Bonds was at the plate, I watched. How could you not? I imagine I would have felt the same watching Ty Cobb.

P.S. Loved the Dio reference. The Favre-beats-the-Raiders reference, not so much.

On the other hand, some of the best people who find themselves in celebrity-like roles wont ever be acknowledged for being good role models. I think this happens for two reason: 1) it seems it’s only the elite talents that get noticed; 2) positive things are seldomly news-worthy.

Off topic: does anyone else think that Miley Cyrus’s bong hits video a deliberate attempt to reshape her image as a bad girl — possibly to appeal to a newer audience while still retaining some of her old audience who have grown up [and experimented] along with her?

I have felt the same way for a long time, the media has the power to display a player in any light they feel like. So if Barry is a dick to to reporters that is what we are going to see.
Now I would like to comment on Aaron Rodgers. I like in Chico so I have had the opportunity to deal with the guy a couple of times when I worked in the bars. He was a nice enough guy but a lousy tipper, I don’t expect a massive tip just because the guy is in the NFL, just a tip like every other paying customer. Because of this I was pretty bitter towards the dude for the past couple of years. But it dawned on me this year that he is the only athlete of celebrity that I have had an dealings like that with. For all I know all athletes are like this I just haven’t had the opportunity to experience it. So I stopped hating and cheered for Aaron during the playoffs and Super Bowl. It was fun to be in Chico this town was a buzz with Aaron fever.

It could shatter my innocence.

If you’re 12 or under, I completely understand the whole hero-worship thing, but please – for the love – adult sports fans need to stop with the naive, uninformed “this guy is a good guy – this guy is a bad guy” nonsense. Unless you know an athlete personally (and really well, I might add) than you have no idea who’s “nice” and who’s a jerk — who’s a good guy/who’s a bad guy.
If you got a chance to hang out with your favorite team – whatever team it may be – chances are real good that many of the guys you thought you’d like, you wouldn’t – and many of the guys you thought you’d hate, you’d really like. One of the best examples of this (in the Bay Area) was/is Will Clark and Jose Canseco (pre steroids book hoopla). I got a chance to get to know several A’s and Giants players in the late 80’s/early 90’s … to a man, they all said they really liked Canseco – good teammate, fun to be around – couldn’t stand Will Clark – arrogant, bigoted redneck. But that wasn’t what the media portrayed … at all … now the common perception is that Canseco was hated and Clark loved … not by their teammates they weren’t — just by the general, misinformed, “we really know nothing at all” public.
Again, this is why I root for laundry … I couldn’t care less what someone does off the field – I don’t know him, he doesn’t know me – athletes are the last people I’d allow my kids to “look up to” other than their athletic abilities. Just help my team win — fact is, I don’t know whether you’re a nice guy or not, and I probably never will — why should I allow that to influence my cheering?! I root for the A’s – I don’t give a damn who wears the uniform, or what he does in his spare time – just help the team win. That’s the only thing that matters – and if you’re a sports fan? That’s the only thing that should matter to you, too.

For instance, I used to kind of like Roethlisberger because he’s a giant lummox who thrives on broken plays. There was something charming about that to me, especially when contrasted against the cold, intelligent tactician type that Peyton Manning represents (whom I also like). Anyway, that all went by the wayside right quick. For some reason I have compunctions about rooting for accused rapists.

Instead of an all or nothing approach—hero worship or solely focusing on the on-field product—I prefer a middle path. I like ‘em ’til I find out otherwise. Then they’re dead to me.

That’s why I love the A’s! 34 days until opening day!

I just draw the line at criminals. When you are raping people or killing people that’s a societal judgement of WRONG. Steroids, being arrogant, adultry, not a great guy perhaps but I can cheer for your accomplishments. That’s just my take.

no one really knows somebody until they spend a lot of personal time with them and even then people hide things all the time.
professional athletes and celebrities are just in the public eye.

If I was to hear today that someone like Mariano Rivera did something against the law, I would be in a state of shock. Would be tough to explain to a little kid that his hero did something illegal.

that pretty much every professional athlete lives a lifestyle that is diametrically opposed to everything I’m trying to accomplish in my career.

How’s that for heartbreak?