What a hero should be

sportsTonight we are going to watch the very public collapse of someone many called a hero. This person will go on a talk show and confess to cheating. How much of a confession at this point we can only speculate.

The media, this ex-hero’s handlers, and sponsors helped to build the image to a mythic status. As a few people suspected he was nothing but a false idol all along.

Last night I saw the video of two brothers, Conner and Cayden Long. Conner is 9 years old and races triathlons with his younger brother Cayden who has cerebral palsy. Watch the video and perhaps it will reshape your definition of what a hero should be.

6 comments

  1. Robby Simpson says:

    After she watched Oprah Thursday night, a colleague at school asked me, “Now who do kids have to look up to? Who are their heroes now?” I plan to show her and my students this video. To me, Conner and Cayden truly are heroes. Thanks for sharing this.

  2. Barbara R. Davis says:

    I wondered how would Shakespeare might write about Lance Armstrong’s fall from grace? I decided to try my pen, and wrote the following: The Race (for Lance Armstrong) by B. Rosson Davis

    1
    He increased our wonder, never failing
    to win the race. Let fame for which he hungers
    ride his life, now in disgrace. Glory grows guilty
    with his detested crimes. For he would have us
    in his lies conceit, believe in his perfection,
    his unique performance. Why we immortalized him
    for his triumphant feats of fearless racing victories.
    We knew his fiery qualities well— unmovable
    and fixed in his own course’s deep deceit,
    dishonesty, distrust, his downfall now as deep
    as his rise to adoration. All viewers unaware
    of this manipulation. He hoodwinked the lot of us!
    Now exposed, now too much a false good-thing,
    his favor shrinks in basest news, the truth will out—
    He stands upon his shame, soaked in sweat,
    the man who rode mountains, the winner
    who took all. This twisted hero propped up
    with drugs, corruptly so, without a trace of
    truth or honor, now stands before us. His breach
    apparent topples fame, tarnishes the gold,
    the glory. O, his medals, millions, sponsors, titles,
    trophies have all been won, but, now, in shame
    stripped bare the bearer of his fame. He reaped
    these victories in his race for life, to win and
    win, and, win at any price—a grand obsession to
    conquer all, like the cancer that consumed him.

    2
    Now a deepest loathing creeps into our stomachs;
    we were unaware this victor who spoils sport so
    silently, knowingly, in a cavalcade of lies. O,
    the invincible Lance, full of hope (and dope)
    grew arrogant, raced into records, a super hero. (A lie.)
    Has Sport grown so bad? There are no boundaries
    for deceit. His disposition all the world knows now…
    This arrogant American who cheated to win, stands not
    for honor, dignity, clean victory, or true performance.
    There’s hubris in his winning! O, willful lies, denials of
    illegal use of drugs, his distain of the prescient Press,
    the media, that pointed out these craven possibilities.
    What dignity in winning by false means?
    There is no honesty in such performance—
    enhanced by doping, the ego’s fearless race
    for fame and glory binds the man to his deeds.

    continues

    The Race for Lance Armstrong by Barbara Rosson Davis pg. 2 of 2

    3
    O, Lance, thy hell is in the healing—
    Where honor lost so boldly cannot be regained.
    Despite your will, despite your past performance.
    You shall not be excused. There is no excuse
    shall save yours and others’ unlawful conduct–
    a hype so bold it brings dishonor to the cycling
    sport, to any sport; and, to your name, the shame.
    There are rules in every race, every life, in every game.
    The Lance is cast—
    Cruel are the times when we are traitors,
    stripped, and do not know ourselves.
    Golden lads and liars must, as chimney sweeps,
    come down to dust.

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