Communication and Sports Research Paper

Running Heading: EFFECTS OF VIEWING ATHLETES AS HEROES 1

The Effects Of Viewing Athletes As Heroes

Zachary J Todd

University of Arkansas

EFFECTS OF VIEWING ATHLETES AS HEROES 2

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to provide information on the negative effects of

viewing athletes as heroes in our society today. In this paper there are examples of

poor choice of heroes from within the United States in the past. This paper uses

sources from books, journal, and magazines. The reason for the paper to be

conduced is to further investigate Communication in Sports with Dr. Walker for

Comm 490V and also as a Senior Writing Requirement in the Spring Semester 2014

at the University of Arkansas.


The Effects Of Viewing Athletes As Heroes

Throughout the age of the human race the term “Hero” has been used;

however, in society today the viewpoint of a hero has changed from the Greek origin

that it’s derived from. The Greek definition of “Hero” is: “a mythological or

legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or

ability”(Hero). As the word has evolved through the ages the term “Hero” has

changed views and is often refereed toward athletes. This is where the problems

have arisen because there are negative effects on our society with the viewpoint of

athletes as hero or acting heroic. Through this paper will explain the negative effects

of viewing athletes as heroes for the sake of helping today’s society.

In Ancient Greece the views of heroes were their Gods and Goddesses; most

people are familiar such Gods and Goddesses: Zeus, Poseidon, Heracles, and

Aphrodite. The Greek views of heroes were mainly bases upon their religious views;

however, warriors and leaders were also viewed as heroes. This is the origin of

“Hero” from the 14th Century. Throughout time words tend to evolve from the

original meaning of the word as society decides to adapt them to fit their culture.

The culture inside the United States today athletes in many sports is viewed

upon being heroes or having heroic performances during competition. It is

everywhere one can look that people will see this viewpoint whether in

newspapers, magazines, books, television, websites, or advertisement. The problem

within today’s culture is that society is to put one’s belief into these so-called heroes


as one would put faith into their religious viewpoints. Within the youth of today

society, they are taught to inspire be like these athletes as well as follow in the

athletes actions. This is where the problem hides for society in the United States

culture because these athletes aren’t heroes and aren’t setting heroic examples

outside of the courts or fields. This is why the definition of the term Hero needs to

change in the culture of the United States.

In 1999 Lance Armstrong won his first Tour De France, a world-class cycling

event. Armstrong was viewed upon as an American hero during his seven Tour De

France victories from 1999-2005. “In October 1996, at age 25, Armstrong, world-

class cyclist, found out that he had testicular and lung cancer. A week later he

discovered his cancer had spread to his brain. To make matters worse, he had no

medical insurance.”(Kohlbeck). Which propelled his Tour De France victories into

even greater heroic performances. Our society viewed Armstrong as a true

American hero that the youth should inspire to be like. As a cancer survivor and top

athlete in his profession, Armstrong arose to the top of the national hero. However,

in the fall of 2012 Armstrong was found guilty of cheating during his cycling career

that involved seven straight Tour De France victories. Many years after Armstrong

being viewed upon as a national hero and role model; he was found to be a liar and

cheater. Are those qualities to be found a hero?

Only one year early Mark McGwire was another professional athlete being

view upon as a hero to society. In 1998, McGwire playing Major League Baseball was


power hitting that was looking to break Roger Maris’ record for most home run hit

in a single season.

“By the end of the season, McGwire reached 70 home runs to shatter the

record. The “home run race” of 1998 was one of the most compelling spors

stories of recent decades, with some sportswriters claiming that the goodwill

generated by the pursuit had “saved” baseball after the work stoppage that

led to the cancellation of the 1994 World Series. Time magazine even went so

far as to call McGwire its “Hero of the Year” (Okrent, 1998)” (Billings, 73).

However, in 2005 was called to Congress to testify about his usage illegal

performance-enhancing drugs; where McGwire refused to talk about the past and

only focusing on the future of Major League Baseball working on the ban of illegal

performance-enhancing drugs. Similar to the previous example given, of Lance

Armstrong, McGwire proved to being a liar and cheater until he became an

American hero.

These are the types of athletes that are being viewed upon in the society of

the United States; liars and cheaters. Is this what parents want their children

becoming; instead of teaching children morals as well as to work hard towards their

goals unlike their heroes. This just further proves the point of the need for change of

the viewpoint of the term hero in the United States.

Furthermore, another athlete viewed as a hero was, Michael Vick, before

being arrested for dog fighting.


“Vick, 27, and three associates were indicted by a federal grand jury in

Richmond, Virginia, on a conspiracy count alleging they bought and

sponsored dogs in an animal fighting venture and traveled across state lines

to participate in illegal activity, including gambling.”(NFL).

This quote from CNN website talking about Michael Vick being charged from

illegally gambling and dog fighting. Before his arrest Vick was the quarterback for

the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League (NFL). As the most popular sport

in the United States, children and citizens are watching Vick play football on national

television every week during the months of September through January. Vick was

one of the most popular players in the NFL before his arrest. Vick being from a

minority group, his fan base drew popularity from minority children and citizens.

Vick might have had heroic performances on the field on Sunday afternoons in the

NFL; however, it is the character and morals of the person that make a person a

hero.

As popular as the National Football League may be in the United States,

Michael Jordan is arguably the most popular and well-known athlete worldwide.

During the 1980s and 1990s Jordan played professional basketball for the Chicago

Bulls in the National Basketball Association (NBA). As a worldwide professional

athlete that has had heroic performance, such as his famous “Flu Game” when he

scored 38-points in a game while suffering through the flu. Although his

performances seem extremely heroic the flaws of Jordan’s gambling addiction


shouldn’t be overlooked when viewing him as a hero. Vick and Jordan, both

extremely popular athletes in different sports and different eras have their flaws as

everyone has, but should not be published as heroes for society to look up to as a

role model.

A quote from Joshua Shuart in “Heroes in Sports: Assessing Celebrity

Endorser Effectiveness” where he is taking about a book title “The Mediated Sports

Hero, American Heroes in a Media Age” by Susan Drucker,

“Drucker (1997) argues that sports heroes are merely pseudo-heroes, and are

only compared to the heroic because of celebrification in the mass media. She

maintains that many forms of sports media – namely photography, news,

publicity, radio and television – are responsible for creating athletes of

mythical status, mostly undeserving.”(Shuart).

Drucker and Shuart are saying that these so-called heroes that are athletes only

appear to be heroes in today’s society due to mass media. This is due to being able to

know what, when, where, and why athletes are doing things as soon as they do

them. This further proves that today’s society needs to remove and stop labeling

outstanding athletes as heroes. This is where the adaptation of the definition has

been loosely given and changed to fit today’s culture; however, the necessity is to

change and readapt the definition for the future to give the powerfully meaning back

the word.


Not all athletes that have been titled as a hero are underserving; in quotes

from John Mariotti from the article: Where have all the heroes gone? in the “Industry

Week” says,

“I remember heroes in sports. There were legendary figures like Joe

DiMaggio, Jackie Robinson, Mickey Mantle, and Green Bay Packers Coach

Vince Lombardi.”

“Sports heroes fell victim to the excesses of their youth and riches.”(Mariotti).

Athletes like Joe DiMaggio wasn’t perfect, but the selfless act of enlisting in the

military during World War 2 in the middle of his professional baseball career is

deserving of the title of hero or heroic. As defined by Merriam-Webster hero is: “one

who shows great courage “ and “a person who is admired for great or brave

acts”(Hero). Jackie Robinson, another athlete justified with the title of being called a

hero. Robinson broke the color barrier in professional baseball in 1945 when he

signed a professional contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers; however, it wasn’t until

1947 that he became the first black people in an all-white professional baseball

league.

Throughout time a words definitional meaning can adapt to fit a culture

during times of change in society; however, sometimes for better or worse. In this

analysis of calling athletes heroes is to inspiring to empower the word hero again

instead of using the term loosely. Turning these negative effects that have arisen

into position effects and qualities for the youth generation in today’s society which


genuinely need moral individuals that shows great courage and bravery whether

inside or outside the playing fields or courts.


Work Cited

Hero. 2011. In Merriam-Webster.com.Retrieved May 8, 2011, from

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hero

Jackson, S. J., & Ponic, P. (2001). Pride and Prejudice: Reflecting on Sports Heroes,

National Identity, and Crisis in Canada. Culture, Sport, Society, 4(2), 43.

Shuart, J. (2007). Heroes in sport: assessing celebrity endorser effectiveness.

International Journal Of Sports Marketing & Sponsorship, 8(2), 126-140.

Hoebeke, T., Deprez, A., & Raeymaeckers, K. (2011). HEROES IN THE SPORTS PAGES.

Journalism Studies, 12(5), 658-672.doi:10.1080/1461670X.2011.568693

Kohlbeck, K. (2002). Lance armstrong: Sports hero. School Library Journal, 48(12),

159-160. Retrieved from

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Riedy, M. (2003). Hero of the moment: Cycling champion lance armstrong lives life

for today. Better Nutrition, 65(3), 36-38,40-41. Retrieved from


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Billings, Andrew C., Butterworth, Michael L., & Turman, Paul D. (2012). Sports and

Mythology. Communication and Sport: Surveying the Field (61-80). Thousand

Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

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http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hero


"NFL Star Indicted over Dog Fighting." CNN. Cable News Network, n.d. Web. 6 Apr.

2014.

Mariotti, J. (1996). Where have all the heroes gone? Industry Week, 245(1), 25.

Retrieved from


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Early, G. (1997). American integration, black heroism, and the meaning of jackie

robinson. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 43(37), B4-B5. Retrieved from


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Communication and Sports Research Paper

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