Athletes example essay topic

"Where have you gone Joe Di Maggio", by Goodman focuses on the misguided perception that society has on our athletes. Athletes are placed on a pedestal above the rest, and are given special privileges in order to maintain their heroic status. "Hero", and "supreme beings", are used to describe our athletes' personalities but underneath the glory they are just like us; only they are trained to focus on one skill. Hero is defined in a dictionary as a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for their brave deeds and noble qualities, as well as for a mythological figure of great strength.

Although athletes demonstrate god-like qualities, they seem to put aside their moral and behave like delinquents. This attitude is produced by society, "coddled by universities, lionized by local communities and endowed with six-and seven-figure salaries". Athletes are chiseled by society to become "winners", and they learn that "success, rather than hard and honest play, is what brings rewards". Their status shields them from many responsibiliets and provides them with second chances that normal citizens wouldn't have. In many situations many faults preformed by the athletes are overlooked and we "wipe the slate clean", when it is smudged, leading them to believe that they are entitled to commit wrongs. In order to ensure that nothing threatens an athlete's eligibility to compete, coaches may intervene when they get into trouble with the law, and have the cases quietly dismissed.

An example of how athletes are exempt from punishment is the rape case of Mike Tyson. "He eventually came to believe, like a medieval king, that all he saw rightfully belonged to him". He spent his time outside the ring behaving in a barbaric manner and at one point his charges he was pressed with rape charges a, but needless to say the charges were dropped. He would below, "Don't you know who I am? I am the heavyweight champion of the world", not taking into consideration whether his actions were correct or not. Although, there are some exceptions among athletes who use there attributes to give back to society.

Two examples of athletes that demonstrate heroic traits not only on the field, but also on an everyday bases are Alan Grey and Martina Navratilova. Alan Grey was a football player that retired and became a lawyer who invested in founding an organization that helps underprivileged children pay for college and Martina Navratilova joins in the fight for pro gay and lesbian movement. These stars are few, they rise above the set standard that society provides and use their heroic status for the good of society, helping in the growth and well being of the community; and not only to flaunt their trophies, beauty, and awards. In order to change the "play tough" and be "# 1" motif, we have to take into consideration that there is more to life than obtaining fame by stepping on those beneath you. Society has to accept that athletes are human human and liable to commit errors just as we do".

It is misguided for society to look to athletes for its heroes anymore than we look among the ranks of say, actors, lawyers, pipe fitters". We should learn to just appreciate the art of their craft and not scrutinize their every action. Idolizing them as "perfect-sublime creatures", but as people whom excelled in their trade.