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Running Heading: EFFECTS OF VIEWING ATHLETES AS HEROES 1
The Effects Of Viewing Athletes As Heroes
Zachary J Todd
University of Arkansas

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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.

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EFFECTS OF VIEWING ATHLETES AS HEROES 3
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

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EFFECTS OF VIEWING ATHLETES AS HEROES 4
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

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EFFECTS OF VIEWING ATHLETES AS HEROES 5
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.

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EFFECTS OF VIEWING ATHLETES AS HEROES 6
“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

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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.

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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

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genuinely need moral individuals that shows great courage and bravery whether
inside or outside the playing fields or courts.

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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
http://0search.proquest.com.library.uark.edu/docview/211738002?accounti
d=8361
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
http://0search.proquest.com.library.uark.edu/docview/194183574?accounti
d=8361
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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"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
http://0search.proquest.com.library.uark.edu/docview/219764217?accounti
d=8361
Early, G. (1997). American integration, black heroism, and the meaning of jackie
robinson. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 43(37), B4-B5. Retrieved from
http://0search.proquest.com.library.uark.edu/docview/214723823?accounti
d=8361