Tarnished Heroes

Whatever happened to the good old days, when kids had sports stars they could
look up to? Bill Virdon Pittsburgh Pirate outfielder & later Big League manager with the
Pirates & Yankees. Jackie Robinson, infielder with the Brooklyn Dodgers & first black player
in the Major Leagues. Hank Aaron, home run king of the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves. Sandy
Koufax, pitcher for the L.A.Dodgers. These men barely scratch the surface of the many HEROES
of baseball. There were many more associated with other sports such as Bart Starr, quaterback
for the Green Bay Packers. Bill Russell (basketball) player for the Boston Celtics. Floyd
Patterson former boxing Heaveyweight Champion of the world. Bob Cousy, point guard for the
Boston Celtics.
These men were worthy of the idolatry afforded them by the kids of their era
because the headlines that they made were positive in nature----- Speaking at youth banquets
& other affairs promoting their sports; Taking the time to sign autographs before & after games,
or when recognized on the street; Having positive things to say about their teams, fellow
teammates,managers, etc.
Todays OVERPAID athletes constantly are criticizing everone, from the bat
boy to the owner of the club. Nothing & no one is safe from this suspect banter. Drugs are
a problem today, & when caught, penalties are too lenient. Gambling,(Pete Rose), seems to
be looked on as more serious than drugs! One of the greatest players to ever play the game
is banned for life, while steriods are pushed into a dark corner & appear to be rewarded
to an elite few.
Yes, in my day, we could look to with pride the men who played the games,
& earned the respect of all of us who needed these heroes to give us someone to emulate
in our formative years; Not these tarnished heroes of today who pop pills, drink excessively,
abuse women, etc. etc.
The Coach