Where Have They All Gone

Every morning my computer searches out specific sites in order: Des Moines Register, Quad-Cities Times, Drudge, Lucianne and, finally, Sports Illustrated. I'm giving up on SI, not because it's a bad site but because I have to read so much bad news about irresponsible and thuggish behavior. My entire boyhood revolved around sports. Every book report I did was about baseball or basketball. Who could ever forget reading the great American classic, "The Boy Who Batted 1.000"? In 4th grade I did a report on Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs; earned an A, too. As you all know Henry Aaron was my guy. I'd pour over the box scores the day after a game digesting every hit, at bat, fielding percentage--everything to fill my scrapbook that I kept on him. The only negative I ever heard about Hank Aaron was that he and his wife divorced. When football and basketball rolled around I'd do the same; be a voracious reader of anything sports. Of course, sports writing was different in those days. Players who didn't toe the mark in society had their sins covered up. All one has to do is read a biography of Mickey Mantle to learn the truth of his veiled life. Still, there were plenty of good guys to follow. Maybe because salaries in the 50's were not commensurate with those of today this made a difference. The average pay for a baseball player in 1956 was slightly over $8,500. In the off season players had to take part time jobs to make ends meet. They didn't have time to get in trouble. Hard drugs weren't in vogue then but if they were who besides Hollywood 'Stars' could afford them? In our world of 2012 a baseball player makes eight grand blowing his nose.
In last week's Capital One college football game between South Carolina and Nebraska a player from Carolina, Alfonzo Dennard, was kicked out of the game for fighting. At the conclusion of the contest the game Most Valuable Player award is given. And the recipient of this award was--------Mr. Alfonzo Dennard. He wasn't even on the field. He had to come out of the locker room to pick up the tarnished award. This is why I've always said, "the most important aspect of American society, rightly or wrongly, is sports". Dennard-MVP-What a crock!
I don't look upon athletes the way I used to do. For the most part they aren't heroes. They are people who make a ton of money for doing things others can't.
In reading SI this morning I saw a story about Starlin Castro, a twenty-one year old phenom shortstop for the Cubs. It said that he was being investigated for a sexual assault from last summer. If I was part of a sexual assault probe wouldn't some type of resolution take place within, say, two days?
At any rate, I enjoyed watching this young Latin play the game. He can hit and he rarely strikes out. Guess what? He has struck out with me.
When I think of sports heroes I want someone my grandchildren can emulate but there don't seem to be many of those. A Tim Tebow is scorned but the clown from the Baltimore Ravens who stated last week, "We don't need God on our sidelines" received numerous press stories and accolades from the media, other players and fans.
Call me old fashioned but I want another Duke Snider. The same goes for Henry Aaron and Willy Mays.
Fat chance!