Hero?

Posted on The Honolulu Advertiser: Saturday, August 30, 2008
'HOMETOWN HERO' RETURNS

This was the headline about Bryan Clay. OK... I do admire Bryan Clay very much. He is a true Olympic champion. However, a hero? I really feel that term is bandied about too much. When I think of a hero, it is somebody who did something magnificent for others without regard to his/her own safety. It's an ordinary person who knows what the danger is and disregards it for the sake of others. In fact, I've often heard those heroes say afterwards that they don't think of themselves as heroes because they did what needed to be done.

I believe athletes or sports stars who win for their team or themselves are champions, not necessarily heroes.

Am I the only one who feels this way? Maybe I'm just being picky.