It's natural to admire Olympic and professional athletes. The dedication, drive, jaw-dropping athleticism; they are all qualities to be revered and celebrated. But does our admiration for these talented individuals ever blind our opinions?
It was just a few weeks ago that South African sprinter, Oscar Pistorius, allegedly murdered his girlfriend. I must admit that my initial thoughts rapidly went from denial of his actions to hoping that some sort of fatal mistake was made - either on the sprinter's side or on that of the prosecution. Because Pistorius, the super-athlete, could not possibly have taken someone's life. I quickly realized that it was looking as if 'Blade Runner,' the Olympic athlete that I admired so much, was not in fact as admirable as I formerly thought.
My admiration for Pistorius as an athlete blinded my judgement of him as a person. The same delusion and outright denial happened to Penn State fans when the beloved JoePa's name was dragged into the mud next to Sandusky's. Other crises involving professional or Olympic athletes include Lance Armstrong and his denial of doping. Some fans still refuse to even consider for a second that Armstrong may have cheated.
Is this naivety or optimism? The athletes and coaches we dedicate our weekends to will ultimately disappoint us from time to time on the field, track or course, but a detrimental mistake or character flaw feels almost like a personal betrayal. Children and adults alike look up to these figures as role models, as something to aspire to be. We don't just proudly wear the jerseys and t-shirts on game day; we identify ourselves as that team's fan, as part of Steeler Nation or the Seahawks' 12th man. The "We Are" chant truly becomes a part of a Penn State fan's identity. Maybe this connection is why the devastating news of an athlete's mistakes off the field or away from the Olympic games hits us fans so hard. Sports aren't just our pastime anymore; the games we love have truly become a part of us.
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