THIS and that to chew on over lunch: Heroes do more
than just hit the ballIt is Veteran's Day as this is written and thoughts of heroes always go hand-in-hand with this holiday for me.
Has the time come and gone where there are no more heroes on our fields and courts?
Much silly noise has been made about high-paid athletes being role models for our young people, but I'd rather have a hero any day.
I never got to see Ted Williams play baseball in person. He retired before I was born. But I learned that he was the greatest hitter of all time. Had a .344 lifetime batting average. Hit 521 homers. Drove in 1,839 runs. What a player.
He also missed three seasons while serving in the military during World War II. He missed parts of two more seasons during the Korean War.
This is a man who gave up all or part of five of his prime seasons in order to serve his country. Can you imagine any of today's so-called stars giving up even five games in order to fight for a cause more noble than the right to wear Nikes?
Heroes.
Men and women lay down their lives to ensure that goofballs like Dennis Rodman can play their games in peace and wingnuts like me can exercise our freedom of speech.
Many of you play golf or softball or paddle canoes with these people every week.
Next time you do, tell them thank you.
Speaking of heroes, for years I loved watching Kareem Abdul-Jabbar play hoops. That skyhook of his was unstoppable and his teams usually were, too. He picked up six championship rings to go with his six MVP trophies over a 20-year career. I remember talking with his father and mother, Big Al and Cora Alcindor, a number of years ago outside Blaisdell Arena, telling them how much I enjoyed watching their son play ball through the years. They seemed like good, humble folks.
Last week an item moved on the wire about Kareem filing a lawsuit against Karim Abdul-Jabbar, who plays running back for the Miami Dolphins.
I couldn't help but wonder, What the heck are you thinking, Kareem?
OK, so the kid deliberately took a name that is incredibly similar to yours. He even went to UCLA and wore the same number on his football jersey that you wore in basketball.
But is this guy really taking any money out of your pocket? Shoot, half the kids watching football today -- and more important, buying football jerseys at their local Foot Locker -- probably don't even know who you are, or at least were. Maybe the name similarity will strike them someday and they'll get out an NBA Guide and read up on you.
You were a great player, Kareem. Somewhat of a hero to many. Why be so petty?
Last June, the Star-Bulletin started what we believe will become a tradition when we named the first Ms. Basketball Hawaii. Erin Stovall of Iolani won the award. We took some flack about our choice. People said she was selfish for not choosing between track and basketball, which have concurrent seasons. They said she didn't play enough to warrant consideration. Never mind that she was the top track athlete in the state and led the ILH in scoring average.
Well, Stovall went on to the University of Virginia. She's on the basketball team there, and in the media guide they did a little Q and A on each player. One of the questions was this: If I could change one thing in the world to make it a better place, I would:
Her response? "Make everyone as loving, compassionate, understanding, generous and easy-going as the people in Hawaii. They see you for who you are, not what you are."
Still a winner.
