Bits & Pieces

By Kim J. Harmon

 

A subject of discussion at my house on Sunday as we watched the National Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies –

Who were (or are) your sports heroes?

As adults, we realize that an athlete often makes for a very poor idol. But when I was growing up, my idol was Nolan Ryan. Whenever my brother and I played Whiffle Ball© in the back yard or down the street with our friends, I was the pitcher and I imagined myself as Nolan Ryan.

Somewhat to a lesser degree, Graig Nettles was also a baseball idol.

For football, my idols were Walter Payton and Phil Simms.

It broke my heart that Payton did not score a touchdown in the 1985 Super Bowl and I curse coach Mike Ditka to this day for handing the ball off to William “Refrigerator” Perry on that one goal line play instead of giving the ball to Payton.

Simms was a warrior, battling back from a spate of injuries early in his career and the fans’ growing ambivalence to become the greatest quarterback in the history of the New York Giants. Remember, he was 22-of-25 in the win over the Denver Broncos in the 1986 Super Bowl – a glorious moment for a fan who lived through Joe Pisarcik and The Fumble.

And for basketball, my idol was Pistol Pete Maravich.

Basketball was not widely televised when I was a kid and I had precious few opportunities to see Maravich in action, but when I did see him he was – wow – electric. I shudder to think of what he would have done had there been a three-point line in his time.

I had no idols in hockey, but will always remember the picture of goaltender Gump Worsley – with no helmet and only two teeth in his head – trying to stop a shot. That took some kind of guts, let me tell you.

So, who were your heroes?

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Dennis Eckersley changed the way baseball treated the “closer” and I was glad to see him inducted into the Hall of Fame. Got all choked up during his speech, too. It’s a shame that the one endearing image of him in action is of him surrendering that home run to Kirk Gibson in the World Series.

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Rickey Williams of the Miami Dolphins has an obligation to do what’s best for Rickey Williams, but to leave his team in a lurch like this is inexcusable.

He says he is looking for “the truth” and, for him, pro football is not “the truth.” I can certainly admire a man who wants to leave the riches of the NFL behind to pursue more intellectual and spiritual goals, but what happened to common courtesy? He says he has been thinking about retirement for a few months, so why did he not inform the Dolphins early enough to give them the opportunity to pursue another running back through free agency or the draft?

Rickey Williams has an obligation to himself, that’s for sure. But a respectable man would have presented his employers with an opportunity to make up for his loss. Right now, the Dolphins have few options and little chance to compete for a Super Bowl championship.