Sport and Competition

Heroes on the Ball Field?

Why are athletes considered heroes?

Posted October 28, 2010

I was reading about the psychological quality of mental toughness and heroes for a book I'm writing. As I read about the components of mental toughness-a sense of control, seeing challenges as opportunities, having a commitment to the

activities pursued, and having confidence in oneself-I finally understood why successful athletes are sometimes referred to as heroes.They possess these qualities, and we admire them for it. With the World Series going on, I thought I could share my epiphany about athletes, heroes, and mental toughness.

It's that time of year again. As the World Series gets under way, there will be a lot of talk about "heroes." Ballplayers won't be the only ones. From a wide range of sports, winners are often referred to as heroes, as was Tiger Woods and Olympic medalist Michael Phelps before -- and even after-- their falls from grace.

Indeed, the word "heroes" is bandied about so much these days that its meaning may be lost. Why, after all, should any athlete be hailed as a hero?

Dictionaries define a hero as someone who exhibits noble qualities such as courage or bravery, or as someone who undertakes heroic acts. Heroes often rise to meet the challenge posed by a great crisis, reacting calmly, remaining in control and exuding confidence.
That definition may suit someone like Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger. But a baseball pitcher? In a word, yes.

Read the rest of this op-ed on AOL News.