Everyone once in a while, you run across a athlete who that makes you think maybe athletes can be role models. Kirby Puckett was one of those guys. He always flashed that big smile, never embarrassed us when he spoke, generally made people proud he way plaing on our team. The he retires and the truth comes out. Turns out the truth is different from the image we all believed in. Check out Sports Illustrated's take on Kirby.
Now the question comes to my mind, who is responsible? I mean Kirby is responsible for his own actions, but who turned him into the icon, who created the image? Was it the Twins, was it Kirby himself, or was it us, the public? I have a feeling we all conspired to create this larger than life good guy. It's too bad it's going to end badly for all parties in this case. The Twins no longer have the icon as lobbyist and ambassador of goodwill, Kirby will no doubt have a long legal ordeal to get through, followed by a tarnished retirement, and the fans will live with their dissapointment.
Perhaps we should embrace Randy Moss as a model for sports ation figures. It seems like his image and actions are consistent. We all expect he will say and do things we wish he wouldn't. Then when he says or does things we don't like it's not a disapointment. Randy can only surprise us with good behaviour.
Hear that faint sigh, it's the sports fan across the nation lowering their expectations.
