A Time for Sports Heroes

The past few months have given us a string of sports events and winners for the ages. Lots to celebrate, and it's only fitting that I start with a sports hero honored tonight.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2015 ceremony in Canton, Ohio was a bittersweet occasion for San Diegans. We will always miss Junior Seau, one of the eight inductees, because he was the hometown hero who gave us so much joy as a San Diego Charger linebacker, the one who propelled his team to the Super Bowl in 1994. Seau was born in Oceanside, spent part of his childhood in American Samoa, and returned to Oceanside High School to letter in football, basketball, and track and field. With a long list of player trophies, and named to another list of championship teams, he went on to a brilliant three years at USC and was later named to the USC Athletic Hall of Fame (2009). In 1990, Seau was drafted by the San Diego Chargers and became a driving force on the team for 12 years, and with the National Football League for 20 years, closing out his career with brief stints as a Miami Dolphin and New England Patriot.  

In 2012, retired only three years, Seau ended his life abruptly, along the coast where he lived in Oceanside. After his passing, studies of his brain tissue by the National Institutes of Health concluded that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which sparked a national debate about the harsh effects of the game on a player's health, specifically brain health. For that, we can be grateful. It was past time.

Here's what bleacher report.com had to say about the face of the San Diego Chargers during the 90s:

So we remember the Tiaina Baul Seau Jr. who was selected to 12 Pro Bowls, who was one of the most disruptive defenders of his generation and who was among the most recognizable sports heroes in his city's history. We also remember a football player whose untimely death opened our eyes to the unseen dangers of America's brutal, beautiful obsession.

Seau was the greatest linebacker of the 1990s, perhaps the greatest defender of that era. His gifts, beyond his outstanding athleticism, relentlessness and passion, were versatility and unpredictability. Seau recorded 56.5 sacks, 18 interceptions and over 1,500 tackles. Opponents never knew whether he was rushing the passer, dropping into coverage, staying at home against the run or following a hunch about where the ball was heading. His own coaches sometimes didn't know, either.

  

Photo: bleacherreport.com

Photo: San Diego Union-Tribune

The Junior Seau Foundation was Seau's passion while he played and when he retired, helping countless kids who benefited from the devoted leadership Seau demonstrated at board meetings, raising funds, and engaging partners. He is sorely missed by everyone who supported his efforts and experienced his enthusiasm. Now run by volunteers, the JSF continues to honor its founder's dream.  Here's what the San Diego Union-Tribune had to say about Seau's dedication to the foundation:

The intensity translated to millions of dollars for the cause of San Diego’s at-risk children, a different sort of legacy than the on-field accomplishments that got the late Seau voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Partially in honor of the induction ceremonies Saturday in Canton, the JSF donated $500,000 to support a pediatric urgent-care facility in Oceanside, hereafter to be known as the Junior Seau Foundation center. 

During the Hall of Fame ceremony, Sydney Seau, the oldest of Seau's four children, was interviewed onstage about her father, who had asked her to talk about him when his time came. It was an emotional tribute and the highlight of the entire program. When it was time to uncover his bust, her brothers joined Sydney onstage. The New York Times  posted a video of Sydney giving the speech she prepared. She was not allowed to deliver the speech at the televised ceremony since inductees are the only ones allowed to speak (in past years, a family member or colleague presented first).  

American Pharaoh is a different type of athlete who took to the tracks this year to dazzle the horse racing world and the entire country. His legacy resonates far beyond the racetracks of America into the history books of the sport. The Kentucky Derby win on the first Saturday in May was euphoric, followed by a wet Preakness win with mud flying high two weeks later. But it was the Belmont Stakes on June 6 that raised the bar to the highest standard for three-year-old thoroughbreds and set the third sparkling jewel in the Triple Crown -- for the first time in 37 years. Bells are still ringing throughout the horse community. Credit must be given to an infectious, joyful Victor Espinoza, riding the champion, and legendary trainer Bob Baffert, who has achieved one of the most impressive records in the sport. After the dust settled, then came the curtain call. It was racing royalty on August 2nd when the  handsome thoroughbred with jockey Espinoza on the reins won the 2015 William Hill Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in New Jersey -- the latest notch on their leather crop. Personally, I'm hoping for another trophy at Del Mar this month. Maybe the 22nd, since my ticket is purchased and my hat is ready.

Like a glorious thoroughbred, young Jordan Spieth played the rainmaker of American golf when he won  the Master's Tournament in Augusta, Georgia in April, and followed it up with another majors win at the U.S. Open in University Place, Washington in June. Could it be our spring awakening gave us two heroes to revive horse racing and golf? They're hardly comparable, since one will likely retire soon, to sire the next generation of elite thoroughbreds, while the other fine tunes his game to go after a career grand slam and records set by names like Woods, Nicklaus, Hogan, Jones, Palmer, Snead and Watson. Spieth came within a breath of the hole at the British Open a few weeks ago for a chance to collect the third jewel of the 4-jeweled majors crown. It was heartbreaking to see him lose, but he is human, after all. The maturity and wisdom he's displayed since turning pro in college are credited with leading the 23-year-old to a string of wins that have placed him in the number-two-ranked spot worldwide, behind Rory McIlroy, who leads by a little over one full point.

With horse racing fans applauding their hero, golf fans wonder if Spieth could be the one to end their drought, which started when Tiger dropped off the leader boards. Which begs another question. When we speak of sports heroes, we have to ask -- will Tiger make a comeback? The scandal, the injuries, the setbacks...they've all taken their toll. There have been hints that he still has it in him, but  the good starts don't turn into leads like they did in bygone days. Even with his current status in the rankings, some will argue that Tiger Woods is the best golfer of all time. Others will counter, because his record against Nicklaus for majors won is the measuring stick (Tiger 14, Nicklaus 18). The believers point out that he's far beyond Nicklaus and other golfers for the most records overall, this during a time when the competition was at its height. Like most things in life, time will tell.

We love our winners and want to hold onto them. Whether it's a football game, horse race, or golf tournament, a World Series or Olympics, it's exhilarating to witness greatness. We want our heroes to live into old age, to retire to green pastures, to rise to the top, and to make a comeback when there's a setback. When they face disappointment or worse, for whatever reason, we're disappointed too. We want them to continue winning, for them and for us. We don't want to give them up.

Thanks for the memories, Junior.

And for a heartfelt, poignant speech, Sydney.