I'm No Superman! Antiheroes in Popular Culture: Exploring Sports in America (Volume 3)

In this book, I'm No Superman! Antiheroes in Popular Culture: Examining Sports in America (Volume Three), we will examine prominent sports figures from America (plus a select few from Canada, Argentina and Pakistan) over the past 125 years - particularly in the MLB, the NBA and WNBA, the NFL, college basketball, the professional boxing world, the PGA, the WTA, the Olympics and World Cup soccer. Commissioners, presidents, owners general manager and organizational leaders will also looked at as well to determine if their roles with their league or teams have enhanced their own pocketbooks rather than make the game more enjoyable for the fans. Too many non-athletes have taken bribes to boost particular men and women in sports - and that alone is unethical and illegal, and makes them as well, antiheroes as well as athletes who play the game.

Although you may believe an antihero as an irredeemable person, this is not true in real life. Human beings make mistakes, some of which happen early or later in life, but there is always a chance that he/she can change the direction in life for the better.

For example, look at Ron LeFlore - a 3-time MLB All-Star back in the early 1970's who needed to prove to Billy Martin and others with the Detroit Tigers that he was not merely a young man who should spend 5-10 years in a prison cell. Ron was given a chance (and an early parole, kept his nose clean, and never looked back at the world of crime.

Yet when we look at O.J. Simpson, a once celebrated NFL running back, sports commentator and actor, we see a man who blew up his entire world by 'allegedly' (civilly libel) committing a double murder of his former wife and her male friend. And Oscar Pistorius - a Paraolympian who was as fast as an able-bodied male and participated in the summer Olympic Games - but like O.J., was found guilty of manslaughter of his girlfriend.

Both men are more like villains than antiheroes without an opportunity of redemption.

From his admission of 'bad judgement' in a press conference in 2003, Kobe Bryant admitted to the world of his sexual misadventure with a young Colorado woman. What of Tiger Woods, the G.O.A.T of the PGA? Tiger admitted his cheating ways to the world as well - even though it may him look 'weak', it brought out the humanity of the man as well.

Both Mohammed Ali and Howard Cosell were antiheroes and the sports world embraced both the boxer and the broadcaster. Ali was hated by many Americans for his anti-Vietnam stance, but the Supreme Court backed his decision not to fight in a meaningless war overseas. And backing him was his ally Howard Cosell, who had also supported Tommy Smith and John Carlos for their Black Power salute in the 1968 Mexican Olympic Games.

It is hoped that this book will bring perspective on the men and women of professional sports, who are not 'perfect' but also are not 'hopeless' either in their political views or personal choices, but still have had memorable lives and careers that are worth reviewing.

What is a sports antihero?

This author hopes you see that each one may simply be more like you and me than you ever would have imagined.