July 24,1996

The billboard had all the makings of a dramatic moment: an intense, muscular athlete, with sweating and furrowed brow, looking out over the rush hour traffic. "A HERO" declared the larger-than-life message. "What exactly makes him a hero?" I asked my daughter. She explained that people looked up to him.

Perhaps it's the English teacher in me, but since when did an idol become a hero? At best he could be a role model, if in fact his life warranted mimicking, but doesn't the word hero imply more than simply being talented? I don't blame Gary Payton (or any of the other athletes and stars who have been so lavishly described by eager advertisers and media personnel). I doubt that he would ever use the name himself, but it perturbs me that the American media are so cavalier about a word that should mean so much more.

Saving a life, standing up for human rights against all odds, surviving and prospering under incredibly adverse conditions: these things are heroic. Describing celebrities and athletes as heroes destroys the value of the word. "Hero" should be awarded like a medal of honor and worn by the deserving few. It should mean more than a sandwich.