You can't make a Saint from a Shit Heel.

I usually stay away from sports topics, it's just not my thing. But every now and again sports fans puzzle me, toss in the media and you get a bowl of stupid soup that I just can't resist. For example, the willingness to swoon over an athlete while ignoring all of the negative aspects of his life. Let me give you an example; Derrick Thomas vs Tiger Woods.

In this city, Kansas City, folks love DT. I'm okay with that, and really could not care less, that is until they start canonizing the guy, talking about what a superlative human being he was. Here is a press release from the KC Chiefs regarding the retiring of Thomas #58. The money quote and the sentiment that Thomas fans chant like a mantra " A stalwart in the Kansas City community, Thomas was named the ‘93 NFL Man of the Year for his philanthropic efforts. Thomas’ “Third and Long Foundation” is still active in the Kansas City community, continuing the reading and scholarship programs he began."

Thomas did some good deeds, he may have had a good heart. He also drove like an idiot, killing a passenger in his vehicle. He also fathered 7 kids with 5 different women. We aren't talking one or two or even three indiscretions, we are talking about a guy who ran around spreading his seed like that apple tree guy Johnny. He wasn't a stalwart of the community, he wasn't Mother Theresa. He was a majorly flawed human being, a hell of a football player, who did a few good things in between a string of irresponsible behavior. Hey, Pablo Escobar did plenty of good shit, in between flooding the U.S. with coke and killing presidential candidates and judges. I'm not saying DT is a Columbian drug lord, I'm saying his good deeds don't nullify the fact that he is responsible for another mans death, and 7 kids from 5 different women. While he should be applauded for his play, and credited for his good Samaritan behavior, the second coming of Christ he ain't. To build the guy up to near sainthood insults the intelligence and sets a poor example in general. It sends the message that you can behave irresponsibly, ruin lives, as long as you toss some good shit in every now and again.

"Hey Pot, meet Kettle. MM what gives you the right to besmirch the name of our fallen hero? You were a thief and a crook, plus we hear you are uglier than a mud fence."

That's right Skippy, I was all of that, and a bag of stale chips. Should I win the lottery tomorrow, and use the proceeds to save starving pygmies in Borneo, the good deed won't negate the twenty or thirty years of dirt. I can keep my nose clean, I can become the most stellar human being on the planet, but I'll always have that sordid past. That's how it should be. Here in the real world there are no do overs, just ask Tiger Woods. Tiger is probably the most famous sports figure of our time, he carried himself with class and kept his name out of scandals. No string of baby mommas, no drunken meltdowns on TMZ, he never bit off Phil Mickelsons ear, and he gave more to charity than 100 Derrick Thomas. But he screwed the pooch, he got caught dirty, and you can bet your putter he won't ever completely distance himself from the scandal.

The thing people overlook when they are busy making a saint out of a shit heel, is the message they are sending. Impressionable kids see a guy like Thomas or Woods and they admire their ability, they want to emulate these guys. When we swoon over sports figures, pop culture figures, or bad guys, it only confirms what these kids are thinking, it sends the message that you can do some shitty things and people will still think you are the greatest thing since breast implants. You could dig back through my archives and probably find a post where I've called Tiger a good role model for kids, and he was, right up until he got caught dirty. Children should look to their parents, grandparents, maybe their teachers, as role models. The problem with that is sometimes those examples aren't present or deserving. I don't have a solution for that one, what I can tell you is that it's as wrong a priest at cub scout camp to build up guys like Thomas or Woods as stalwart people, based on their ability to play a game, and willingness to drop some crumbs to the less fortunate, while ignoring their major character defects, which in the case of Thomas left one man dead, and 7 children fatherless. So applaud the guy as a ball player, but spare me the "stalwart human being" bullshit.