Hero: A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose. In my opinion this definition fits what a hero is perfectly. However, most people in the world today see a hero as someone who is well known or powerful, someone like celebrities or athletes who are looked up to and are a major interest in society. Young kids want to be just like them and grow up to be as respected and well known as they are, unfortunately for those young children, they will truly never know what actually makes up a hero.
When told to write this essay, my mind went blank. I thought of no one who would meet the criteria of being brought down from their heroic podium. Who am I to judge what defines or makes up a hero? However, as I began to read and search for someone whose reputation I could roast, I didn’t have to look very far.
On March 3, 2011 there was an article written about a former University of Michigan basketball legend in The Michigan Daily. http://www.michigandaily.com/content/former-michigan-basketball-player-rumeal-robinson-convicted-fraud He led U of M to the NCAA men’s basketball championship in 1989 and went on to play for various teams of the NBA. “He’s not just a short minute player,” said Chuck Daly, his former head coach. If you’re not an obsessive sports fan or a news reader junkie then most likely the last paragraph of information I just informed you about rang no bells. I am talking about the former well known NBA basketball legend, Rumeal Robinson. Rumeal Robinson was a hero to many. He was an extremely determined athlete. He grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts and attended school at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School. He then went on to attend The University of Michigan where as a freshman he was ineligible to play due to his low entrance exam scores. Robinson made his way to the top by scoring in the final three seconds against Seton Hall at the NCAA in 1989. He was then drafted to the Atlanta Hawks, New Jersey Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns, and the L.A. Lakers. Paul Silas, one of Robinson’s former assistant coaches said, “Robinson works hard and never whines.”
On March 2, 2011 Robinson was convicted in federal court for borrowing more than $700,000 for a sham business, and then spending the money on cars, and condominiums. Robinson was found guilty of 11 counts, including bank bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and making a false statement to a financial institution. He is now facing six and a half years in prison for fraud.
Many people especially children get the idea of a hero having to wear tight unattractive pants or to be someone who is known all over the world, but that’s not the case. I think Robinson should be lowered on his heroic podium because he never really did a great deed. He doesn’t have any of the traits that I believe make up a hero like honesty, morals, courage, respect, and passion. Dr. Roseanna Means on the other hand is a true hero who I believe deserves more recognition. She provides women with shelter, medical needs, and food. She doesn’t do it to be famous or get some type of award; she does it because she truly cares about the well being of other people. She puts in her time and money to make just a small difference in a community. She gives all she has into helping and saving people’s lives. The point I’m trying to make is that not every hero is someone who is on television. Most of the time, like Rumeal Robinson, the more fame and attention they receive, the less of a hero they actually become. Their kind deed they were once working so hard on and doing because they wanted to make a difference has turned into something they now do for fame. Heroes are honest people who have morals that they live up too; Rumeal Robinson has more than proven that his morals are set low and that honesty is the last thing on his mind.
And I believe we need heroes, I believe we need certain people who we can measure our own shortcomings by. -Richard Attenborough
