Staying with the hero thing ...
Mariano Rivera is considered by most to be the greatest closer of all time. But he's also a Yankee. An enemy to all. A player for the big business side of baseball. Despite that all, Mariano has garnered one of the best reputations in the sport both for his work on the field and his actions off. I bring up this article not because I am a Yankees fan, but because Mariano embodies that old stereotype of an athletic hero. That said, maybe you disagree.
Please read this article: Marian Rivera, King of the Closers and comment on how baseball insiders define a hero.
For some reading fun and to make you think WHAT?! Read this, too. It's related to Rivera.
For watching and listening enjoyment, check this out. I've watched this almost 100 times, and each time I love it. It's just that good. Still related to Rivera.
For even more watching pleasure related to (fantasy) baseball, check this out. Not related to Rivera.
In baseball a hero is someone who saves the day, but doesn't take much credit for it. Chipper Jones and Rivera seem to have this quiet presence in common. Rivera's heroism also seems to come with an aspect of martyrdom. In both cases it seems that the players are ones who play hard, play well, and play consistently without gloating. With other players there is chance. While they may be excellent sometimes often they begin to gloat and when their performance wavers, they are no longer a hero. Rivera is a hero in that when he succeeds he does so without bragging and when he struggles he takes it upon himself to be better without burdening the team or anyone else. This is turn makes him a sort of martyr. His stoicism and power is truly what makes a hero in baseball.
ReplyDeleteIn baseball, a hero is someone who can accept failure with class and continue to stay committed to the game. Rivera plays one of the most stressful and nail-biting positions in baseball; the mistakes he makes can cost his team the game—and sometimes the league championship. However, as this article shows, Rivera sees his mistakes as an opportunity to learn something new. Rivera is determined to improve his skills so as to fix his errors for the next game. In addition to his commitment, Rivera never fails to be a leader with his ability to remain calm and offer advice to his teammates when needed. He is respected by many in the baseball community for his humility (mentioned by Callan) and focus in and off the field; because of this, Rivera is a hero in the baseball world and beyond.
ReplyDeleteMariano Rivera is known as a hero because he has been so durable in playing for the Yankees for around 18 years, and handling all of the pressure that comes with being a closer. He excelles in the postseason, when the pressure is the highest, and is so passionate towards the game that he has wept before stepping onto the mound. That is some serious dedication! Rivera has defied the odds by being a power pitcher, even though he's "built like cheetah". There aren't many power pitchers out there who don't weigh in the high 200s. Rivera has basically relied on one pitch, his slider, for the majority of his career and it's so deceptive that even after 18 years, very few are able to hit it. Rivera is a rare kind, and we may never again see someone as heroic as him.
ReplyDeleteThis article gave me a very different feeling of a hero than did previous articles and players. While other fielders and hitters are noticed constantly for their achievements, the closer is expected to succeed and the failures are noted. I guess this makes sense, as a good closer will close more than half the time, whereas a fantastic batter, for example, might get a hit in less than 1 in 3 at-bats.
ReplyDeleteWhat baseball "insiders" chose to talk about for Rivera was very interesting. More than once his effect on the locker room and teammates was mentioned, which is something I rarely think about. For well-funded teams like the Yankees who can afford an allstar roster, individual players seem like discrete factors in the team's success. But as we've seen in both this article and The Natural, the human side of a player can affect the team as much as the stat side. Rivera was a star player, but also maintained a positive influence on his team, making him a hero in multiple ways.
I saw a picture on Kyle Johanson’s Facebook with Michael Jordan absolutely balling his eyes out while holding the Larry O’brien trophy after winning the NBA Championship. Patchy Johanson (his younger brother) responded with a picture of Lebron holding the same trophy but barely smiling. KJ responded: “thank you for proving my point entirely.”
ReplyDeleteMariano’s signature cutter pitch along with his passion of baseball evident in his weeping before stepping on the mound elevates him to this Michael Jordan hero status. Because Mariano remained humble to the sport of baseball makes him the exception and not the rule of what a Yankee player is supposed to be like.
Even after dropping back down into the minor leagues, Rivera kept playing baseball for the love of the sport. Only after the Yankees realized his talent as an incredible closer did he become popular. Rivera's ability to remain calm, even though his position is one of the most stressful, made him a leader for his team. Players like Mariano Rivera and Chipper Jones become heroes because of their love for the sport, and not for the fame and fortune. Their dedication to the field, and not a paycheck, shines through, and fans and teammates respect them for their passion.
ReplyDeleteA hero in any context is someone who people can look up to, both for their amazing feats as well as their personality. In this way, Rivera can be considered a hero not only for his amazing baseball talent, but also for his humbleness and his calm, calculated way of looking at the game. Rivera, for example, talks about how it doesn't really matter what happened in the previous 7 or 8 innings, all that matters is that he has to get the batter to strike 3 times. This sort of composure is to be admired regardless of skill level, and is the kind of attitude that has helped Rivera and others become recognized as heroes.
ReplyDeleteA hero is someone who can be relied on and is always there when needed. Mariano Rivera is a hero in this sense and in many more. He has literally saved the game for the Yankees over and over again, proving his ability in the clutch. Highlighted by his incredible performance in the postseason, Rivera has proved that he is best when the pressure is on. Even though he has inevitably faltered, like he did in the 2001 World Series, he bounced back because "you can’t second-guess baseball" and "you can't second-guess yourself". This type of persistence and determination is what sets him apart. His cutter-fastball is unique, and despite being thrown the majority of the time, it is still unstoppable. Against all odds and against all the pressure that comes with the types of situations he constantly finds himself in, Rivera remains calm. A hero, like Mariano Rivera, is a player who can contribute to the team and succeed in any situation.
ReplyDeleteRivera is a hero to fans and other players because he is humble, as other people have stated. But Rivera also has intense physical AND mental game, something necessary for his position, but also needed for most sports. He also accepts things as they are, saying “You can’t second-guess baseball," which makes him more likable because he doesn't complain about his or others' mistakes, he just accepts them.
ReplyDeleteA hero is someone who defies the normality of a position through one's attributes. Someone who exceeds the expectations and completes the task consistently set before them. Mariano is a hero in this sense. He has rare attributes as a pitcher that have lead him to be the iconic hero that he is today. As the article describes, Mariano is the coolest of the cool. His calmness and composure in draining moments of a baseball game are what separates him from the rest. All closers must have this trait to some extent, but Mariano exceeds all closers. He is past almost every other closer in terms of mentality in facing a pressure situation. This is what brought him to his heroic status. His "coolness" is what lead to his consistency as a closer, and without that consistency, he would not be as renowned as he is today.
ReplyDeleteWhat stands out to me about Mariano Rivera is his focus. He does not let his emotions or personal life get in the way of getting his job done. Unlike most players in the spotlight, Rivera's focus is dedicated entirely to baseball. He does not get distracted by personal attention and instead, fills his life with "virtue and duty and dignity." Rivera carries these qualities onto the field and treats the game with the utmost respect and focus, which allows him to play it at the highest level. He has become a hero because of his commitment and respect for the game.
ReplyDeleteMariano Rivera's ability to be himself is truly impressive. The article states the opinion that he has not changed must throughout the years, despite his raging fame. This is not an easy task and it stands as a role model to others. An example of this is when he would change into "street clothes" and go out into the stands during spring training to talk/give advice to random people. Its cool that he would do this without request.
ReplyDeleteHis team focused mentality is also very admirable. Baseball is a team sport, and its obvious that he understands this, always putting his team before himself.
His "philanthropic work" should not go unnoticed. Its great that he gives back to his community, on top of actually going back to Panama to lend support to those in need.
What makes Mariano Rivera a hero the way he handles the immense pressure that comes with his position. He is able to remain stoic in the face adversity and is reliable to get the job done when he is needed. His team trusts him. He respects the game, understanding his position and the tremendous responsibility and trust that comes with it. The way he handles this pressure is with a focus on the game. Rivera is not distracted by things outside of baseball, like the considerable fame and attention he has acquired as one of the greats. Instead he is a family oriented man, who gives back to his community with what ba. From the readings this semester, the common theme making great players into great heroes is the way they interact with the game. Treating the game with respect, has allowed him to endure within the setting of baseball.
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