Some say that professional sports and athletes/entertainers are the modern-day manifestations of the Romans and the Colosseum, where gladiators fought for entertainment. This comparison is not without merit. It is within the playing field that individuals find camaraderie, commitment, and community. That there is a clear-cut separation of forces, engagement, victory, and goals attained or valor tested.
The Heroes We Deserve
Several qualities make someone a great master of the sporting arena: a ringleader, a spotlight seeker, a genius at entrepreneurship, and a showperson’s magnetism. These individuals are not just athletes but also entrepreneurs, managers, and leaders. They deeply understand their own and their opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, have a curiosity about psychology and have the ability to create an environment that promotes excellence.
What makes a person stand out from the crowd in a time, place, and space where information, entertainment, personality, and message are paramount? Who becomes a success, a spokesperson, an influencer, a role model, or a public figure in the backstage part of the athletic contest? How do these people work amid such energy, the eye of the storm, and yet remain calm and efficient while all eyes are on them? How do they plan an effective strategy in the white heat of action?
Do I Look Like a Role Model to You?
Why do we view sports? For the same reasons that we enjoy drama: for the catharsis and expression of emotion. Sports provide a platform for emotional engagement, a splash of adrenaline, and a clear-cut field of competition. We enjoy seeing those who excel at something pursue it, even if it is kicking, catching, or diving after a ball or pinning an opponent to the mat.
We desire to see ourselves in the image of gods and goddesses, and perhaps professional sports stars, singers, rappers, and models are like demigods. They are not fully divine, but they possess extraordinary talent and are adored by many. We watch them, love them, make them wealthy, and celebrate them. And they, for their part, take it as their due, which is a just and fair reward to a divine being. And our celebrities, such as “Mister” Vince McMahon, with their tribulations and triumphs, loves, likes, affairs, feuds, and fights, are remarkable because they are commonplace. We have seen our Olympians–and they are us.
From the time of the original Olympics to today’s televised athletic content, we remain fascinated by feats of strength and courage. While substance is vital, style is a good look, too. Why not rock both? A great leader knows that charisma, at the end of the day, is based on camaraderie and connection–and even a villain has to care about someone or something else at the end of the day to be genuinely magnetic. And this is why we create and are compelled by our sports and entertainment superstars.