When Great Sportsmen Fall Short

In less than two weeks, two men in Texas who are recognized as great orators, community developers, and leaders have fallen into difficulty.

One man was, as many believe, provoked by his estranged wife. The other man was supposedly locked out of his building because of legal or mortgage problems.

On an international level, Tiger Woods is another man who many respect. He too, has been identified as a man who seemed prone to go too far with outside friendships or affairs.

Michael Vick seems to also be heading in the same direction, after his tumultous episode.

We can look back at the archives and see that great men and women fall short no matter what their profession may be.

Ministers, NFL players, coaches, and others have had their bouts with poor choices and the subsequent media mess that is stirred up when those poor choices are uncovered.

The question I like to ask people: Can a man change? How much time does it take for a man to change for the better?

Many men in the world of sports have had emotional, social, legal, and financial problems which hit the media like a storm. We hear of their "fall" with a loud, thunderous shout of front page coverage, and prime-time news flashes.

Now, as we think back about some of these great men who were the "Humpty Dumptys" of the sports world, do we often hear of their "change" in life, their renewed commitment to do the right thing, and to turn their lives around?

In fact, some of these older men changed their choices and behaviors years ago, but in many cases, the media has not blasted out a release of their rehabilitation, reform, repentance, recovery, or even their redemption.

So I hereby challenge those of us who love to write human interest stories in the world of sports to find some of these old men and women, and write about their new direction.

No doubt these stories will teach the next generation that men and women can change. They can break addictions, build a stronger character, and make positive contributions to society and to the well-being of those in their immediate environment.

It may be a challenge to find these men and women. Nevertheless, the joy of knowing that some men and women who have had great difficulties because of their poor choices during their youth or during the prime of their careers will be real evidence that great sportsmen who fell short can indeed rise above those early failures.

I believe a man or woman can change. Now, I must do research and find them and tell some of their stories of their recovery.

Join me in this pursuit.