I have a tremendous amount of respect for Cossack's viewpoint. He is exactly the credible legal voice that ESPN needs to balance out a testosterone filled broadcast booth of ex-athletes. I would listen to Cossack every day if it weren't for the fact that I am getting tired of athletes screwing up.   
   
DUI charges, rape allegations, dog-fighting, accomplice to murder and perjury, these are the stories in which we heed Cossack's legal opinion. He's intelligent and informative. The problem, I wish Cossack could go on vacation. I wish that we could have a few months where athletes acted like grown ups. More importantly like law abiding citizens that didn't think that their physical prowess meant that they could live above the law.   
   
Let me give accolades to the many pro-athletes that are good people in and out of the spotlight. Congratulations, you have done what most law abiding Americans do every day. It's called leading life with integrity. A personal accountability to oneself and one's family is how most men and women go to bed at night with clear consciences.    
   
So once again as we sit through another infamous day of sports news and drama, we have to look at ourselves. We must look at what we value and what we hold most important in our lives. Sport is one of the largest forms of entertainment in the world. We sink and swim with our favorite players and teams. Yet as we endure one scandal after the next we might just need a little more distance from our favorite and our most passionate hobby.    
   
We may need to look at the people we hold as heroes. Heroic for their accomplishments as athletes and entertainers, most definitely. However the word hero literally means "protector", "defender" or "guardian."  It is a word that is used for those who face adversity and display courage and self-sacrifice for the greater good. Heroes are selfless protectors. Heroes are in our lives everyday, but they might not exist in the tabloids or on in-game highlights. Instead we may look to the simplest places for the heroes in our lives, those who motivate us, bring us up and provide hope even in the hardest times.   
   
Unfortunately, sports stars aren't heroes, they are entertainers. Athletes can be heroes to their own families and friends, but not to you. They exist in the public eye and are often times given greater responsibility than they asked for when they began practicing as a kid. However, we ask that they fill roles that are beyond their capabilities.   
   
Let's use perspective. Leave the praise we give to pro athletes on the court or on the field. Let's honor the real heroes in our lives. Let's expect the same from athletes as we do from our neighbors. The truth is we rely to much upon celebrities to be role models and fine examples of how we could be. Instead we should admire those that are capable of meeting our expectations and have the attributes of what it truly means to be a hero.   
   
Regardless of whether Clemens is telling the truth or not, he is not a hero. He is a great pitcher who accomplished many milestones on the field. He has played a game and has done well. He may be a hero to his kids or his wife, but not to you or I.   
   
Enjoy the next game you watch, scream and shout, wear the jersey, talk about it with friends. Realize it is an amazing form of entertainment. It's great competition and it's just a game. Know that you can be a hero to someone else. Know that heroes exist in real life not in games.