Jason Witten: A Modern Day Hero

Batman, Superman, Thor, and Spider-man are all examples of heroes. A hero is a person that exhibits the traits of courageousness, braveness, and selflessness. In the novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, John the Savage is a hero. He is an outsider raised on a reservation. He comes into play later into the book that turns out to be the son of the director of the Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre. John becomes a hero throughout the book, but his life ends tragically. John the Savage is most noted as a hero in Brave New World because he does not blend into society, is an outside but turns it positive, and fights against the society’s standards.

A good hero is someone who is courageous, kind, tough, patient, and helpful. Walter Payton fills all of the requirements to be a good hero, mainly by being tough and kind. Walter Payton was a running back for the NFL’s Chicago Bears. Throughout his career, he broke as many records as any back ever. Many people say he is the most well-rounded back in NFL history. Walter was also one of the greatest philanthropists the NFL has ever seen. He started the Walter Payton Foundation, which helps underprivileged children. In 1999, Walter found out that he had primary sclerosing cholangitis. He found time to raise money for this rare disease. Sadly, Walter Payton died later that year, but his legacy was carried on. Walter Payton deserves to be recognized due to his football career and charitable acts as evidenced by his acts of kindness and toughness.

Heroes come in many different shapes and sizes. Not all heroes wear capes or have huge logos on their chest but are the ones who go beyond the call of duty. Heroes step up in times of need when most will not. A hero can also be someone who uses their disability to make a difference rather than looking at their disability as a hindrance. I believe Steve Gleason qualifies as the perfect example of this type of hero. Steve Gleason, former New Orleans Saints player, became famous when he blocked a punt versus the Atlanta Falcons during the first game back in the Super Dome. The other reason Steve Gleason is famous is because of his battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and how he has used his disability to make a difference. Steve Gleason exemplifies heroic qualities through his courage, altruism, and selflessness.

There’s no doubt that concussions in football has become a major problem, not just for the professional athletes, but for kids of all ages from age 8 to 19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has shown that concussion have doubled in the last decade and The American Academy of Pediatrics says that, “emergency room visits for concussions in children ages 8 to 13 years old has doubled, and concussions have risen 200 percent among teens ages 14 to 19 in the last decade” (Keith Dunlap, The Oakland Press). This shows that the seriousness of concussions is not just an issue at a pro level but an issue throughout all levels of play. The risk is definitely present when you play football but it shouldn’t stop parents from letting their children participate in the sport. Playing organized sports such as football isn’t just a place to get injured, it’s a place where your children can learn the importance of teamwork, sportsmanship, toughness, competitiveness, they learn succeed, and also they learn about failure. The parents who don’t allow their children to play sports don’t let their kids learn about these important lessons of organized sports. Football is also a way for kids to take their anger and struggles out in the game and help them express themselves. It can also be a way for kids in bad situations to get a way out, to try and reach the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Walter Payton, running back for the dominant 1985 Chicago Bears team that went 15-1 and won the Superbowl, is one of the best running backs in NFL history. Walter Payton was also known for his philanthropy off the field, earning him the nickname “Sweetness”. There is now an award given out every year called the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, which recognizes players for their charitable contributions off the field as well as their excellence on the field. The last recipient of this award was Thomas Davis, a Carolina Panthers linebacker. Walter “Sweetness” Payton died in 1999 of cancer. He was one of the most influential athletes in history, not just due to his ability on the field, but also because of his persona. Stats, influence on the game, and persona off the field are how a player’s influence should be measured. The three most influential quarterbacks of the last twenty five years of the twentieth century are Warren Moon, Joe Montana, and Jim Kelly.

Born Jan. 24th 1996, Marcus J. Washington born in Silver Spring,MD but was raised in Bowie,MD & Edgefield, South Carolina. Marcus knew there was something in him that would separate himself from the rest. He wasn't no normal kid who just live life and go about his day. He has always wanted the best for him and found himself doing new and creative things.

Beowulf; a man whose greatness begun when he saved an entire kingdom from the clutches of the vile monster Grendel. Beowulf was known for countlessly putting his body and his life on the line to save his people. His courage and determination is what kept his legacy alive for all of these years. Not only that, but the respect he had for the people around him made him a remembered warrior as well. That’s what I think makes a hero. Being determined to get a job done, having the courage to step in and complete that job, and having enough respect for your people to still obey their wishes despite your apparent fame. The hero I will be writing about is the fictional Marvel Comics character known as the Black Panther (real name T’Challa). He and Beowulf

Rhetorical Analysis Essay: Gay Culverhouse Concussions have become a high priority head injury at all levels of football, but is being spotlighted on the National Football League (NFL) and a well-known issue among retired players who are now suffering the long-term effects of their years as football players. Today when we see a famous football player our attention is on the six figure contracts, million dollar houses, and fast cars. We don’t see the enormous pressure these players are put under and the hardships they put their bodies through every day so their families are taken care of for the rest of their lives. Gay Culverhouse, the former owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has become an activist for former players through her book, Throwaway Players: The Concussion Crisis: From Pee Wee Football to the NFL. The book is filled with emotionally pulling stories and tons of statistics.

One corporate social responsibility fear that the NFL is up against is the care of the former players who have transformed the league. The problem at hand is that former players feel that they don’t get the proper medical, emotional, and financial support they earned once they are no longer playing in the league. In July 2012 the “NFL Life Line” was created in an effort decrease the number of suicides that former players have filed against the NFL. There have also been about ten to twelve known players who have committed suicide because of symptoms from a condition called Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. The condition can come from too much blunt force trauma to the head.

But Russell wilson isn't all about football he also started the Why not you foundation which helps kids with cancer, diabetes and world hunger

It was the summer of 2012 when Jason Witten, one of the most distinguished tight ends to ever play the game suffered a lacerated spleen when former Raider and now teammate linebacker Rolando McClain unloaded on Witten during the Cowboys’ first preseason game. Witten would miss the rest of summer action and was doubtful to return for the Cowboys’ season opener against the rival Giants, but the consummate professional overcame all odds and didn’t miss any games. Witten would go on to turn a stagnant start into an NFL record-setting-season for most receptions (110) by a tight end – eclipsing the great Tony Gonzalez’ record of 102 receptions he set in 2004.

The media has improved over the past years with exposing people of their wrongdoings. However, the media affects many athletes in their professional and personal lives exemplified especially in the life of T. O. (Terrell Owens). T.O. was an outstanding professional football player who was sought after by many professional National Football League teams. T.O. played for the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Allen Wranglers, and Seattle Seahawks. Fame and fortune helped evolve T.O. into staring on his own reality television show while he was playing in the National Football League. With this notoriety T.O. routinely demonstrated his toughness on and off the football field

Witten was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He is the son of Lorraine (Wollach) Witten and Louis Witten, a theoretical physicist specializing in gravitation and general relativity.[3]

This week’s Lectures were interesting because it talked about what defines a hero. This hero we talk about was Jason but a different hero from the gods. He didn’t use the powers which someone would be born with from the gods instead Jason used all the resources and people to complete task to save other people. Sometimes these methods he applied such as finding the Golden Fleece by using Medea to kill her brother to save Jason and then in turn he ditched Medea would harm somebody and but help someone else. He basically used people and doesn’t care what happens to people and cities around him. So is a hero who saves the day for one person or is a hero meant to protect

This is so because, they are selfless, they show their power through kindness, and can inspire others. One act can make someone a hero, this is so because they chose to put lives in front of them, instead of saving themselves despite the risk of death. This was proven in the article, “man in the water” by Roger Rosenblatt. In the said article, a plane crashed into the ocean, when passengers swam out they hung onto the tailpiece awaiting rescue. When help did arrive the unidentified hero kept passing the life buoy in order to save others lives.