Today, when we seem to have more “celebrities” than ever, I think it’s an opportune time to remember those who just led remarkable lives before social media and the 24-hour news cycle.
Willie Mays was just such a person.
My childhood sports love was baseball, and I came of age in the 1960s. It was America’s sport then, and our exposure was the occasional TV game on weekends and the sports page in the newspaper.
We always built our personal schedules around those options for seeing the games and different individuals.
While there were many great baseball players in the 1950s and 1960s, there were a few that everyone knew and loved: Mickey Mantle, Sandy Kofax, and many others – and, of course, Willie Mays.
Every year was a good year for Willie, with no issues that he blamed on others.
It isn’t hard to be good from time to time in sports. What is tough is being good every day. ~ Willie Mays
All of this was happening at a pivotal time in our country, with the growth of the baby boomers, civil rights, and the Vietnam War. Through all of this, Willie continued to have a smile on his face, a positive attitude, and just played great baseball.
I was very fortunate to play sports. All the anger in me went out. I had to do what I had to do. If you stay angry all the time, then you really don’t have a good life. ~ Willie Mays
He is someone I look up to, and he never disappointed me with selfish or improper behavior.
Do yourself a favor and watch the MLB 11 minute documentary of this great baseball player – and great man.
Thank you, Willie, for being a true hero and role model for so many of us!
