The Dread Slender Gnome on Nostr: Anyone remember Michael Edwards? I do. Or rather I remember him by the name he was ...
Anyone remember Michael Edwards?
I do.
Or rather I remember him by the name he was known as in Finland when I was growing up, as Eddie Edwards.
Apparently in English he was Eddie-the-Eagle.
He was a ski jumper, and back then everybody followed ski jumping where I lived. And everyone knew about Edwards. He was famous for not being a success, but for always coming in dead last.
The kids around me all thought him ridiculous because he would turn up even though everyone, including himself, knew he would come in last, with a clear margin. They all thought that he should've just stayed at home. And at the time, while I didn't have a particularly strong opinion on it, I didn't think to question that view.
I've since come to think the opposite.
Michael Edwards was the epitome of a real sport hero*. He knew he was always going to come in last, he knew he had no hope of any real achievement when it came to the score boards.
But he kept showing up, despite of that. He kept going, because that's what he wanted to do. Never mind the disadvantages and screw the naysayers.
Edwards kept showing up, doing his best and didn't give a damn about anything else.
Very few people can do what Andreas Goldberger or Toni Nieminen did.
But anyone can do what Edwards did.
Keep showing up, keep trying, and keep doing one's best.
So when it comes to sport, in my opinion, Edwards is a far better role model than the likes of Michael Phelps or Florence Griffith-Joyner.
*In before someone starts ragging on him for something else, I don't care about that, and I in fact expect every person to have a bad side. I'm only interested here on the example he showed when it came to sports.
I do.
Or rather I remember him by the name he was known as in Finland when I was growing up, as Eddie Edwards.
Apparently in English he was Eddie-the-Eagle.
He was a ski jumper, and back then everybody followed ski jumping where I lived. And everyone knew about Edwards. He was famous for not being a success, but for always coming in dead last.
The kids around me all thought him ridiculous because he would turn up even though everyone, including himself, knew he would come in last, with a clear margin. They all thought that he should've just stayed at home. And at the time, while I didn't have a particularly strong opinion on it, I didn't think to question that view.
I've since come to think the opposite.
Michael Edwards was the epitome of a real sport hero*. He knew he was always going to come in last, he knew he had no hope of any real achievement when it came to the score boards.
But he kept showing up, despite of that. He kept going, because that's what he wanted to do. Never mind the disadvantages and screw the naysayers.
Edwards kept showing up, doing his best and didn't give a damn about anything else.
Very few people can do what Andreas Goldberger or Toni Nieminen did.
But anyone can do what Edwards did.
Keep showing up, keep trying, and keep doing one's best.
So when it comes to sport, in my opinion, Edwards is a far better role model than the likes of Michael Phelps or Florence Griffith-Joyner.
*In before someone starts ragging on him for something else, I don't care about that, and I in fact expect every person to have a bad side. I'm only interested here on the example he showed when it came to sports.