Modern life is fickle as people are bombarded with constant news updates from around the globe. In the age of the internet, with countless newspapers each day and hundreds of television channels, there is no escaping the relentless advance of a tidal wave of news. As a child, one looks up to a small group of people: parents, an older brother or cousin and in many cases footballers or sports men or women who have made headlines through their achievements. As a young lad I wanted to be a midfielder wearing an England shirt. For hours, I used to play in my back garden against the wall or shed imagining I was in the shadow of the famous Twin Towers at  Wembley scoring the winning goal.

Modern-day heroes come in different shapes and sizes: just consider how many children want to be David Beckham; how many older men copy his style and especially his haircut. Wayne Rooney, Ronaldinho and Tiger Woods are singled out from thousands of people and then followed, copied as if they are Supermen, but then the press find their kryptonite and try to wipe them out. Sporting superheroes are a dying breed. As a young kid mine was Lee Sharpe, quick, skilful and had the best celebrations. He also had his wild child side which Alex Ferguson did not like! When I look back at other players who I looked up at or have looked up to, Gazza absolute genius on a football pitch but had his demons, George Best we all know about his crazy life style and Maradonna a real genius but everyone knows his habits and drug problems.

These are all heroes, more now because I can relate to them, for two reasons they were top of their game and not that they had problems but even heroes had their faults – making them almost breakable. Growing older and doesn’t always mean growing wiser. Earning money and doing what you love doesn’t always make you happy.

Then comes to the stereotypical superheroes, Jesse Owens, broke world records at the 1936 Olympics, Michael Johnson, dominated world athletics across the 90s, broke 2 world records and is an example to anyone. The list goes on Pete Sampras, Arthur Ashe, Steffi Graff, Michael Jordan, Ian Botham, Freddie Flintoff, Jamie Redknapp, Glenn Hoddle, Steven Gerrard and Paul Davis to name a few. I do not think that results or achievements ultimately make a sports person, rather, I feel that their character and aura they give off in the sport or sporting arena makes them stand out more. A greater athlete by results does not define greatness in my honest opinion. I feel sportsman put things into perspective and I always want to emulate their achievements..

When you are talented or the greatest in your profession or sport does it does not mean you are perfect. Being flawed helps me relate more to the sports
person. Someone who seems to be perfect is hard to compare yourself with. Being flawed is a good, because you always want to improve yourself in
whatever you take part in.  

My point is, to me sporting superheroes aren’t just the best and most dominate in their sport but the ones who are top of their game, had a spark and were at the end of the day someone you can aspire to and relate too and they don’t have to have a cape or made up superpower.