Why Willie Mays?

In the '60s, things were much more innocent. You got what the local newspapers and your parents fed you and that was it. In 1970 I went to my first baseball game at Candlestick Park, S.F. Giants v. Cincinnati Reds; starting in centerfield was number 24, Willie "Say Hey" Mays. From that point on, he was my idol. I tried to hit like him, with the top hand flying off the bat on the follow through, and catch like him, the basket catch. He was an icon, the star of the local team. Oh there was Juan Marichal, Willie McCovey and later Chris Spier, but Willie was the guy. As a kid, he was just some vague "hero" who was a star. I knew nothing about his surliness to others, his off-field relationships, his contract status. All I knew was he hit .300, had 30 HRs and was the best fielding CF of all-time; and that's all I needed to know.

Sadly, I wonder for my boys how they will choose their idol and whether they will be overwhelmed with the facts (and innuendo) available. The thirst for knowledge has hit the oversaturation point where there is little left to the imagination for both youngsters and adults. Do I really need to know Barry Bonds' alleged lovers? I admit I am partly to blame because I could choose not to read about it. I'm not blaming the media, I'm blaming ourselves. The reading public needs to put their attention to more important matters rather than why Greg Anderson (Bonds' trainer) is a public figure, like which international mutual fund is the best value for the next 10 years. I've failed on that account but realize I need to do better.