Sports Character

It seems as if we live in a world where society is heavily invested in the troubles and downfalls of others. Where we consume ourselves with what may be considered the world’s current most addictive stimulant, i.e. social media. The search to stay in the know and the hunger for constant drama drives our culture.

Today we learn of how the world and we as a people were meant to exist:

During a recent road trip in Arizona a homeless man approached Blackhawks’ goalie, Scott Darling, asking for money.

Instead of avoiding him, as many of us often do, Darling made the choice to help.

In a story tweeted by Kane Van Gate, a beer-league goaltender who was in Arizona recently, Darling paid for the man to stay in a hotel for a month to help him get back on his feet.1

http://tinyurl.com/z54w62z

Thank you Scott Darling, your character genuinely speaks volumes. Seems as, if not every day, there’s news of some athlete who’s being sentenced for open execution to the public. Whether it be the platform that they’ve been so fortunate to be placed upon or misfortunate…there’s an issue within the concept. Society has placed greater emphasis on broadcasting breaking news on the Ray Rice’s, Greg Harding’s, Johnny Manziel’s, and (most recently making headlines) LeSean McCoy. We overlook the game's true heroes. There’s this shadow which overcast the platform athletes once stood so high upon.

Sport was once used to develop good character in the lives of young men. It was in which a game was created; to teach the principles and values of integrity, humility, civility, and excellence which was the American culture.

Scott Darling is excellence. When asked about the story, in which Scott was unaware that anyone knew of, he replied: "I definitely have a soft spot in my heart for that situation — people battling stuff that other people don't understand," Darling said. "He seemed like a really nice person. I'm in the position to help somebody like that. I'm happy to do it."2

We take this moment to highlight you Scott Darling.

http://tinyurl.com/jkoeqex

1NHL player helps homeless man get back on his feet. (2016, February 9). Retrieved February 14, 2016, from http://www.statesman.com/news/news/national/nhl-player-helps-homeless-man-get-back-his-feet/nqMSk/

2Hine, C. (2016, February 8). Blackhawks' Scott Darling helps needy man in Arizona — in a big way. Retrieved February 14, 2016, from http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/ct-blackhawkls-scott-darling-good-deed-20160208-story.html