Real Heroes

I do not mean to be a sports curmudgeon on the eve of the Super Bowl, but this time of year I am always reminded of who the real superstars are. We idolize professional football players for their toughness and strength, but they are hardly remarkable in comparison to the men and women of our Armed Forces who risk their lives every day to protect us. Pro football players are essentially millionaires in tight pants that make their money by skillfully moving an oddly shaped ball around a field. They may sustain a few bumps and bruises in their play, but the outcome of their game is hardly meaningful or significant in the big scheme of things. Regardless of the outcome, after the game they will get into their Mercedes or Hummers and return to their penthouses for a bubble bath and a $50 steak. Our service men and women, on the other hand, sleep on uncomfortable cots, eat bad food and live with the chance of getting maimed or killed whenever they go to work. Let us enjoy the Super Bowl, but as we watch the millionaires in tight pants scurry about, let's not forget who the real superstars are.