Idolized Misery

In the last few weeks, as a faithful devotee of espn.com and lover of all sports everywhere, I note with sadness:

--Tank Johnson, Bears defensive lineman, is arrested for possession of 550 rounds of aummunition, unlabeled pills, and marijuana, and his bodyguard is shot and killed at a bar while he is present 2 days later

--Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys receiver who earlier in the year "accidentally" overdosed on pills, spits in the face of a defensive back during a game

--Allen Iverson, NBA star, complains about his team and then is ejected from his first game playing his old team (76ers), announcing to the press after the game that referee Steve Javie is out to get him

--Broncos defensive back Darrent Williams is shot in a drive-by at a party in Denver

--Michael Jordan divorces his wife

--brawl erupts between Knicks and Nuggets at the end of a basketball game

Could it be that the men we idolize in our culture are not as happy as we think they are? Could it be that there is a strange and wonderful and paradoxical joy in service and in other-elevation instead of self-elevation? Could it be that not only does lots of $$ not necessarily bring happiness, but it invariably brings misery, if not channeled on to others and thereby prevented from becoming an idol?

Yes.