• Salt Lake City: Scattered Clouds 88°
partlycloudy
Deseret News
Home
  • Login/Register
    • Mobile
    • Mobile Site
    • Text Version
    • Mobile Apps
Powered by YAHOO! SEARCH
  • News
  • Sports
  • Moneywise
  • Opinion
  • Faith
  • Family
  • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
    • Cars
    • Jobs
    • Deals
powered by ksl.com
  • Jazz
  • BYU
  • Utes
  • USU
  • RSL
  • Bees
  • High School
  • Rock
  • Harmon
  • More Sports
    • Watch It
    • Scores and Stats
    • On TV
    • NFL
    • MLB
    • WSU
    • Grizzlies
    • UVU
    • SUU
    • Sports Wire
  • Sports Picks
Advertise with usReport this ad

Amy Donaldson: Despite Lance Armstrong's lies and the Manti Te'o situation, I believe we need inspiring stories more than ever

  • Print
  • Font [+] [-]
  • 7 Comments »

By Amy Donaldson, Deseret News

Published: Sunday, Jan. 20 2013 7:45 p.m. MST

Photo
  • View 1 photo »
Summary

Inspiring sports stories don't just make us feel good — they motivate us to be more determined, to be stronger and to be better versions of ourselves. They need to continue to be told, even if we in the media need to change how we tell them.

More Coverage
  • Te'o to be interviewed by Katie Couric

My cousin alerted me to a story about two little boys, Connor Green and Cayden Long, who compete in triathlons together as Team Long Brothers. No big deal, except Long, 6, has cerebral palsy and has to be pushed, pulled and carried throughout each race by Green, his brother, who is 9.

LeBron James was at an awards ceremony where Sports Illustrated named the duo Sports Kids of the Year, and James said he planned to show the video version of their story to his two young sons so they'd know how they should take care of each other.

He said he wouldn't have to lecture any more — just tell the story.

Life is long and sometimes it's pretty brutal. It's important to find inspiration in our own lives.

Athletes have a platform given to them simply because they are excellent in one area, and our admiration makes that platform more powerful.

I'm the first to admit our affection for athletes is disproportionate for what they do, and I'll concede the media is partly responsible for that. But that doesn't make these kinds of stories any less compelling or important. In fact, it may make them more critical.

Athletics teach us lessons when we're not even open to learning. We share those stories, and again, the lessons come in a way that makes them much more powerful — and palatable — than if you had simply read the definitions of hard work, team work and commitment.

If I've gained any answers this week, it's simply that we need to continue embracing these stories, even as we (the media) become more diligent about verifying them, and as we (the fans) keep them in perspective as we consume them.

Twitter: adonsports

Email: adonaldson@desnews.com

Related Stories
  • Te'o to be interviewed by Katie Couric

  • «Prev
  • Page:
  • 1
  • 2

Featured Comments

See all 7 comments »
higv
Dietrich, ID

It is devastating to lose a loved one. That said books like especially for mormons can be especailly morbid. Someone dying to get poing across. The guy that sacrifices son for strangers on train, Bill saving siblings from fire and dying, someone More..

  • 7:06 a.m. Jan. 21, 2013
  • Top comment
Say No to BO
Mapleton, UT

Singers, actors, politicians and athletes generally have huge egos that require attention.
It behooves reporters to verify any backstories they are supplied. Ink-hungry celebrities have been known to embellish their biographies for personal More..

  • 10:47 a.m. Jan. 21, 2013
  • Top comment
EJM
Herriman, UT

Here is someone who continued telling his "narrative" even after (supposedly) finding out that his "girlfriend" was fake. Why? Because he is, like so many in the world today, starved for attention. I have gotten to the point where if More..

  • 4:39 p.m. Jan. 21, 2013
  • Top comment
Comments
Leave a comment »

DeseretNews.com encourages a civil dialogue among its readers. We welcome your thoughtful comments.
— About comments

About the Author
Amy Donaldson

Amy Donaldson

Amy Donaldson covers high school sports, winter and Olympic sports, as well as outdoor and recreation. She contributes to the Deseret News' Reasons to Run blog, as well as a twice-a-month fitness column. She also writes a more ..

  • Connect:
Advertise with usReport this ad
What You May Have Missed
  • Father figure: Perceptions of God may stem from father-child relationships
  • Superman continues history of casting religious shadows
  • Science and human heart both say dads important to a kid's life
Sample sports edition email
Advertise with usReport this ad
Most Popular
Across Site
In Sports
  • Dick Harmon: Bronco Mendenhall and Cecil O....
  • Recruiting: Austin Kafentzis commits to play...
  • Utah Jazz: Massive, state-of-the-art...
  • BYU football: Cougars must secure their own...
  • Rock On: Getting up to speed at BYU, Jazz's...
  • Ready to roll: US national soccer team ready...
  • Commentary: The 15 kings of BYU football, the...
  • Utah Jazz: Syracuse point guard Michael...
  • My husband Alex Boye grilled in UK for 'I'm a...
  • Miss Utah USA's bungled interview creates...
  • Dick Harmon: Bronco Mendenhall and Cecil O....
  • Amy Adams, Glenn Beck present different takes...
  • Doug Robinson: Utah man's new running shoe...
  • Recruiting: Austin Kafentzis commits to play...
  • Utah Jazz: Massive, state-of-the-art...
  • Dear mom who sometimes feels like a terrible...
Get The Deseret News Everywhere

Subscribe

Mobile

Facebook

Twitter

RSS

Email

Most Commented
Across Site
In Sports
  • BYU football: Cougars must secure their... 143
  • Phil Steele ranks USU 2nd-most... 28
  • Dick Harmon: Bronco Mendenhall and... 25
  • Trevor Reilly, Jake Murphy to represent... 20
  • Teen's family apologizes to family of... 20
  • Austin Collie's workout with San... 18
  • Dick Harmon: Dick Harmon: Unprecedented... 18
  • Recruiting: Austin Kafentzis commits to... 13
  • BYU football: Cougars must secure their... 143
  • My husband Alex Boye grilled in UK for... 54
  • Commentary: Neither the Utes nor Aggies... 54
  • Pew study: News media inserted bias... 49
  • Holding offers from Utah, USU, American... 48
  • Survey: Gay and lesbian population has... 41
  • BYU football: Mendenhall calls 2012... 39
  • Prophet calls for tolerance, kindness... 39
Advertise with usReport this ad
Advertise with usReport this ad
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Moneywise
  • Opinion
  • Faith
  • Family
  • Obituaries
Home »
  • Blogs
  • Topics
  • Lists
  • Movies
  • Columnists
  • Watch It
News »
  • Utah news
  • World & Nation
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Education
  • Salt Lake County
  • Utah County
  • Davis County
  • Police/Courts
  • Legislature
  • Weather
  • Immigration
  • News Wire
Sports »
  • Utah Jazz
  • Sports Picks
  • BYU Cougars
  • Utah Utes
  • Utah State Aggies
  • Real Salt Lake
  • Salt Lake Bees
  • High school sports
  • Rock
  • Harmon
  • Watch It
  • Scores and Stats
  • On TV
  • NFL
  • MLB
  • Weber State Wildcats
  • Grizzlies
  • Utah Valley Wolverines
  • Southern Utah University
  • Sports Wire
Opinion »
  • Editorials
  • Op-Eds
  • Letters
  • Political Cartoons
Faith »
  • Featured Faiths
  • Mormon Times
  • LDS Church News
  • Mission Reunions
  • Faith Wire
Family »
  • Marriage & Parenting
  • Family Media
  • Movie Guide
  • Calendar
  • TV Listings
  • Family Life Wire
Special Sections »
  • Education Week
  • LDS General Conference
  • Mormons in America
  • Olympics
  • Outdoor Retailer
  • Rugby
  • Sports Picks
  • Sundance Film Festival
  • Utah Blaze
  • Utah Grizzlies
  • Print Subscription
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • FAQ
  • Feedback
  • Jobs
  • RSS
  • E-Edition
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Legal notices
  • Advertise with us
Advertise with usReport this ad
Connect tracking