The focus of this paper is the sports hero in the American Culture. The days of Americans worshipping athletes like "Joltin' Joe" DiMaggio, and "Broadway" Joe Namath appear to be over, right? Well, not quite. Attendance numbers, television ratings and merchandise sales are at an all-time high in the sports industry. Fantasy sports leagues and home video games in which fans can manage or even be their favorite players are wildly popular with fans of all ages. And perhaps the most upsetting indication that hero worship is alive and well, is the fact that increasing numbers of young athletes are bypassing college in order to achieve their dream of playing professional sports. In turn, sports heroes themselves are getting younger and younger. In the following pages, I will discuss these disturbing trends more closely, by tracing their roots, examining the present state of affairs, and predicting the future of the sports hero.
