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Post by Mr. Atari on Jun 6, 2010 19:24:59 GMT -5
I've got two that are still huge heroes of mine.
Lou Gehrig. In 1927, he had 175 RBIs. Even more impressive when you realize that he hit after Babe Ruth in the lineup, so he came up to bat at least 60 times with no one on base. I'm a big fan of reliability.
Neil Armstrong. I mean, come on. Neil Frickin' Armstrong. If you ever get a chance to read a biography of him, do it. Even before he walked on the moon, he was the bravest SOB not named Yeager. And the way he's carried himself since 1969 is almost even more impressive.
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Post by GProopdog on Jun 6, 2010 19:29:24 GMT -5
Another hero of mine from the movies: Groucho Marx.
I grew up wishing I could have a fraction of the wit and say as many funny zingers as Groucho did to people in the movies he was in.
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Post by bobjohnson on Jun 7, 2010 21:03:23 GMT -5
John Lennon
Tyler Durden
Brett Favre
Daria Morgendorfer
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Post by stevehadcrackers on Jun 8, 2010 13:25:40 GMT -5
Great thread idea! I'm 22 and I feel like I'm still growing up. Arrested development and all that.
When I was a little girl, it was Judy Garland and Lucille Ball. Once I hit about age 9, it was Princess Leia. That was the first instance I can recall of honestly just being completely in awe of an actress/character. I thought Carrie Fisher was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, and I wanted to look just like her. I wanted to be strong and witty like Princess Leia. I wanted that weird hair. And hell, I just really, really liked Star Wars.
Once I hit 13, it was Cyndi Lauper. I had never seen anyone who was so different and talented. I'm sounding trite, but 13 is a hard age for anyone, and as someone who had always been made to feel strange, it was a horrible time for me. Cyndi Lauper set me free and made me feel like it was not only ok to be different, but that it could actually be cool. I still idolize her to this day. I think everyone probably has someone like that. Debbie Harry also did this for me, to a lesser extent.
I also idolize David Bowie beyond all comprehensible thought. But that wasn't something that occurred while I was growing up, so it doesn't really count.
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Post by Chuck on Jun 8, 2010 17:58:28 GMT -5
Zappa
Janis
Jeff Beck
Alfred Hitchcock
Steve Reeves
Lugosi, Karloff, Price, Lorre et al.
The British counterparts: Lee and Cushing
I could go on, but I won't.
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Post by Ratso on Jun 8, 2010 19:11:15 GMT -5
Can you go into more detail about this please? |
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Post by Don Quixote on Jun 8, 2010 21:37:24 GMT -5
Can you go into more detail about this please? He completely broke physics to make a cold gun. He completely obliterated current robotics by making a walking refrigerator suit that triples his strength. He went out and killed people and stole not because he was crazy, but because he was focused. He was totally devoted to his wife. It is one of the more demented love stories ever. Man breaks physics, revolutionizes both refrigeration and robotics technology all for his wife, suspended in freeze-y liquid. So yeah, it's the Batman TAS Freeze, but still, damn, man. |
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Post by Pierre Trudeau on Jun 12, 2010 12:55:18 GMT -5
Hmm... my earliest that I can remember was probably U2. I thought they were the coolest, most epic thing ever when I was 3. Thank you for being a babysitter to me, 80s MTV!
After that and even to this day my hero is Mario Lemieux. As a kid I would have given my left leg to have met him. I loved and respected him so much for everything he did and overcame.
Now, I'm really proud that I not only picked a great idol as a kid, but the guy is just such an incredible force. Those outside of Pittsburgh probably don't know, but the man has done so much for his adopted hometown. He saved the Penguins almost single-handedly, he does amazing charity work for people in this city through his foundation, and he actually cares about the area and the people. He made sure that the new arena they built here is one of the best ever. He made sure it's in tune with Pittsburgh's awareness for the environment- it's going to have the LEED certification of Gold (green building). He's even trying to save the Pirates- LOL!
But honestly, Mario Lemieux is an amazing person- one of the best ever to play hockey and one of the best humans in general. I'm so, so honoured to live in the same city as someone like that.
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Post by Chuck on Jun 12, 2010 14:30:20 GMT -5
And I actually forgot one that really is kind of important:
Julia Child.
I watched her as a kid, and loved her all my life.
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Post by mst3ktemple on Jun 12, 2010 18:16:13 GMT -5
This is a pretty thought provoking questions.
Walter Cronkite (always seemed like you could trust everything he said)
Jacques Cousteau (coolest job ever)
The Beatles (best group ever)
Gregory Peck (coolest actor ever)
Alistair Cooke (great insights in his "America" book and TV specials)
Thomas Jefferson (my elementary school was named after him)
Will Robinson (I always thought "I can do that someday")
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Post by Skyroniter on Jun 13, 2010 17:33:09 GMT -5
Frank Zappa.
Loved his anti-establishment attitude and his music. I kinda looked like him. Except the 'stache. Had the hair, nose, and skinniness. I've since lost two out of three. Along with the attitude.
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Post by inlovewithcrow on Jun 14, 2010 11:48:28 GMT -5
My eldest sister was one. She chased rock and rock bands, smoked pot, and hung out with White Panthers, and she took me to radical places when I was just a kid, to concerts, etc. I thought all that was totally cool.
Alas, in my day, there weren't many good female role models in the mass media. Women in TV were depicted as weak,dependent, or sex objects. Little did I know there were great women out there pretending to be demure while behind the scenes they ran the show. Take, for instance, Dale Evans, who was the manager, money person, and songwriter for Roy Rogers, the brains behind him. Or take Barbara Billingsly, who had to play that vapid TV character but was actually a pretty cool woman.
So I looked to men. One hero was Cassius Clay, for refusing to fight in the war. Another was Curt Flood (now there's a name no one is going to recognize!) Wiki him--it's the baseball reserve clause stuff. John Lennon.
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Post by solgroupie on Jun 14, 2010 13:52:51 GMT -5
i've been reading everyone's posts wondering why i couldn't think of anyone to add when it hit me today - dur - my father. he's an amazing man who has overcome many obstacles in his life with grace, strength and determination. i'm constantly in awe of him.
p.s. plus, he can beat up your dad.
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Post by pablo on Jun 14, 2010 17:37:32 GMT -5
Growing up, my older sisters acquired Beatlemania to which I was exposed to.
I listened to their records that my sisters played.
I duly devolped a fondness, a love, for their music and they themselves.
I would thusly, have to offer The Beatles as my childhood heroes but extending into my adult life as well.
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Post by Phantom Engineer on Jun 23, 2010 13:54:58 GMT -5
How could I forget Rod Serling? The guy had a lot of integrity. Most Twilight Zone's were essentially morality tales. He snuck in a lot of social issues in the guise of fantasy and sci fi that wouldn't have been allowed otherwise. He saw through a lot of the BS and hypocrisy of show biz. A pretty cool dude.
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