The Valley’s Victors

Sport shows us how high the human spirit can soar. Over the past two weeks, television viewers have witnessed the world’s athletes wipe away tears of joy as dreams were realized or stare at their feet as last chances were missed. And here and there amid the chatter, local viewers and readers were introduced to neighbors they may have never known they had: a crew of citizen-athletes whose love of a game took them to the Olympics.

Most of these local athletes stand out because they are like us, ordinary folks with extraordinary talents. Most are amateurs, not professionals who are paid stacks of cash to endorse burgers or batteries. They are doctors, students and parents. As the Olympic flame in Atlanta dies today, they return home to the same bills we all share, the same lines at the checkout counter.

Whether they come home with medals around their necks or just the memories of a lifetime, all of the athletes deserve congratulations and gratitude. Softball shortstop Dot Richardson, whose powerful home-run swing helped her team win the gold, returns home to Sherman Oaks and to her residency at County-USC. She’s also a contender to have her likeness featured on the Wheaties box. Gail Devers returns to Mission Hills with a gold in the 100-meter dash. And Mark Crear of Valencia, who struggled with a childhood of abuse to become one of the world’s finest sprinters, boasts a silver in the 110-meter hurdles.

But the intangible qualities they and their teammates bring home are better than any medal. They showed us that when we dare to dream, when we dedicate our energy to what we love, we connect again with the victor inside all of us. They remind us of the rewards that sacrifice can bring. They prove that heroes are often a lot like us. They just try harder, reach deeper--and, of course, they can jump a little higher and run a little faster.

Welcome home, neighbors.