I Am Legend! And You Might Be One Too
It's official! anyone who has done something in the public eye and/or of note is a "legend". There isn't much imagination among journalist to come up with another descriptive word other than legend or legendary. Legend is defined as: a story coming down from the past; especially : one popularly regarded as historical although not verifiable b: a popular myth of recent origin.
I hear this word constantly ascribed to athletes and entertainers daily. Some of them are very good at what they do and have been for a long time; however to deem them "legends" simply because they have been in their respective field for a decade is hyperbolic at best. Much of this is done out of pure laziness. I guess it's too much work to spend a few seconds searching for a simpler term like veteran, pioneer or famed. Instead of calling Wayne Newton a Las Vegas veteran, its sounds more glossy to describe him as a 'Las Vegas Legend'. Maybe in this case after forty years we should give Wayne his legendary props.
As a big fan of the sport of mixed martial arts, it seems that every fighter that was active in this relatively young sport in 1998 and 99' is called "legendary". Soul singer John Stephens didn't bother even putting out a record first. He chose to call himself John Legend before anyone even knew who he was. For my own amusement, I conducted a Google news search using the word 'legendary". I learned that Legendary Rock Photographer Jim Marshall died. Who? I also learned also that Legendary math teacher Jaime Escalante died also. Why is he a legend? He was portrayed by Edward James Olmos in the film "Stand and Deliver". Did you know that there was also a film in the works for late legendary surfer Jay Moriarty? Maybe the film can help me understand who in the heck he is. This is just more proof that many words have been watered down from overuse and simply don't have the meaning they once did.
There are true legends in their respective fields. Muhammad Ali, Pele, Jim Brown in sports. James Brown, Elvis, Frank Sinatra and BB King in entertainment. And who wouldn't call actor Richard Roundtree of 'shaft' fame a legend? For the leather jacket if nothing else. The term should apply to those that have made an impact in their professions. Those who have either blazed a trail or whom others seek to emulate. It is now come to apply to anyone whose notoriety has lasted at least a decade.
I do understand that in an age with hundreds of twenty four hour cable channels that achieving legendary status can happen with warp speed. At least there should be some distinction that goes along with it. Thank you for reading this Legendary blog.
I hear this word constantly ascribed to athletes and entertainers daily. Some of them are very good at what they do and have been for a long time; however to deem them "legends" simply because they have been in their respective field for a decade is hyperbolic at best. Much of this is done out of pure laziness. I guess it's too much work to spend a few seconds searching for a simpler term like veteran, pioneer or famed. Instead of calling Wayne Newton a Las Vegas veteran, its sounds more glossy to describe him as a 'Las Vegas Legend'. Maybe in this case after forty years we should give Wayne his legendary props.
As a big fan of the sport of mixed martial arts, it seems that every fighter that was active in this relatively young sport in 1998 and 99' is called "legendary". Soul singer John Stephens didn't bother even putting out a record first. He chose to call himself John Legend before anyone even knew who he was. For my own amusement, I conducted a Google news search using the word 'legendary". I learned that Legendary Rock Photographer Jim Marshall died. Who? I also learned also that Legendary math teacher Jaime Escalante died also. Why is he a legend? He was portrayed by Edward James Olmos in the film "Stand and Deliver". Did you know that there was also a film in the works for late legendary surfer Jay Moriarty? Maybe the film can help me understand who in the heck he is. This is just more proof that many words have been watered down from overuse and simply don't have the meaning they once did.
There are true legends in their respective fields. Muhammad Ali, Pele, Jim Brown in sports. James Brown, Elvis, Frank Sinatra and BB King in entertainment. And who wouldn't call actor Richard Roundtree of 'shaft' fame a legend? For the leather jacket if nothing else. The term should apply to those that have made an impact in their professions. Those who have either blazed a trail or whom others seek to emulate. It is now come to apply to anyone whose notoriety has lasted at least a decade.
I do understand that in an age with hundreds of twenty four hour cable channels that achieving legendary status can happen with warp speed. At least there should be some distinction that goes along with it. Thank you for reading this Legendary blog.
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