We have so many “heroes” who are total bullshit: NFL quarterbacks, snipers, JFK, John Wayne, etc. So it’s refreshing to find one who isn’t. Out here in Hawaii there’s a guy with six names who became a legend for his swimming feats and his popularizing of the sport of surfing. He’s known as The Duke because his six names are nearly impossible to pronounce.
You’d probably think some guy who died back in 1968 couldn’t influence much, but consider this:
A six year old boy was recently swimming on a beach known for its unpredictable currents and big waves. The beach was known for its rip-tides. There are two kinds of rip-tides: Natural and Man Made. A Man Made rip-tide appears after someone has gotten ripped at one of those on-the-beach tiki bars and tries to enter the water. At one such bar in Mexico I saw a guy stagger into the knee-deep surf and start relieving himself in plain site. A small wave took him down and he thrashed away in one foot of water. The waiters had to run down and drag him onto the beach like they were rescuing a sea turtle.
But this six year old boy got caught in a natural rip tide. His mom and her sister came in to save him. Soon all three were drowning. But then some hulking, muscular dude raced into the water. He emerged with a woman on each arm and the kid clinging to his neck. I wish I’d seen it. He must’ve looked like a Hawaiian version of Fabio with sunshine causing the saltwater to glisten on his ripped physique. I envision a whole new genre of romance novels, where a studly power-swimmer rescues a damsel in distress. And then falls madly in love with her. It could become the Fifty Shades Of Tan series.
So the guy dropped the three on the beach. And then went back for another struggling swimmer who was probably some clueless tourist from Seattle.
Screw the snipers and the quarterbacks. Heroes don’t kill people or toss a ball, they help people. This everyday guy is a true hero. And I’d like to think The Duke played a part in making this modern Hawaiian hero such a powerful swimmer.
Great story!!! That is an amazing guy. Did you read about the NE Patriot who after the game, came upon a traffic accident and then when the police came, he helped them extricate the woman by lifting up the car or something with one hand? See, he’s a hero. gotta look at what they do off the field too. I don’t know about snipers and they scare me so I’ll just not weigh in on them.
Saw that. Guy is a hero for non-football actions. Gotta admit I’d probably pass out if there was blood.