Professor Langston-KirkleyEnglish 3
30 October 2014Herschel Walker: Everyday Hero
Although he came from humble and troubled beginnings, Herschel Walker won the Heisman Trophy, became one of the greatest athletes of all time, and now gives back to the community through his motivational speeches. He was an intensely hard worker and a phenomenal athlete. He as overcome much adversity in his life to become the man he is today. Hershel Walker is an amazing man and also a hero.
First, Herschel Walker came from humble beginnings growing up in Wrightsville, Georgia where he was bullied as an elementary student. Walker has been quoted as saying, “I was fat…with a severe stuttering problem” (Brown). Before he found sports, he found solace in reading books and writing. At the age of twelve, Herschel made a change and began to push himself athletically. He ran thousands of miles and completed over one-hundred thousand push-ups in one year. From the eighth grade to the ninth grade, he went from being the worse athlete in my family and the worse athlete in his school to being one of the fastest kids in the state of Georgia. At that point in his career, Herschel became noticed and has said, "All of a sudden, I was getting these football scholarships from all over the country" (Ghirighelli). This training led to his success as a three sport athlete in high school. Although he was a star in football, basketball and track, Hershel did all of this while maintaining an A average. His true determination and perseverance allowed him to excel as a young man.
Second, Herschel Walker had many successes playing football and won the Heisman, the most prestigious award in football before the professional level. In 1982, he won the Heisman over John Elway, Dan Marino, and Eric Dickerson who were some of the greatest athletes to ever play football. Next to winning the Heisman, he was a three- time