Wrestling with Flawed Heroes

The last few weeks, the world has lost a number of well known celebrities, including Ozzy Osbourne, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Chuck Mangione, and Hulk Hogan. Hogan’s death hit me a little harder as most of you don’t know this but I grew up a huge professional wrestling fan and continue to be a fan today “Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?” was a huge part of my life! Hogan was larger than life—the ripped shirts, the “I am a Real American” entrance music, the red and yellow, the intensity.-he was a larger than life hero to so many.

But like many celebrities who become famous and beloved by millions, Hulk Hogan’s story wasn’t all glory and fame. His later years brought controversy—poor decisions, personal failings, and moments that made many fans step back and reconsider the man behind the

So how do we in today’s world where too many things are viewed in terms of right or wrong, black or white? Can we still admire people who made an impact in one area, even if they fell short in others? And how do we navigate that tension as fans, coaches, and leaders?

There’s something comforting about clear heroes and villains—it’s part of what makes wrestling so fun to watch-we love to cheer the good guys and boo the bad guys. But in real life, people aren’t and shouldn’t be so easily labeled.

Take Brett Favre—one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. His grit and passion made him a legend in Green Bay and he nearly took my favorite team, the Vikings, to the Super Bowl at the end of his career. But years after his retirement, his name has been linked to scandals that have tarnished that legacy.

Another example is one of my favorite golfers: Tiger Woods—a generational talent who changed the face of golf forever. His rise, fall, and comeback showed us not only brilliance but brokenness. His play was brilliant and his golf legacy will remain forever. while his personal failures were public. And yet—he remains one of the most complex and fascinating athletes of our time.

Or even someone like one of the best basketball coaches of all time whose work I often admired-Bob Knight-who built basketball powerhouses and taught tough, disciplined defense—but often crossed lines in the way he handled players and the media.

Why is this the case? Because real people are like all of us: they have moments of greatness and moments of failure. They inspire us one day and disappoint us the next. The biggest truth is this: the same people who shaped our memories may have also struggled in silence, made hurtful choices, or lost their way. Because of their fame, their stories play out on social media and on the biggest stages. Most of us “regular” people may be going through the same things but no one knows about it.

The temptation today is to cancel, to ignore, or to pretend people like I mentioned haven’t existed. But growth comes when we acknowledge both. We need to recognize that a person’s impact on our lives—whether through sports, personal relationship, or professional connection—doesn’t have to be erased because of their flaws. At the same time, we don’t excuse bad behavior just because someone was once our hero.

In my view, we need to move beyond black-and-white thinking. We need to recognize the humanity behind the headlines that often come blaring across our computer and phone screens. We need to understand that people are often more complex than the roles they played in our stories.

So, we can still smile when we think of Hulk Hogan’s entrance music or be grateful for what either a celebrity or even a personal connection gave us—even if we now see them more fully. We can let people be a mix of impact and imperfection—because, honestly, that’s what we all are-none of us are perfect. We need to know people’s full story before expressing our opinions or passing a judgment on someone. Even then, be careful to label anyone’s life in black or white terms.

I’ll always remember Hulk Hogan as part of my childhood. He was larger-than-life, full of energy, and helped entertain my youth.

And now, with a little more experience behind me, I can also recognize that the people we admire aren’t perfect. They never were, and they don’t have to be. Maybe the greatest respect we can show is to remember the full story—not just the highlight reel, but the humanity, because in the end, that’s what connects us all.

Have a great week!

Coach K