When it comes to the society we live in, who are your heroes? You can rattle off the entire military services, fire fighters, police officers, teachers, nurses, doctors… they are the first that come to mind. It’s the real world so we don’t have superheroes wearing a cape and underoos. On the field playing a game many worship what athletes do, especially at younger age. Some could say the 1990’s baseball steroid era started it when those players that were gigantic built and chiseled like a brick house resembled some of your great Marvel or DC superheroes. We all know many athletes are just spoiled primadonnas treated like Richie Rich with a silver spoon in their mouths all their lives. When it comes time to be a hero, any average Joe six pack can have his or her day. When someone that looks the part of the Avengers saves a life, we may start believing in Superman and Santa Clause as they exist on this planet. On January 4th this year, a former running back jumped into the ocean and saved his kids. Most anybody that’s a father and mother would rise up to the challenge and do anything for their kids, especially if they are in harm’s way. The 36-year-old Peyton Hillis who retired from the NFL in 2015 is paying the price after saving his kids and was placed on ventilator in the ICU. Like the M&M saying that Santa exists on the candy commercial, and the Claus saying they do exist referring to the talking hard hell chocolate candy. Heroes do exist and they come in all shapes and sizes.

Peyton Hillis was 6’2″ tall, and a 250 lb tail back coming at you out of the back field like a Mack truck. Hillis, an Arkansas native born and raised, played his College ball as a Razorback at the University of Arkansas. Hillis then was drafted by the Denver Broncos in 2008. Hillis played seven seasons in the NFL with 4 different organizations. Hillis played two years in Denver & then went to Cleveland. He played two seasons there, moved on to Kansas City for one season,and ended up finishing in New York playing two seasons as a Giant. Hillis’ best years came in Cleveland and 2010 was his best year of his career. Hillis ran wild all over the field running over defenders as he galloped for over 1,000 yards in which he racked up 1,177 yards to be exact and found the end zone with 11 rushing touchdowns. Perhaps in 2011, Hillis being on the cover of John Madden’s football video game jinxed the rest of the running back’s career as his average per rush went down and he played less games dealing with injuries. Running backs don’t have a long life in the NFL so 7 years is nothing to sneeze at. Hillis, over his NFL career, racked up 2,832 rushing yards on 696 carries while scoring 23 touchdowns.

On January 4th, off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, Peyton Hillis and his kids were probably enjoying a nice day on the beach. Then the nightmare of any parent appeared in front of Hillis’ eyes. One moment the kids are playing in the ocean splashing, swimming, & having a good ole time. Then the next moment a rip tide is taking your kids deeper into the ocean as the splashing turns into screams for help because they are drowning while being pulled away from the coast line. According to local county reports, there were 2 children and 2 adults in the water struggling when a bystander came in to help. No time to think, just react and Hillis went into the ocean and pulled his kids out of the water saving their lives but paying the cost at the same time. Superman would have flown away after saving the lives, but this is real life. Hillis was taken to the hospital where he suffered kidney and lung damage from his heroic act of just awesomeness. The kidneys and lungs are why Hillis was placed on a ventilator. Hillis remains hospitalized, but according to his girlfriend Angela Cole on Instagram, the ventilator has come off so that is good news. The former running back, a hero, should recover fully. Cole said they still have a ways to go though. Imagine Hillis diving into the waters like he ran over defenders on the field swishing and knifing through waves to rescue his kids to pay the price at the end. Well worth the price. Many kids will idolize athletes like they are real heroes. Peyton Hillis is a hero, not like the Lebron James’ of the World. In a situation like Hillis’ I think many people would be a hero when their own flesh and blood is on the line. I like to think Hillis would have helped a stranger in that situation, even if his kids were not drowning at the time. Only certain people can react and do the unthinkable. Many people in sticky situation can freeze like deer in head lights. The real heroes are listed in the first paragraph above because they do it every day.