Sport: The Athlete As Peacock

IN the long and fanciful lore of U.S. sports, the popular image of the star athlete has always resembled that of a Jack Armstrong modeled in granite—a little dense, perhaps, but still a selfless wonder who would do anything for "Pop." the kindly old coach. The hero was humble, would blush when bussed by a cheerleader, and was forever uttering inspiring words like "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." For him, a big night on the town was a twin bill at the Bijou and an extra-thick malted milk. He was...