"Man in the Arena" Speech by T. Roosevelt Applies to Most Political & Sports Pundits

This is a quote from a speech given by Theodore Roosevelt in Paris in April of 1910:

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

The reason why are posting this quote is that political and sports pundits are the proverbial "cold and timid souls who neither know victory or defeat". Time and time again you see political and sports pundits sneer at politicians and athletes such as Al Gore, John Edwards, or, as a very recent example, LeBron James. These pundits won't put themselves on line and run for political office or have the ability to play professional sports. No, their role is to just observe and complain about those who don't report, but actually do.

Over the next few days there will be a lot of complaining about LeBron James and the Cavaliers. Most of it coming from people who have no idea what they are talking about. Over the next several months there will be a lot of complaining about whoever the Democrats nominate for President. Again, most of it will come from people who have no idea what they are talking about. If all this blather starts to get you down, just remember the TR quote, it will put the critics in perspective.