Vote for Dick Hoyt

By adamg - 9/15/08 - 8:04 am

You know, the guy who pushes his son in a wheelchair in the Marathon every year. He's competing with a guy who kept dog sledding despite throat cancer for the title of the toughest athlete.

Via Holmes & Co.

Comments

I think that website is

By ShadyMilkMan - 9/15/08 - 8:19 am

#1

I think that website is great... very inspirational.

reply

Not just the marathon

By merlinmurph - 9/15/08 - 9:14 am

#2

The Hoyts have also done triathlons and biked across the country.

Living in Hopkinton, I go to the start every year, and almost lose it every time I see the Hoyts. Just a wonderful story.

reply

...that the Hoyts are awesome, and it irritates me every time I see media coverage of them how Rick is portrayed as "guy with cerebral palsy" with no identity beyond that. There's rarely any mention of how he's a college graduate and a professional with interesting hobbies. I had assumed from the media portrayals of him that he had severe mental retardation until I met one of his coworkers who filled me in on the rest of who the guy is. I've since seen him present at a conference.

(That wasn't in response to anything specific posted here -- just my feelings that I want to get out there every time I hear something about the Hoyts and how they're awesome, and I want to make sure people know exactly why Rick is awesome by his own merits.)

http://1smootshort.blogspot.com

reply

That's why I refer to them as the Hoyts

By merlinmurph - 9/15/08 - 6:14 pm

#4

rather than just Dick Hoyt

reply

Yay!

By eeka - 9/15/08 - 6:38 pm

#5

Yes, I was glad to see that you did!

I was thinking more specifically about the contest a little while ago. I'm wondering whether it's objectifying to have them as a pair in the running for "toughest athlete"? I mean "wondering" literally, as in, I don't really have a decision and can see it both ways. On the one hand, it seems kind of patronizing, because really, is Rick demonstrating any sort of athletic ability that should put him up there among the ranks of a world-class athlete? Clearly not. But then on the other hand, I assume that they really do this as a team, with Rick figuring out the logistics and whatnot of their feats -- he isn't a passive participant. So it wouldn't be right to portray just Dick as being the athlete of note.

I do wish in general that coverage of them talked about what Rick accomplishes elsewhere in his life, since his contributions to their athletic participation are subtle and not that remarkable in and of themselves. It's definitely objectifying to portray someone as courageous or amazing or whatever JUST by virtue of having a disability. That's not an accomplishment, and it's condescending to view taking care of everyday tasks as inspiring or whatever. His educational and professional accomplishments though are worth noting.