"It's kind of ironic that the two sports with the greatest characters, boxing and horse racing, have both been on the decline. In both cases it's for the lack of a suitable hero"

This quote by Dick Schaap speaks to the paradox of 2 sports that have actually typically been popular, boxing and horse racing, remaining in decline. He recommends that the absence of a suitable hero is the reason for this decrease. This is paradoxical since these 2 sports have historically been known for their larger-than-life characters. It is these characters that have actually made the sports so popular and amusing. Without an appropriate hero, the sports have actually lost their appeal and have actually been unable to record the attention of the public. This is an unfortunate state of affairs for these two sports, as they have belonged of the fabric of American culture for many years. It is a reminder that heroes are essential for the success of any sport, and that without them, the sport will suffer.