Analysis of an Image: ESPN Cover

On the cover of my brother's old ESPN magazine are three, what I am assuming, popular basketball players but with gear from very notable superheroes. One of them is half Iron man, the other has the ax of Thor and the third carries the shield of Captain America giving the athletes a heroic image. 

                By giving the male athletes the accessories of very popular super heroes, it gives the readers a sense of trust and pride in the athletes. The three men are from all different teams, wearing their different jerseys and are intensely looking at the camera. Possibly the point of this cover was to give each fan an idea that their favorite team has a superhero or a “super star” on it. By doing this fans and readers can feel special with their team because they are unique and they have their own hero fighting their games.

                There are pros and cons to this depiction. On one hand you have the powerful super hero athletes who are getting kids to play and be more active. Yet on the other, you have a more twisted side. By placing these men on a pillar with certain symbolic weaponry, you give them a “close to godliness” vibe. When younger kids look at this all they will want to be is an athlete that plays basketball and gets money. By taking such well known and worldly accepted superheroes like Thor, IronMan, and Captain America the magazine is essentially targeting the younger generation.  Young kids are impressionable and easily manipulated which is why they are such a prime target for many different corporations. So, when little Johnny sees his favorite player is now depicted as a super hero  he’s going to believe it and he’s going to want more of that players merchandise. Little Johnny is going to want to see his superhero basketball player in an actual game, he’ll want to meet him, get his autograph and even chase after the dream of being like him.  

                It’s a warped world when it comes to buying and selling of products.  But for an old ESPN cover that was buried under a pile of newspapers, it still had a lot of value in it. Athletes are indeed superheroes to people of all ages but some could say they are undeserving of their titles.