Hero worship isn't something I particularly subscribe to. Truth is, a hero is just someone who was in the right place, at the right time, and did the "right" thing. But I'm not against people making themselves into a different sort of hero - a hero to a community. And, from what I've seen, there are lots of heroes here in the axe throwing community, and that heroship (??) has very little to do with any one person's ability to accurately throw.
BECOME AN AXE THROWING HERO BY HELPING OTHERS LEARN
A simple one: axe throwing heroes are the people who help all boats rise. And through this tidal force, they help their league, their region, and the world of axe throwing get better and better.
But what does it mean to help others learn? Well, dear reader, it means taking time out of your own lane-time to show someone new how to throw and answer the questions they have. It means genuinely stopping whatever nonsense you're up to for the sake of helping someone else who is struggling. It's not hard to do, but it does take a certain mindset that sees every thrower as having an obligation to each other.
BECOME AN AXE THROWING HERO BY KEEPING IT LIGHT
We are people. People get emotional. And sometimes (hear me out): those emotions can suck. I don't know of many axe throwers who haven't lost at least a little bit of their cool when throwing - but we all do that, and it's normal.
What I think is damaging is when someone just, you know, goes off the rails. I can fully appreciate when someone is frustrated and goes to the dark place, but pushing that out to others around you is, scientifically, a dick move.
So if you wanna be an axe throwing hero, work on how to feel those big, angry feels without pouring them out on other people around you. It's not fair that your frustrations become everyone's problem.
BECOME AN AXE THROWING HERO BY NOT GAMING PEOPLE TOOOOOO MUCH
I'll do calculations about what I can do to win matches. I won't be precious about it. If I'm throwing against someone and I'm down by 4 (and lost the first round, let's say), I might very well wait for my competitor to throw clutch, miss, and then I'll go for the bull to make sure I win round 2. Truth is, I (and I'm sure all of us) are doing a lot of calculations whilst throwing. BUT the important calculation is, you know, not to treat every game and every opportunity to win as a life-or-death situation.
This one is a little bit tricky, because there isn't a defined way to explain it. What I'm trying to get at is: ALL OF US can tell when someone else isn't being a good sport. I guess the best way I can put this is that some throwers follow the letter of the law and not the spirit of the law? Does that make any sense? Anyway. I guess what I'm attempting to share is: if you're gonna throw ONLY to win, that's absolutely fine, but I don't know that you're adding all that much to the experience. Hell, I don't even know if that's what I'm trying to say. Forget it.
BECOME AN AXE THROWING HERO BY GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND
Some people only have the time to show up at league, throw their matches, and leave.
I get it. You're one of those real adults.
But if you find you have some extra time on your hands and want to make your league feel like a bigger deal/make it feel special, why not do a few little things to expand the experience. This can mean making little, junky (or good) trophies for league winners, or making a "most improved" award at the end of a league. Throw together a potluck or give everyone a little trinket to remember a little moment in time when everything wasn't a garbage fire.
I think of the whole list, this one is the one with the biggest payoff. If you can help make axe throwing go beyond the actual activity into a...I dunno...encompassing experience...you're a hero of the sport. Pure and simple. I have thrown with lots of folks but the ones I remember most clearly are the people who did something that made the experience feel special.
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