Heroes

"If you're gonna have heroes, make sure they're dead so they can't blow it."
-Anonymous quote

I would add that fictional heroes work well too, but heroizing Dirty Harry might make people think you're a fan of Clint Eastwood.

I see that Frank Broyles has retired as athletic director for University of Arkansas. Someone asked him once if he'd still be friends with Lou Holtz (then coach of Arkansas) if the football team had a losing season. "Sure we'd be friends, I'd miss him too."