He was addressing one very specific issue, which is the excessive "media feting" (as HK puts it) of those in the extreme tail; and the consequent pernicious effects that this Great Hero myth has on both the feted kids themselves, and on those around them who are not so singled out.
This problem isn't limited to extreme gifties. It happens to high school athletes all the time. It did a pretty good job of destroying a kid in my high school.
I think that US culture has a serious problem with hero-neediness, so we invent them to satisfy the need. It's not healthy.
