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Athletes are admired by adults and children from all over the world. Parents see them as role models for their children and children look up to them as heroes. Yet, athletes seem to be getting into more and more trouble. Are they really role models?
Charles Barkley, professional basketball player for more than 15 years, argues that athletes are not role models. They are paid to play a game.
In his 1993 Nike commercial he says, “I am not a role model” and closes the ad with “just because I can dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.” Barkley is known for his compulsive gambling problem and speaking his mind on any topic.
I can make a long list of athletes known for gambling problems, Barkley, Michael Jordan and Pete Rose just to name a few. The list is just as long for cheaters and sex addicts. Some of these athletes are in the Hall of Fame in their respective sports.
These problems are not limited to athletes or any locale; these problems occur across the United States, in big cities and small towns. The human factor is always there.
Instead of looking at all the bad role models, we rarely look at the examples of good.
When I bring up the name Brian Davis I often get blank stares or confused looks. Davis is a golfer every coach and parent should look at as a teaching opportunity.
During the Verizon Heritage Tournament, Davis found himself in a green side hazard for his third shot and nicked a loose impediment on his back swing, a violation of the rules and a two shot penalty. Davis chose to call the penalty on himself.
In a time when athletes try to get every possible advantage, Davis conceded victory. While his opponent Jim Furyk walked away with over $1 million for winning, Davis left with $615,000 and the satisfaction of doing what’s right.
Fans tend to put athletes on hero-like pedestals. They can jump higher, run faster and hit harder than most of us ever will.
They can hit shots and make plays that normal people only dream of making. Yet we dwell on things that make them human and expect athlete after athlete to step up to a podium and read a statement or pre-written apology — an apology sometimes easier to swallow if said athlete is on your team and there are games in the win column.
Are athletes role models? Yes, whether good or bad.
They are as much a role model as an older brother or sister is to younger siblings, as much as teachers are to their students or coaches to their players.
Athletes are humans first.
They are role models not because they are athletes but because they are human.
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