Athletes as role models

[ski diva]

On the news this morning, there was a report on all the scandals going on with professional athletes. In cycling, one of -- if not the -- leader in the Tour was taken out because of positive drug testing. A quarterback in pro football is facing charges of animal abuse related to dog fighting. A ref in pro basketball has been accused of placing bets. And baseball continues to have its steroid problems.

Bad behavior among athletes is nothing new. But it seems like it's everywhere you turn. What do you think about this? Should professional athletes be held to a higher standard? Should they be expected to be role models for young people?

 

[SnowHot]

How sad is it that we aren't shocked any more by these stories?

I would hope that athletes would live a higher standard, because you'd think that their sport would demand that they live a healthy lifestyle, but I don't think we should hold them to a higher standard.
I certainly don't think we should hold them up as role models.


Another question:
How much of this is a matter of athletes who are raised with little or nothing, then they fall into these huge $$$$ salaries?

Look at the likes of Reggie White.
He lived a good life with a deep spiritual background. Died of a disease called sarcoidosis. The rumour was that he died of complications of steroid use, which is something he was taking to combat the disease.
A good man being generalized because of his position as a professional athlete. Sad:(

 

[Jilly]

Actually we were talking about this, this morning. 2 hockey playing brothers were sent to jail for bad behaviour this weekend. If it had been anyone else it would not have hit the news. So, I agree that professionals, should act professional. If they don't want to, then get out of the sport or do it behind closed doors, if its still legal. The hockey players got drunk and disorderly at a resort during a batchelor party. Now they probably went to the resort thinking that it was the best place to do this. Maybe they should have tried a mountain top resort with limited access. Then the general public and themselves would not have been embarassed. As for drugs and illegal things - throw them the book. They knew what they were up to!! That includes Lyndsay and Paris!! Young kids look up to these people and yes they are role models. We have quite a few hockey players that summer locally. I have yet to meet one that you wouldn't take home to momma. They are great people and around here they are going get charity work. Even our local Jr A team are told that they must do events and signing. Only the older hockey players, not playing anymore are the jack@#s's.

 

[BackCountryGirl]

I heard an idiotic commentator on a news show this morning say that we shouldn't hold athletes up to any higher standard than we do entertainers -- they're just the same. I think that is idiotic. We have a phrase called "sportsmanship," we talk about people being good sports, and athletes at olympics take oaths. When's the last time we referred to Paris Hilton as positively portraying "good entertainmanship" or asked her to take an oath. One of the reasons, I guess, that I love women's sports, both amateur and professional, is that, apart from Marion Jones, the money and fame just isn't enough to induce athletes to behave so poorly.

 

[Native Vail Gal]

I miss the TRUE athletic role models:

Arther Ashe
Babe Dedrickson Zaharias

The truly GREAT role models just don't get the attention! I think Jeremy Bloom is a great role model to go after your dream, and fight for what you think is right!