Hard to imagine how personalities of sports athletes today have drastically changed over their past counter parts. Today's 'super ego' athletes certainly have plenty skill and talent to back up their ego filled personalities, but is this good for sport? Athletes are role models and it's certainly part of their job description to fulfill that role. For example, Lebron James is a great athlete, but is he a true example of a role model? Yes, there's no denying he is a master of his craft and a likely figure many kids want to follow if they have aspirations of becoming a professional athlete one day. However, his personality off the court is far from the impressive basketball credentials we see on the court. But again perhaps it's understandable why there are more positive models to follow out there than James . Tom Brady the New England Patriots quarterback, is a great example on and off the field. Over the years, Brady has won three Superbowl championships and two most valuable player awards and remains a true example of a professional whether he's out in the public eye or being interviewed by the media.The same can be said for Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, who is clearly a true role model both on the field and when he is not wearing the uniform. Over the years Jeter has established himself as one of the great shorstops to ever play the game, while at the same time earning himself the reputation and respect of a great leader and fan favorite where ever he goes.Terrel Owens and Randy Moss two great NFL stars who were spectacular athletes, were well known for demonstrating poor sportsmanship on the field and bad characteristics off it, as they were for making great catches. What separates one athlete's personality and behavior from the other? Childhood and how one is raised certainly has a huge impact later on when they become adults and turn into professional athletes who get paid a lot of money. It's easy to be critical of those wearing the 'super ego' mask and point out that money was the main instigator and made them what they've become, when in reality the morals were never there even before that first professional contract was signed.
Honestly I think its unfair to ask them to be role models, these are human beings & they have flaws like the rest of us, if I may make a suggestion this would make great off topic thread blogs here are kind of dead.
Being a responsible role model comes with the territory of being famous. Sadly, there are few who fit that category. This alos applies to movie stars, rock singers, and all kinds of entertainers. Some are good role models, but most are baboon-like in their moral code, and make a drunken sailor blush
I Disagree compleatly with you ,Their is no territory that they have to be Role modles .We make them that ,It is hard to be a role modle when you have all that money in the world and tempations can cave.
The thing is that good athetes need a ego if they did not they would not be the player they are.These are as dopler has said are people and they make mistakes ,we live in 2011 where we have too many social media sites where someone can find out somthing stupid the athletes have done.This moral code you speak of is non-excistant.
lets see men in womens locker rooms
I dont understand why we so readily allow sport celebrities a lack of moral character and still hold them in high regard. I suppose I’m not the first woman to wonder why men that choose a career in professional sport are held in such high regard. They are called “Heros” for no other reason than being in the media and doing their jobs. When did we lose sight of the bravery, courage and strength required of a man to merit such an honored status? Such a status I just can’t support when I see a child who waits behind the barrage of camera and microphone. A child who waits for that one stolen moment that lets him know, if only for a second, my dad loves me more than all of this.
For 16 years I have watched a child wait quietly while “sport” has stolen his father. His tears will haunt me because I couldn’t stop them. I couldn’t find the words to keep his dad at home. I never found a way to let a father know how important it was to miss the next “big game” or the next “big trade” for his son’s birthday, just once. In that one unselfish act, in that one moment, he would have been a Hero.
Even now, my son still waits though he is close to being a man himself. Recently, he stumbled upon his father guest bar-tending at a local pub. That little boy was behind the barrage of camera and microphone one more time, and he waited . His heart was still hoping for that one moment his dad would let him know. His tears have fallen silent.
My words are not meant to disparage or discredit. There is no ill intent in any of them. My words are from a mother’s heart, words I have held for 16 years. I am asking a man who is part of this “sports celebrity” to be a “Real” Hero for someone who needs him. I am asking a man to recognize his son needs him more than ever. To be brave and shed celebrity for fatherhood, to be courageous and love his son more than all of this, and most of all to be strong enough to hear what his son is saying. I am asking for a man to choose fatherhood over celebrity and show his son what a Hero really is.
Thank you Doog's for giving my words a place to be heard.
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