Are Athletes Role Models

Introduction

In our society there is a lot of debate about whether or not athletes should be role models. People place a lot of judgment on athletes for what they do in the public eye as well as in their private lives. On the other hand, don't we judge everyday Average Joes who engage in the same activities for which we are so quick to judge athletes? In my opinion athletes are role models though some of their behaviors are not always exemplary. Most athletes are looked at as role models because they are so prominent in media and advertising. We should not be so quick to judge athletes for the same behaviors we display ourselves. In this debate teenagers are rarely given a voice. In light of this, I decided to ask Chris, one of the Klahre House students, his opinion.

Discussion

Children observes all the acts of the athletes they like most. For this reason the behave in the way an follow their acts. Athletes has greatest power to change the behaviors of children. Athletic training and improving performance display persistent, focused and goal-oriented activities that may positively pressure a child's behavior.

The girls are exposed to positive role models and negative every day: a strong mother who stands against domestic abuse, and the singer "sexy" in the media that she sings from her busy life and let it be sexual. All these people affect a child in the way she sees her own potential (Tim). These are the people that public used as reference to see what will become, and who will imitate.

A girl has to see the confidence, leadership and achievements of other women in order to display it with those qualities. A program designed to empower public should provide powerful models, such as a positive role model (Lewis). Public with disabilities are identified with disabilities, as well as with models of non-disabled. It must provide the two models. Men can also serve as positive role models.

I was trying to figure out what athletes Chris looked up to as role models. When I asked him, he replied with many household names like Michael Jordan, Ray Allen, Dwayne Wade, LeGarrette Blount and Rajon Rondo. I wanted to understand why Chris admired these athletes more than others. In order to get at this, I asked him what he looks for in a role model (Knight, et al.). He quickly responded “I don't expect perfect, but I do expect them to be on a good track. I expect them not to be judgmental but rather encouraging with positive behavior.”

In my opinion, Chris hit the mark dead on. I completely agree with his statement about what he looks for in an athlete. Athletes are still engaged in objectionable activities. Michael Jordan, for example, exemplified this contradiction with both a gambling addiction, and a scandal that involved him and his wife when he allegedly committed adultery (Caulfield). In a different manner, there are the on court actions of Ron ...