Athletes as Role Models

In today’s society, athletes along with other celebrities are put on a high pedestal. In our everyday lives we always hear the good, the bad, and the ugly about professional and collegiate athletes. Children all over the United States look up to these professional athletes and deem them their role model. Athletes know that playing sports at these high levels of competition puts them in the public eye, so shouldn’t they realize this and be a good role model? On September 18^th, in my American Sport in the 21^st Century class we discussed the characteristics that make a good role model.

Characteristics that Define a Good Role Model

ü  Good decision making

ü  Honesty

ü  Commitment

ü  Determination

ü  High moral values

ü  Good sportsmanship

ü  Sense of humor

ü  Fairness

ü  Good self-image

ü  Discipline

 

In our class lecture, everyone in the class partnered up and spent five minutes making a short list of the top 5 best and the top 5 worst athlete role models. We then discussed some of the players on people’s lists. In our discussion some of the top 5 best role models were: Tim Tebow, Serena Williams, Peyton Manning, and Andre Agassi. These athletes all possess some of the above traits.  Some of the top 5 worst role models were: Mike Tyson, O.J. Simpson, Chad Johnson, and Michael Vick. It was agreed that these athletes have all committed their fair share of wrong/in-humane acts that have made them a bad choice to look up to.  

http://www.thebiglead.com/index.php/2012/06/18/tim-tebow-athletes-need-to-come-together-and-be-great-role-models/

 

In this article Tim Tebow shares his words of wisdom on the subject of whether or not athletes should be role models: “What’s so frustrating is, you have in today’s society so many famous athletes,” he said. “If we would come together and be great role models, it would be amazing to see how the next generation turns out.”

 

In my opinion, athletes have a responsibility to be a good role model. I feel this way because as a professional athlete it's common sense to know that you are in the public spot light and everything you do, especially any bad, will make the news. Athletes have a chance to make a major impact on society, particularly to our youth, so it is important that they make a positive and inspiring impact.  Also, I feel that pro athletes should be a good role model so they can represent and respect their team because their organization is the one who gave them the rare opportunity of being a professional athlete. Professional athletes need to be good role models by portraying the listed characteristics to set a good example for children, to positively impact society, and to also represent their team/organization to the best of their ability.