Who Is Your Role Model?

My all-time favorite NBA basketball player is Charles Barkley. I do not condone his antics on and off the basketball court; however, he has never been afraid to say what so many people think. Therefore, when Charles stated in 1993 that athletes should not be role models a controversy ensued. How dare an athlete come forward and proclaim that he, or any of his peers, should not be viewed as an individual's role model! Regardless of what people may want to believe, ever since this declaration of independence was made by Charles, time and time again this statement has proven to be true.

Wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy and gluttony have always existed. Athletes who attain superstar status have the entire world at their fingertips. Temptations are abound. How a superstar chooses to respond displays their real persona rather than the one they may carefully craft for the public's adoration.

Succumbing to temptation is not new to professional sports, or even humanity. Professional sports, and "supposed" role models or heroes, have been faced with these decisions for centuries. Eight players on the 1919 Chicago White Sox baseball team became known as the "Black Sox" due to a scandal that entailed purposely throwing World Series games for monetary benefit. These players succumbed to greed and threw away the chance to achieve the dream every child wishes for if they can break into the Major Leagues-to win a World Series title. Ben Johnson, the famous Canadian sprinter, won the 100 meter gold medal in world record time at the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. However, only days later, he was stripped of his precious medal due to testing positive for banned performance-enhancing drugs. Ben looked for the easy way to become the superstar of his sport rather than investing the time and dedication needed to attain his desired level of success.

Josh Hamilton, an outfielder for the Texas Rangers, was a superstar in the making. Young children wanted to be like him. Unfortunately, Josh determined that feeling good and getting high off of alcohol and cocaine was more important than reaching his full potential in a sport he loved. Josh is back playing in the big leagues and is doing his best to lead a clean life. Michael Vick, the young, talented quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons, was on the road to join the ranks of NFL superstars in his position, which included Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Troy Aikman, Jim Kelly and Joe Namath. While Michael Vick continued to post amazing stats each week on the football field, off the field he was running a lucrative dog fighting ring known as "Bad Newz Kennels." Michael was not satisfied with simply becoming a football superstar. He also had to be the top dog in his illegal financial endeavour. Michael's need for constant attention and money ended up in his conviction of conspiracy to run an illegal interstate dog fighting venture. This federal felony sent Michael to prison. Although he has served his time and is once again playing in the NFL, his chances of attaining superstardom have gone to the dogs.

Tiger Woods was touted as the Michael Jordan of golf. Only 34, Tiger has won 14 professional major golf championships, is the youngest player to achieve the career Grand Slam (winning the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship all in the same year) and has more career PGA Tour wins than all active golfers. Furthermore, Tiger has achieved the Grand Slam three times (the only other golfer to do this was Jack Nicklaus) and has received the PGA Player of the Year award ten times. Tiger's boyish smile and clean cut image drove thousands of people to PGA tournaments each year, which brought the sport astronomical monetary revenues. Tiger had it all-a beautiful wife, two adorable children, tons of endorsements, fame, and the adoration of millions across the world. Yet this was not enough for him. In late 2009, it came to light that Tiger had committed adultery not with just one woman, but with at least ten, maybe more. On December 11, 2009, Tiger announced that he was taking an indefinite break from the golf world and admitted to his infidelity. Tiger's squeaky clean image is now lost in a sand trap. Sadly, yet another fallen star.

This is only a sample of the "supposed" role models that many people, at one time, looked up to on a daily basis. Not all superstar athletes fall into this category; however, they do face these temptations everyday. We, as a society, do not make it easy for these superstars to say no. After all, we are the ones who put them up on their pedastals and believe they can do no wrong. Why don't we show our children the true role models of their lives-their parents, teachers, coaches, volunteers, and other everyday individuals who help shape who our children become now and in the future. Charles Barkley is right. He, and other superstars, are not role models.