Why should athletes not be considered good role models?

Question

what else is there except being unsportsmanlike, and having unapropriate behavior on and off the field.

Answer 1

Many are inarticulate boors who model poor speaking skills to young fans.

Answer 2

They should be thought of as entertainers. Most are not good role models. They are tempted to do stupid stuff all the time. they have stressful and physically demanding jobs, little to no family life, and are always scrutinized. Too much pressure to be a good role model.
But, like it or not it goes with the territory.
when i was a kid everybody wanted to be OJ Simpson. See how that worked out.

Answer 3

I agree. Not all athletes are this way, though- some do work with charities and other organizations for children (let's be fair). But what do athletes really DO?! They get paid WAY too much money to play games. I think teachers should get paid that much- they make much more of a difference in children's lives (the good ones, anyway). Athletes train hard and are good at what they do, but I don't think what they do makes any real positive impact in our world.

Answer 4

While I understand the lure of pro-athletes to children and younger teens, I would also want to include people who exhibit the finest qualities in human beings, like volunteers, teachers, health care workers, people who reach out to those on the fringes of society, people who make a real difference in other people's lives for the better and do it for the love of it not because they are highly paid. Pro athletes do exhibit good qualities that young people can emulate like their devotion to their profession, the practicing and the long hours working out to be at the top in their games, their philanthropy and various foundations that improve young people's lives, not all wealthy successful individuals give back. I have to respond to Aloha, if youre inferring that sports was "clean" 25 years ago, know that Black athletes have been part of pro ball in numbers for more than 40 years and people like Muhammed Ali, Hank Aaron, Gayle Sayers, Jackie Joyner Kersee, Julius Irving, Michael Jordan, Gail Deavers, the Williams sisters,Tiger Woods, so on, and so on, and so on have made sports wildly popular and more available to people in all ethnic groups.

Answer 5

1. using drugs to get ahead and to win
2. unsportsmanlike conduct
3. teach fact brawn out beats brain when it doesn't
4. teach kids to dream so big they miss their own lives
5. idol worship (against bible)
6. how some get into trouble w/ law off the field
7. that life is nothing but bling bling, very improper
8. that you can do as you please w/o rules or laws, image of being above others
9. 1 in 5 million make it to professional sports, leading the masses to being let down when they don't make it
10. I'm sure there are more.....

Answer 6

How can someone you don't know be a real role model? You can aspire to run like them, catch the ball like them, throw a ball like them but you can't aspire to be a person you don't know from a hole in the wall. Role models should be parents, aunts, uncles; people you know personally who live decent lives and strive for the ideal even if they fall a little short on occasion as we all do.

Answer 7

No profession should be considered a good role model. Individual people make good role models because of who they are and how they live not because of what they do. Some athletes can fit this criteria, not because they are an athlete but because of who they are.

Answer 8

I think athletes are so over paid, there are some decent role models but not many. Its sad for kids. Take some of their salary and pay our teachers, law enforcement and CPS. These are the true role models IMO.

Answer 9

What is interesting to observe is that while kids are growing up, they say their role models are athletes or celebrities. But when they grow up, and look back on their lives, they will say that their role models were really their parents, certain teachers, a pastor, etc. It's funny how hindsight changes perception!

Answer 10

Aren't they all just out to find the "real" killers? Very community service minded of them.

What do athletes actually do that makes them role models anyway? Granted, it takes some self-discipline to get proficient at sports, but so do a lot of other endeavors.

BTW, I need more answers to my question. Thanks.

Answer 11

Why should they be role models?
They can hit a ball?
They can make a catch?
What does that have to do with being a dad and a parent?