Athletes as Role Models
Athlets have been lookd up to as role models for as long as sports have exsted. There is just something attractive about the thought of being in good physical condition and being talented in sports. But, are athlets the kind of people that children should be looking up to for direction and guidance? Many children often look up to the professional athletes as role models. In fact, in 1995 Sports Illustrated for Kids did a survey for kids who were ages 7 through 12 about who their role model was. The majority of the kids answered that a professional athlete was who they most looked up to. Only four percent of the children answered that their role model was one of thir parents. Because of today?s media, athletes are constantly in the public eye. Everything they do on and off of the playing field. Some professional athletes speak a positive message through their fame by demonstrating constructive ideas such as teamwork and commitment while they are on the field. Even off of the playing field some athletes set a good example by visiting children in schools, going to hospitals, or even setting up foundations and organizations to help the ill and less fortunate people. However, other athletes are not as considerate to the fact that someone may be looking up to them, some athletes are not concerned about anything other than the sport they are getting paid to play and themselves. These athletes are the ones that propose questions over whether athletes should be considered role models or not. A role model can be defined as a person whose behavior, example or success is or can be emulated by others, especially young people. Who would want their child looking up to someone who has been convicted of domestic violence or has a drug addiction? It is an argument of opinion that cannot be settled.
The side of athletes most commonly seen is when they are on the field. Athletes can be a very positive influence while on the playing field for many reasons. Teamwork is displayed in sports such as football, baseball, soccer, and hockey. It is where all the players working together and are all striving to reach the same goal. Anybody watching a game such as hockey or baseball can clearly see that the players must work together in both offense and defense to win the game.
Even with knowledge of Mosher’s Ph.D. in Sports Studies, the essay would have been stronger if it included additional credible resources. I agree with Mosher’s unstated evaluative claim that society should not expect someone to possess the characteristics of a hero simply because they are a sports athlete. Yet, Mosher asserts that society unrealistically demands their sports athletes to possess traits of high character. After reading this essay, I still ask; why not?
In the collegiate world of sports, basketball has become an increasingly recognized sport among African Americans, predominantly males. The hope of any young basketball player is that one day a scout will come and recruit them into stardom The question that presents itself as a problem to the lucky few who are chosen to go professional, is whether or not an education is more important than a million dollar shoe deal, “The NCAA's (1998) annual six-year study reported that only 33% of Black male basketball players graduated, (Chronicle of Higher Education, 1999). Individually, basketball reported the lowest graduation rate in all divisions,” (Robinson, 2004:1). Basketball players have become so idolized in the eyes of young Black male basketball athletes, that the value of education appear to be less important in the development of these young men, “According to Sailes (1997), there is an over-representation of Black males in particular sports and an under-representation in other segments of American society. He provides the example of percentages of Black males competing in the NBA (77%), NFL (65%), MLB (15%), and MLS (16%) in comparison to the fact that fewer than 2% of doctors, lawyers, architects, college professors, or business executives are Black males.”, (Robinson, 2004:1). The idea of the attainment of a professional basketball player’s salary in the NBA, without even having to go to school for the time it takes to earn a degree is very appealing to some players. Those with a wealthy, or even upper-middle class upbringing may not view material assets as a priority. In the Black community, we have theorized that money and success play a more important role than education in most households. Although these two seem to go together, one resulting from the other, this does not apply in the sports world. Our research will examine the role that the family value system plays in influencing Black vs. White male athletes to turn professional, as opposed to obtaining a college degree before turning professional.
Athletes in times of difficulty can be important role models.” This shows that sports are in fact helpful because they can grow children into being important role models for the rest of society. Studies have shown time and time again that playing sports can be beneficial to children and we also believe this to be true. Many people still think that sports cause “too many injuries”, or coaches “are not fair enough”, but adolescents will experience these things all throughout their lives because injury can happen anywhere and they will not always be the best at what they are doing. Sports are beneficial to the youth because they can teach children and teens important life skills, help them maintain a fit and healthy lifestyle, all while improving their mental health.
...ennis, basketball, soccer, and martial arts—have come from the days of cheerleading and synchronized swimming when she was growing up in the ’70s.” Disparities in media coverage and over-sexualized female athletes on magazine covers is something that needs to come to an end because of its effects on both male and female viewers, young and old, athletes and non-athletes. Both female and male athletics influence young people and shape their personality and morals as they mature. Retired WNBA player, Lisa Leslie credits her participation in basketball with shaping her character, as well as her career. “Sports can also help teenagers during an awkward time in their development.” (“Women’s Athletics: A Battle For Respect”). The solution is to come together as a society and identify how to balance the respect for female and male athletes in the media.
When someone says the name Michael Jordan, the first thing that comes to mind is basketball, The Chicago Bulls and Nike shoes. Through the years, Michael Jordan has proved time and time again that he is the greatest basketball player ever, and by performing in this rapidly expanding sporting field, he has gained tremendous popularity throughout the world. People of all ages and from all nationalities have gathered to watch him play. A journalist states 'even your Aunt Matilda might not know nothing about basketball, liked watching him play' (Jonathon 1999:58). Jordan has become more than just an entertainer. He is a hero and a role model amongst basketball spectators. Johnson claims that 'he is the most famous American in the world' (ibid.). Perhaps he was born to be the best.
Sports played and continue to play a pivotal role in American history and culture. Baseball provided an escape from the stress and frustration of WWII, a beacon of light during hard times and later helped influence integration. Athletes became symbols of what being a true American meant and many sports enhanced American culture. One of the most prolific changes sports brought to our society was the beginning of racial equality on the field. It encouraged and aided the fledgling equal rights movement that evolved in the 1960s. African American athletes were considered second-class citizen until sports provided the first taste of equality. Teams life the Indians, Dodgers and Giants led the way for all teams to accept black players on equal footing. More sports then followed, helping to pave the way for the equal rights movement. African American athletes provided a spark of social and cultural change as America was at the emergence of the civil rights movement.
Aiming to be a pro athlete is one goal that many young kids have, they look up to stars like Peyton Manning, Russell Wilson, and other sports superstars. They bad thing about this worship of these athletes is that not many of these kids will have the chance to become a star. So if these kids grow up in life being told that they can do it, this can really affect those children’s goals in life. Instead of focusing on their school work they instead might just focus on trying to learn more about how to become an athlete which can lead to them getting poor grades in school. The kids look up to the athletes for all the good things they also get influenced by the bad things that they do. For example when Michael Phelps smoked marijuana it was all over television and the news. So when a young kid that looks up to Phelps sees him doing this that child might think that smoking marijuana is okay sin...
Though some people oppose the thought that Athletes should be role models, they are deeply wrong. The fact that people think athletes cannot be role models because all they need to worry about is their “game” is untrue, because their game is what inspires young fans to fulfill their dreams of being a pro athlete. Some might say that they don’t need to worry about their behavior off the field because it’s their own life. Yes it is your own life but that doesn’t mean people don’t look up to you. Also some other arguments are, the parents should be the role models, and they aren’t paid to be role models.
...d other athletes that are in the spotlight can not expect to be watched by millions of people and not have some influence on those people watching. The athletes must realize that when they make mistakes people will be watching. " Everyone does make mistakes, and along with those mistakes, one must take responsibility for the consequences that come after a mistake has been made" (Athletes Are). They probably wish the people just saw that good things they did, but if this was the case we would be living in a utopia. As role models athletes can do many positive things such as educating our youth by letting them know the importance of going to school. They can help instill good moral standards for kids to live by, and prevent them from getting involved with drugs like the program Athletes Against Drugs does. These are what the athletes should be doing as role models.
Moreover, teamwork skills are demonstrated through co-ed sports, however, continue to build into workforce environments, as well as communication skills. In society teamwork is displayed through a workforce where all the members work together to meet the requirements set up for them. An example of this is, at McDonalds, all the crew members and managers work as a team to meet the requirements of the customers. This is the same in co-ed sports, which would develop at a young age and be useful in careers later on in life. An example of this in co-ed sports is, in floor hockey teamwork is required in order for the team to be successful and win the game.
Why Athletes are Good Role Models Ever since the ancient years, we have admired athletes and the hard work. that they do to achieve their goal of winning. We idolize them and wish we were more like them. What happens though when the realization sinks in that they are human too and that some of them do get greedy and selfish?
Moreover, children of that time idolized Babe Ruth and viewed him as a role model. A role model can be defined as someone who is imitated by another individual because of their achievements, and actions (“Role model”). The way we view athletes has not changed since 1932, and children in today’s society still look up to and emulate their favorite athletes. While whether or not athletes should be viewed as role models is widely debated, there is ample evidence affirming athletes should act as role models for our society.
The values of sports can influence the way people view themselves and others. Being part of a team creates a bond between teammates that can last a lifetime. Also, enduring the criticism of the coaches distills proper direction and discipline that you would likely not learn off the field. In “The Real New York Giants”, the author, Rick Reilly, writes about how a football team of firefighters lost many teammates and friends due to the attacks on September 11th, 2001 on the Twin Towers, and how the bonds and closeness of that group helped them to keep playing football and honor their fallen friends whom they became so close with through the sport (**insert beginning pg #). While in this certain circumstance, the importance of sports does not affect the performance of the players in their everyday life, there are instances where the sports overtake other aspects of life and could become dangerous for the player.
Whether athletes like it or not, they are looked up to as role models. Schwab (2002) said that kids, “choose the jersey numbers of their favorite professional players. They emulate their training regimens. They emulate their style of play. And they are influenced by their drug
For decades we've debated the merits of whether or not we should consider professional athletes to be role models. The debate is really unavoidable; it's thrust upon us - and upon the professional athletes - for one simple reason: our kids just happen to idolize, emulate and identify with these popular characters more so than any other group of people. In 1993 Charles Barkley - then one of the highest profile stars of the NBA - attempted to settle the debate in a Nike commercial when he declared, "I'm not a role model." He further clarified his stance in the ad by explaining that only "parents should be role models," and that just because he got millions of dollars for dunking a basketball, doesn't mean he should play some sort of surrogate parent role and raise other people's children.