Like it or not, You're a role model!

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Like it or Not, You’re a Role Model!

As women’s sports continue to struggle, or rather to strive to compete with men’s sports it amazes me that so many male professional athletes and even celebrities take for granted the advantages that they have in their job. Looking around there really isn’t a female sport that gets as much recognition as its male counterpart; maybe NCAA basketball or tennis. But overall, women’s professional athletics holds a dim candle to the notoriety and popularity that men’s get. Fine. I understand that might be a battle we continually fight and try to educate society about: to be understood, to be respected, to be seen as entertaining, competitive, hardworking athletes.

However, what astonishes me are the many male athletes that are continually being arrested for domestic violence, assault, drugs, breaking the controlled substance policies, DUIs, even simple traffic tickets, disorderly conduct, etc… -simply taking for granted the advantages of their sport, of their jobs! Yes, I’m singling out the male athletes right now frankly because cases are rare with female professional athletes. I’m blogging about this topic now after I recently saw on the news yet another collegiate male athlete (following the example of many pro stars), 20years old at the University of Florida arrested for a DUI. I have to shake my head. What is so difficult to understand that it is A. illegal and B. they can kill someone being under the influence of a controlled substance? -Maybe the UF player didn’t follow the case of a former Cleveland Brown’s wide receiver last year who killed a pedestrian while under the influence right here in Florida.

Whether it is moral vows or legal laws, I’m sure most of us can list at least three to five celebrities with high profile cases just within the past twelve months that have been broken or arrested. Yes, people make mistakes, but are all those cases just stupid mistakes? Good guys hanging out with the wrong people? Or are we enabling and making excuses for their irresponsible behavior and lack of respect? The question is where do we draw the line between being sorry for getting caught or else they’d keep doing it; and truly realizing what they were doing was wrong and if they could go back they would make other choices? Sounds judgmental, but isn’t that what our morals and laws do? Isn’t that how we determine who we want to associate ourselves with and how our society keeps order (our laws)-by judging?

I’m so sick of the excuses: “Oh, he’s still so young.” “He got mixed up with the wrong people.” “He didn’t know how to manage his money.” “He doesn’t have anyone here, no family around, no support system nearby.” “He hasn’t grown up yet.” “He’s used to having everyone waiting on him and getting what he wants.” -and any other lame excuse. Average blue and even white collar workers don’t get excuses like that, warnings, or able to scare a plaintiff off or pay their way out of trouble. The bottom-line is that these guys are not entitled to anything. It doesn’t matter how much money they make, what draft pick they were, or what their name is. They need to earn and work for what they get the same way female athletes do, the same way Average Joe Worker does; regardless if those choices and the following consequences are positive or negative. Because male athletics are in the spotlight and get more attention than female athletics they are much more publicized. Deal with it.

Like it or not, when someone becomes a professional athlete or celebrity they are not only signing a contract to perform, but also to be a role model. That does not mean that they are held to higher or different standards, it just means that their successes as well as their mistakes are flashed everywhere. Most importantly our youth look up to them, follow them, and call them their “heroes.” So when their “hero” is arrested for beating his girl friend, taking steroids, cheating on his wife, assaulting someone in a strip club, or drunk driving, how and who explains that to the ten year old that follows everything in their career? No more excuses and no more letting them off the hook. What kind of example is that for our kids? What about teaching accountability? Then when we hear of violence or sexual assault at schools our society asks, “Where are their parents?” or the schools get blamed. Sad to say many kids are not looking up to their parents or educators, but to singers, actors, athletes, and other celebrities instead and witnessing their behavior. In addition, many of these male athletes have children out of wedlock. I’m not disputing whether or not they are good fathers, but actually adding to my evidence as to why, then, even more so they need to understand the influence of their behaviors and lifestyle.

Do not mistake me. I am not discussing forgiving and making amends, and don’t expect anyone to be perfect. I am discussing the importance of accountability and making positive choices; stressing to our young athletes the importance of being a role model as much as the importance of the play they are learning for the game. Part of the job description with high profile and professional careers includes being in the spotlight and being a role model. Lose the flashy, stereotypical lifestyle of big bills, big rims, and being invincible to rules and to the law. This isn’t a music video. This is real life, even if their real life allows them to get paid more than most people and allows them to provide more for their families than most people. This is still a job; a job that they grew up playing for the love of just playing! Signing that contract includes an unwritten invisible description of “role model.”

-SB29

@PrincessPunish

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