Athletes as Role Models
...tournament (Tim Wakefield Celebrity Golf Classic) in Jan. 1995 and raised $40,275 for the Space Coast Early Intervention Center, which would have closed down in July of 1994 if it weren’t for the head of the center, Betsy Farmer, a close friend of Wakefield. In the past eight years, Wakefield has raised $1,127,704 for the organization, which has subsequently blossomed into one of the nation’s leading facilities in helping children with disabilities; mainly Down Syndrome. Tim said this about the organization: “I’m very fortunate to be living a dream and making the money I am, so why not give it to someone who really needs it?”(“The Heroes of Middle America”) When we look at athletes, we tend to see that not all that they do is good. Yes they are supposed to be role models and present the youth with positive vibes. But in reality, they do as much bad as they do good. In the news all the time, we hear about people like Darryl Strawberry and his multiple convictions of use of cocaine. Although he’s just one of the many pro athletes who are in the same boat, their actions affect younger student-athletes, specifically in high school. A survey in Chicago, done by the Chicago Sun Times, found that more than 50% of Chicago area student-athletes said that drinking among their peers is a bigger problem than most people realize (“Looking to Athletes for Moral Leadership”). Play sports by day, get drunk at night, and go to class in the morning. Is this an accurate picture of student-athletes today? 80% of high schools senior drink alcohol in the 50 states of America. Student-athletes attend parties, consume beer, and their parents and coaches have no clue about it. Where do the kids get the “ok” to do this? Yes, peer pressure is a problem, but by hearing and seeing professional athletes day in and day out getting in trouble for drugs and alcohol, kids will think it ok. Misbehavior is always present in sports and fans can be aware of that. But what are the rights and needs of the fans? Should they be mad when they see this misbehavior? For most fans, their only contract with this will be found in the rules of sports and in fair play on the playing field and by the athlete. Athletes can’t have their cake and eat it too. If they want the love from the fans, then they better not misbehave. When the media gets involved, some say that they should just report the news. But this is like saying when they score a touchdown don’t celebrate. The media can voice their moral position. In doing so, they are very straightforward. The media has an obligation to define issues, report wrongdoing, and at times act as a moral barometer for the sport culture. Star athletes learn from their mistakes as well as from their successes. They have what it takes to be a winner. Top athletes are constantly striving to improve. What’s more, they can stay focused, often under intense pressure. (Who can forget Kerri Strug’s stunning vault, despite an injured leg, that sent her team to a gold medal finish at the 1996 Olympics?) It’s fine to admire Michael Jordan’s wizardry on the court or Barry Bonds flawless swing. To rise to the top, it takes countless hours of practice to fine-tune the skills needed to accomplish your goals. Another major factor that athletes put on society is the strength they show when the odds are against them. For example, after being diagnosed with cancer, Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins continued his career in the NHL. Not only is he one of the greatest to ever play hockey, he’s achieved his goals while missing a respectable amount of games. Another example could be former Olympian Wilma Rudolph. Born with polio, doctors said that it could prevent her from walking. She played basketball and ran track at 13 and competed in the 56 Olympics as a sophomore in high school. Positive thinking goes hand and hand with these athletes. Great athletes can focus on the task at hand. They can become fully focused and arrive feeling like a winner before they even begin to compete. Athletes who are champions also show qualities such as perseverance, dedicati...