“I am not a role model.”
The words of Charles Barkley from a Nike Air commercial could not ring truer today. Athletes, in no shape or way, have to be role models. They may be public figures and easily recognizable, but they do not have to be “role models.”
There is no reason why we should look to athletes to be role models for our society. Athletes entertain us. They intrigue us. How many times do you meet a person that is 6’6”, 250 pounds and has a vertical jump of 40”? Automatically we are drawn to the prowess of athletes because they sit in the limelight, and are able to accomplish tasks that the average person has no dream of doing. For that reason, we expect them to act differently in public as well.
Which is a bunch of hogwash. Athletes do not ask to be role models or to conduct themselves differently. It is not an athlete’s job to show children how to act. An athlete’s job is to play their sport and be a citizen of the community. If that means going to charitable events and using their stage to raise awareness, more power to them. If that means going downtown on a night off to be the life of a party, there will not be any issues as long as they do not break the law.
The argument against all of this is saying that athletes are recognizable and therefore automatically need to be role models due to their star power. Why? Why are kids looking up to athletes? Role models are people who do good things for their community, people who help. An individual with superior talent and a stage to show off such talent does not fall into such a category of ‘role model.’
This line of thinking brings up an important point. If an athlete chooses to become a role model because of their recognition and fame, then they have every right and obligation to be a role model. Very few people would argue that Dennis Rodman is a role model for children, and Rodman never presented or conducted himself in a way that shouts, “I want to be a role model.” On the other hand, Lebron James would be considered a role model. James has been at the head of multiple initiatives and causes that better society. James has become a role model, and now should act like it; but, due to his fame, he did not have a mandate to become that role model.
Many of us will never be given the opportunity some athletes have to make a difference in the community. That does not mean athletes have to take advantage of such opportunity.
