In the Eyes of the Public: Should Professional Athletes Be Considered Role Models?

It seems that the latest NBA brawl has placed professional athletes under the microscope once again. Here we have people who can make millions of dollars doing something they love. They get to travel all over the country and people look up to them. How many people can say that about their career? These millions of dollars wouldn't be available without the support of fans and the community. Many athletes have said in the past that they are not role models and do not feel it is their duty to be positive role models. On the other hand, when you are in the public eye constantly shouldn't you lead by example?

There are many young athletes who grow up idolizing their sports heroes. The possibility of being the next Michael Jordan has led many athletes to success. For some children they see their athletic ability as the gateway to a better life. This talent may open opportunities for success that may not exist otherwise. The desire to be a success athlete can motivate young minds to study hard, go to college, and stay off drugs. Many of today's professional athletes may not be have much of anything if it wasn't for their gift of talent.

So we have to stop and wonder what goes through the mind of an aspiring basketball player when he or she sees Carmelo Anthony sucker punch another player. What do they think when they see Terrell Owens spit in another players face? We have to wonder what kind of message we are sending to our youth.

There are many professions that are seen as role models, especially for our youth. Teachers have the responsibility of molding young minds. They are expected to educate the future of American. If a child does not do well in school all eyes are on the teacher. If you stop to take a look at the average salary of teachers you will realize that it is not much. Teachers have a great deal of pressure and an obligation to society, but seldom even receive so much as a thank you for their efforts.

There are other professionals who risk their lives daily. Law enforcement, fire fighters, and members of the Armed Forces have to overcome so many daily obstacles. They are expected to be positive role models, work long hours, and put everyone else's life before their own. Many of these professionals do not even make enough money to make ends meet and take care of their own families.

All of these professions try to be positive role models because they know they are in a position of authority. They know that their actions set the standards for everyone else. Now I am not saying there aren't bad apples in any field, but I am talking about the majority not the few who try to ruin an image for everyone else.

Professional athletes may be respected, well paid, and talented, but they are also human. Sometimes many people tend to think that just because they are paid millions of dollars they should not make human errors. They are just as inclined to make a mistake as anyone else. When a professional athlete makes any type of mistake they face tremendous scrutiny. Their public, private, and professional life comes under fire. Suddenly they are asked to prove themselves to society all over again, including their athletic abilities.

Look at Kobe Bryant; he has had his fair share of scandal. In the midst of this scandal people started to forget that he was a superior athlete. Very few people wanted to commend him for his honesty and the fact that he took responsibility for his actions. It was easier for the public to condemn him for an act that millions of other people do everyday rather than look at the positive that he has done. Until we have walked a day in his over-sized Nikes we will never know what happened and it's important to remember that. Money can buy a lot of things, but it can't buy peace of mind and happiness. Millions of dollars may help to portray a false image of perfection, but at the end of the day these athletes still have the same problems as everyone else.

So I have to wonder. Do professional athletes have an obligation to be a positive role model in exchange for the support of fans and the community? Surely there must be a happy medium. Maybe professional athletes should always TRY their best to do the right thing and remain positive role models. On the other hand, the public should recognize that everyone makes mistakes. These mistakes are not a single defining characteristic of they are, but more of a lesson learned the hard way. The public also needs to be fair and realize that there are at least two sides to every story. The version that the media is going to tell is not always the factual one, but rather the one that will make the most money or stir the most controversy.

Of course, there are some professional athletes that are constantly in the limelight for their negative behaviors. Many just crave attention and feel that they do not get enough already. Some have other issues and just have a lack of common sense, respect, and good sportsmanship. I cannot defend those individuals. I know that if the average Joe goes to work and makes a mistake repeatedly he soon finds himself without a job. This should be the same for professional athletes, but unfortunately money talks and this is not always the case.