Professional Athletes As Role Models Sports example essay topic

Professional Athletes as Role Models Sports have played a major role in society since the beginning of man. From the Greeks to present day, the influence of great athletes has been tremendous. However, today's media has elevated sports and the people who play them. Athletes are seen all over the place, we see them in commercials, on television shows, we read about them in magazines, and we watch them on television. Sports are a big part of our society. There is a strong need for positive athletic role models in society.

In this paper I plan to show the importance of having positive athletic role models in society and the influence they have on and off the field. Sports are an American pastime. Sporting events have taken on an extraordinary importance in our society. Fair play and sportsmanship have taken a backseat to hype and promotion.

Children watch and mimic their favorite athletes. They act like them; they play like them; they watch their every move. The hope that this hype and promotion has given fans across America is amazing. A majority of professional level athletes provide hope for young athletes all over the world.

For example, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball and gave new hope to black athletes everywhere. So what happens if the athlete does something wrong and gets away with it? Younger fans think that they can do the same thing without repracussions. Terrell Owens of the San Francisco 49 ers taunts his opponents and the crowd. Fans that look up to Owens see his actions and it causes them to act the same way.

This is not bad, but good in that Owens is giving these kids and adults inspiration. When Owens fans act like him they are picturing themselves as him, scoring touchdowns, rubbing it in the opponents face, and it makes them want to become a great athlete so that one day they can perform the same acts in front of a crowd and have people looking up to them. The opposing side to this is that if the athlete does something wrong, and gets away with it, younger fans think that they can do the same things and get away with it. A current event regarding this issue would be one involving basketball superstar Kobe Bryant. Bryant is accused of raping a young woman the night before he went in for knee surgery. Kobe's fans see this and either lose him as a role model, trust in him that he did not do it, or see it and think that its acceptable behavior.

When role models are involved in situations which could cause their fans to follow in their footsteps, I believe it comes down to what the fans have been taught. If the fans have been taught good morals and how to tell between right and wrong then there will be no reason for copycats to emerge. If a fan of Kobe Bryant sees him accused of raping a young woman and thinks its right and goes and does the same, then it is not the result of Kobe, but the result of how this fan was raised. If this fan was taught the difference between right and wrong then he would know that rape is wrong and would not attempt to do it just because his role model, Kobe Bryant, was said to have done. Since athletics are so prominent in society today, the people who make it to the top have to show the right way to get there, how to act when playing, and how to act off the field as well. In doing this, Athletes can keep improving society in their own ways.

Many high profile players donate to charities, talk to groups of children, visit schools, and volunteer time to help keep kids off of drugs. A few athletes who give their time in doing performing these tasks are Emmitt Smith, Jeff Garcia, Brett Fare, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and even Tiger Woods. Athletes show dedication, and their ability to help their community. Even if they do these charitable events for publicity they are giving the impression that they want to help which leads to being looked at as a role model.

When fans see this, they view it as "cool" and it makes them want to do the same in whatever way they can, either in the present or future. There is a strong need for positive athletic role models in society and I believe that there is no wrong in having a positive athletic role model in your life. As stated, I believe the majority of professional athletes provide a positive influence on our society. Athletes can be role models in many different ways.

You can have a role model like Cal Ripken who doesn't say too much, but has played in the most consecutive games in baseball ever, or someone like Laurell Spr ewell, who choked and threatened his coach at one practice when he played for the Golden State Warriors. Whatever the case, I feel that most athletes set a good example for their fans as they give them something to look up to and strive to be in the future.