I am an athlete.
Always will be.
Although I no longer play football for South Carolina State University, I am still an athlete at heart.
I will, for the most part, see things through the eyes and perspective of an athlete. That is not to say that I will defend my brethren but I view them from a different perspective. In other words...I understand them. However, there are SOME things that I just don't understand.
I don't understand getting caught with weed, cocaine, or guns in your car...
I don't understand getting a DUI when you can afford to pay someone to drive you around...
I don't understand getting robbed for 100k in jewelry...
I don't understand beating up or spitting on a woman...
I don't understand blowing millions because you wanna win thousands on a dogfight...
I don't understand steroids...
I don't understand paternity suits for thousands of dollars to random women...
I don't understand rape charges...
I don't understand fighting or shooting at a club or the shoe show (aka strip club)...
I don't understand testing positive for drugs when you know that you're gonna be tested...
I don't understand what some athletes do. However, we all must understand that sports are a microcosm of society. If you have drugs and crime in society, then you will certainly find them in sports. No matter how dumb you think some athletes are, there will be another one to come right behind the first one who will do something even more crazier than the first guy.
There were times when I was in college when people would say..."you don't sound or act like most football players. you're smart, articulate...blah, blah, blah". Is that a compliment? Did you expect me to stand in front of the class and say..."I be a good football player." I was one of the few who came out of our vaunted School of Business (Marketing). There were times when I'd do class presentations and leave em speechless. Yeah...I guess you could say that I still do that to this day. (snickering).
Nevertheless, when athletes do wrong...you'll always hear the term role model come up. Are athletes role models? Yes...we are. But so are you. Even if you don't think that you're a role model, you are. There is somebody who watches and admires what you do right now. They may never tell you but you are their role model. I think we'd be foolish to think that athletes like Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Tom Brady, Alex Rodriguez should be the images of what is truly a role model. Athletes are role models but most are not concerned with being a role model because they are disconnected to from the people who put them on a pedestal. Do you think that LeBron James is concerned about my 3 sons? No, he has 2 sons of his own that he's responsible for. I have more influence on my 3 than he ever would. Athletes are to be admired but not idolized.
When an athlete gets into trouble, you'll hear people say..."How do I explain this to my kids?" You just do it! Explain to them that we all make choices...good or bad...that all have consequences that come with each decision that we make. You be the living example how to live right. Don't leave that up to your favorite athlete who may or may not do the right thing. We are all human. And no human is mistake-free.
"We are all human. And no human is mistake-free."
ReplyDeleteThat pretty much sums it up 12kyle, another good post.
Athletes really disappoint people when they do some things wrong as people and youngsters do look up to them.
ReplyDeleteYour last line was perfect!!
Hey Brother!
ReplyDeleteI'm pulling out the old school church fan right now cause she den preached up in here...up in here! Now let the church say "AMEN!"..........
I couldn't agree more. Parents and the people in a child's life should be their ultimate role models..not athletes and celebrities.
ReplyDeleteathletes are fuck ups.. that's the only way to put it.
ReplyDeleteParents need need to be more active in children lives...not just their own, but the whole community.
I grew up in the projects, where community discipline was in effect.
just some punk ass parents out here ...sorry for the french
You right on it bruh. Can't do nothing but add an amen to that.
ReplyDeletePreach..preach!
ReplyDelete@ Solomon
ReplyDeleteThanks, bruh!
@ Angel
I think we (as parents) have to do a better job of reminding kids that these athletes shouldn't be idolized. We can marvel at their talents but that should be it.
@ Keisha the Kitten
LoL!!!!
@ Keith
Parents see and interact with the children every day. The influence of a parent or guardian should always come first
@ Otis
tellemwhyumaaadson!!!
LoL!!
@ Rawdawgbuffalo
No doubt!
@ Rich
Haaaa! 'Preciate it bruh
@ Pigskin Loving Lady
Trial sermon on Sunday! LoL
Even if you don't think that you're a role model, you are. There is somebody who watches and admires what you do right now.
ReplyDeleteReading that gave me a thought that...I better straighten my shit up a bit. I've been dragging ass for so long that I forgot how to be an example.
Thanks.
I agree 100%. CJ can admire any sports figure he chooses when he get older but the decisions WE as his parents make will always define what he does later in life. Sport figures, entertainers should not be held up to that kind of status ever.
ReplyDeleteIt's so unfortunate that some of these kids feel that the athlete or entertainer is the only role model they have! And in some cases I'm sure that's true. The moment you decide to bring a child into this world YOU should be the one they look up to not some dude with $180 kicks or someone rappin about money cars and their supposed hood life!
ReplyDeleteGood post, man!
ReplyDeleteTo chime in here with my $.02, we as a society put athletes, entertainers and clergy members on these pedestels.
The problem is when we put folks on pedestels, they fall and it is usually long and hard.
I think that folks have started to let the TV and the entertainment world raise their kids because they have been overly exposed to it and what we are seeing now is the result of that.
I have a little cousin who will only wear clothes with a name brand, I have cousins who drink and smoke those "left-handed cigarettes" in front of and sometimes with their kids and a whole lot of other stuff that is highly inappropriate.
All of that is a result of the crap their parents have done to them, not just the athletes and entertainers.
The parents are the ones with the final say so because they can always turn it off. The sad thing is they won't because the parents, the damn adults in this equation, are taking their cues from these athletes and entertainers.
I said all that to say that if we as adults would stop putting so much stock into these athletes and entertainers, the children will follow suit because ultimately, they will mimic what they see everyday.
That is all.
This is so true Kyle.
ReplyDeleteWe are all humans who make good and bad choices. Some of us may have a higher profile than others. That doesn't mean that they are perfect. Think about the last time you got into some stupid ish. Now, imagine having thousands of cameras in your face and everyone you know reading about it in the papers or in magazines. Just because you have money doesn't mean you will make better decisions.
Not to sound arrogant but I have never made a mistake except for on math quiz in 10th grade.
ReplyDeleteEven with that, I did it on purpose - I just wanted to see what it felt like.
@ Blah Blah Blah
ReplyDeleteIt is sooooo true. Most of us walk around unaware of those who we have an influence on.
@ The F$%K it List
That's a great approach to have. I wish more parents used that train of thought!
@ ShellyShell
Good points! Kids will gravitate to just about anybody. There is more out there for them than athletes and rappers.
@ Smarty Jones
Excellent points! Nuffin left to say but amen!
@ L Renee
The last thing that we'd want would be for the WHOLE world to know when we made any type of mistake.
@ Brian
Wowwwwwwwwwww!
good post
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree it can definitely be difficult explaining the wrongful actions of a celebrity to a child, but it must be done.
I've tried pointing out to my cousins that you should chose your role models carefully, and be mindful that they are human and as such make mistakes/bad decisions as others do.
Personally, I've always felt it better to have a role model as someone I can pick up the phone and call in a matter of seconds. To this day, my mother, stepmother, grandmother and aunts are my role models. They prove that despite the many obstacles you can succeed with determination and perserverance.
I dont understand things too.... but you would have to live their life to understand it better...
ReplyDeleteI dont understand having an affair that would cost millions once caught...sheesh I need ALLLLLLLL my money..hahaha
On the Soapbox I see.. hate it when people in your field draw scruntiny to the rest of us. Think about all those teachers seducing their student stories. Geez!
ReplyDelete