Role models

[tcprowling]

With the onset of the football season in Australia, our sports media of late has been full of reports on the "off field" behaviour of our high profile players. I suspect the same is with other countries too.
So my question is
Are high profile sportspersons placed under too much pressure to remain squeaky clean role models?

 

[Djamila]

I like'em better when they're dirty.

 

[kateyes]

Yes, I think so. I think for the most part they are just folks like us--and it seems remarkably unfair to hold them to some kind of higher standard because of athletic skill they were probably born with.

I don't think most of them got into sport to be a role model for kids and I don't think it is fair to expect them to live thier lives by some unrealistic standard because kids do look up to them. Do we hold kid's fathers, scout leaders, teachers, to the same standard?

 

[tcprowling]

Yes, I think so. I think for the most part they are just folks like us--and it seems remarkably unfair to hold them to some kind of higher standard because of athletic skill they were probably born with.

I don't think most of them got into sport to be a role model for kids and I don't think it is fair to expect them to live thier lives by some unrealistic standard because kids do look up to them. Do we hold kid's fathers, scout leaders, teachers, to the same standard?

Kateyes,
I tend to agree with you. I am also of the opinion that those kids who are most likely to be influenced by sportsperson are to young to be even interested in what their behaviour is Off field. I feel it's the media that places the role model tag on our sportspersons and then uses it as a focus point for sensationalism

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Do we hold kid's fathers, scout leaders, teachers, to the same standard?

I feel the ones you mention should be held to a high standards.

Most kids, or at least from my school, the athlets were looked up just for thier talents. We didn't care about thier personal lives, just how well they played.