Should sports people be expected to be role models

[Back Flank]

Is the topic I have chosen for my year 12 english oral. I'm taking the firm view that they shouldn't. Any thoughts or points of view you could help me with would be much appreciated. Cheers.

[rooboy_Tim]

Originally Posted by Back Flank

Is the topic I have chosen for my year 12 english oral. I'm taking the firm view that they shouldn't. Any thoughts or points of view you could help me with would be much appreciated. Cheers.

I believe the media and people in general can sometimes put too much pressure on professional sportsman to be role models. Sure they should be setting a good example "In General" and be encouraging towards up and coming players in giving them advice etc on and off the field. But I believe that when they are not actually competing they like to be doing the things that ordinary people are doing and living as much of a so called "ordinary life" as possible. And when a so called ordinary person get's into a spot of bother no matter how big or small it is. It's just like water under the bridge. No one finds out about it.

A job is a job no matter how much recognition you may get for it from the media. at the end of the day they are just doing their job, they have to make a living out of something.

I hope this helps BF I did enjoy stating my case

[jas929406]

Its a double edged sword on this topic:If you go to an AFL game you will see kids as young as 5-10yrs wearing their team colours with a number on the back off it,that number represents their fav player(young kids like to meet them at football club BBQ for kids or Aus kick ect).If that player gets into strife off the field the young supporter will hear about it through the endless media hounding or through word of mouth(public).I dont know what impact that will have on a 5-10yr old but being that young they proberly will not give a shait but- if the parents have a say in the matter and depending on what the football player has done,the parents will influence the childs decision on that player and CLUB.(THATS JUST AN EXAMPLE).

All sports are diff in the way they are played(obviously) and all off field incidents are diff and handled diff by the powers that be for diff codes.(Swimming,AFL,NRL,ect.)

The result is that yes i think they are to a certain point but how far are they OUR property and not their OWN???.

[Bird of Prey]

If a person emulates or is influenced by the bad behaviour of a sportsperson (ie: drug taking), then you would assume that they would be at the age where they are old enough to take responsibility for their own actions.
In regards to influencing younger people, responsibility should rest with the parents of that youngster to teach them right from wrong. I think people are sometimes too quick to blame outside influence such as elite sportspeople.

[wcefan09]

Originally Posted by Bird of Prey

If a person emulates or is influenced by the bad behaviour of a sportsperson (ie: drug taking), then you would assume that they would be at the age where they are old enough to take responsibility for their own actions.
In regards to influencing younger people, responsibility should rest with the parents of that youngster to teach them right from wrong. I think people are sometimes too quick to blame outside influence such as elite sportspeople.

im with him! couldnt have said it better. the first paragraph is spot on!

[TalkingFootball]

Originally Posted by Bird of Prey

If a person emulates or is influenced by the bad behaviour of a sportsperson (ie: drug taking), then you would assume that they would be at the age where they are old enough to take responsibility for their own actions.
In regards to influencing younger people, responsibility should rest with the parents of that youngster to teach them right from wrong. I think people are sometimes too quick to blame outside influence such as elite sportspeople.

I too think this is an excellent reply.

IMHO AFL players in theory should not be seen as role models. Generally speaking they should be seen as no more or no less than a representation of a cross section of society. Society has both good and bad "pennies" its just a fact of life.

However, in practice they are used by some as "role models". Sporting organisations sometimes for publicity try to focus on the good. However, its a double edged sword.

Where it all unravels is the media generally like to focus on the "bad". Ultimately that sells newspapers or gets rating points. So effectively AFL players or elite sports people are easy targets to be used as pawns in the game of "commercial reality."

Thats then where Birds of Prey reply is spot on! Its time for the parents to step in and say "wait a minute".

[Tippaz]

Originally Posted by Back Flank

Is the topic I have chosen for my year 12 english oral. I'm taking the firm view that they shouldn't. Any thoughts or points of view you could help me with would be much appreciated. Cheers.

GOOD MAN
i share your firm view.
here a couple of things.

- role models should come from mum & dad. not Ben Cousins.
- kids don't read papers or watch news. they read comics and watch the Simpsons.
- kids are more interested in emulating their footy heroes by taking speccies and learning new goal celebrations. not taking drugs. not p*ssing on walls. not doing 125km per/hour in a 60-zone.
- footballers are paid to play football. not be role models.
- footballers are human beings. not robots. why expect any differently to dentists, accountants, lawyers, builders, etc?

[Back Flank]

Thanks for the help guys, keep it coming if you're interested. I'll make sure to post my final draft when I'm done. Cheers.

[smileatme]

Everybody should be a role model for those younger and easier to influence, especially those in the public eye.
If you urinate in public and get caught doing it then you may just as well be as poor a role model to those who look up to you for guidance as Fevola or Johnson. But no one would ever hear about it and it isn't the media that makes you pee in public.
I don't think these players should stop having fun but they seriously need to have a good look at themselves.

[wcefan09]

Originally Posted by smileatme

Everybody should be a role model for those younger and easier to influence, especially those in the public eye.
If you urinate in public and get caught doing it then you may just as well be as poor a role model to those who look up to you for guidance as Fevola or Johnson. But no one would ever hear about it and it isn't the media that makes you pee in public.
I don't think these players should stop having fun but they seriously need to have a good look at themselves.

seriously mate, u cant tell me you've never peed in public!!