Athlete Role Models Be Careful What You Do!

Athletes are important role models for kids because they show them that hard work and perseverance can pay off. Most athletes use their fame and money for good things like breast cancer awareness, donating to charity, or spending time with troubled teens. There is nothing wrong with the endorsements and commercials because let’s face it who in their right mind would say no to thousands of dollars to be in a coke commercial for thirty seconds. Also who would say no if Jessica Simpson or Carrie Underwood wanted to date them? Good deeds, endorsements, commercials, and celebrity girlfriends make up the average athlete. There is nothing wrong with doing these things as long as they don’t let becoming a celebrity themselves become more important than being an athlete.

            Once you become a professional athlete you are in the spot light and you have to watch what you do. They signed up to be role models and it is their responsibility to uphold a good reputation. When they do something it sets a bad example for everyone who looked up to them. When Michael Vick was involved with the dog fighting everyone turned it into a joke. The very following Halloween there were tons of people dressing up like him and making fun of the dog fights like it wasn’t that serious and he didn’t need to be punished. What kind of example is this Michael Vick?! As a dog lover myself I think dog fighting is sick and there is absolutely nothing funny about it.

            I know I am pretty hard on Michael Vick, but doesn’t he deserve it? However, someone I will take up for is Michael Phelps when he was caught on video smoking marijuana. This is setting a bad example but at the time he did this I don’t think he thought he would become a famous role model. Everyone was too hard on him. It was obvious that he felt bad about it but let’s cut him some slack he was just a college student having fun and he didn’t know the seriousness of what he was doing.

            Most athletes are great role models; especially with the other role models that we have today like Britney Spears or Lil Wayne. Those guys make Michael Vick look like an angel! Since athletes are looked up to so much they need to be careful what they do and continue to do great things. Keep up the good work athletes!