Where are the Role Models?

Closer to the beginning of the semester, we read an article by Menand, about various theories about the reason we go to college. One of these theories addressed the issue of whether or not America is a meritocracy, which is an environment where individuals are rewarded based on their ability to perform a certain task, or "merit." Not only can we apply this ideal to college, but in my opinion, it describes best the current realm of sports.
American sports today are all about excitement. Who can jump the highest, run the fastest, dunk the hardest, throw the farthest, hit the hardest, etc. I bet more than just a few of us tune in to ESPN just to see who did the most athletically challenging feat the night before on "Top 10 Plays." Today we see athletes being chosen to play professionally simply based on their talent and ability to produce. Along with the excitement of sports today, we see many players garnering attention from the public eye for all the wrong reasons. Whether it be Chad Ochocinco's startling issue with his wife this past summer, or the debacle that is the off-season screw up Ben Roethlisberger, athletes are losing the wholesome images that kids should be seeing when they turn on the TV. Winning is the most important aspect of sports, and most (if not all) are willing accomplish the goal by any means necessary. If that means signing the guy who doesn't follow the rules, then I guess we'll have to revise the rulebook, right?


Historically, the public demanded athletes and sports teams to convey a clean image, regardless of skill. Even if a player did not follow this idea, the media often portrayed them differently in order to preserve the idea of a role model. For example, Babe Ruth, one of the most recognized baseball players in history, was often called a drunk off the field. However, the public wanted to believe that he was the "All-American" guy and that is what was perceived. This goes to show that in back in the day, the public cared about the image athletes portrayed to all. On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have Charles Barkley, a former NBA basketball player who is known for his inappropriate language and actions on the court. In an excerpt from an article written by The Daily Beast, they briefly discuss Charles' opinion on being a role model.

"In the brusquely forthright words of Barkley: "I'm not paid to be a role model. I'm paid to wreak havoc on the basketball court." That observation, immortalized in a widely seen television commercial, has stirred up roughly equal measures of support and dissent. "In essence Barkley is correct," says Boston College sociologist Michael Malec, former editor of the Journal of Sport and Social Issues."

 By becoming a meritocracy, we have forgotten the values this country runs on. Although it may be fun to see Ndamukong Suh sack the quarterback every now and then on the field, does his ability make it okay for him to do this?  To a certain extent, we are hurting the youth by consistently overlooking these personal defects of many professional athletes simply because they put up big numbers. It is important that we soon remind ourselves to consider ethics and morals before skill when it comes to image on a national stage.

Sources -

The Daily Beast