This is why I regularly tell my kids that athletes are fun to watch on tv while they’re playing, but other than that they’re just douche-bags. Spent a good amount of time pointing out how Micheal Vick killed dogs and TO’s a complete anus.
Babe Ruth was a distant cousin by marriage, my one “famous” relative. He struck out more than he hit, and had “drinking problem”- but he was still idolized, and that was a long time ago. The problem is America’s inability to put either “cowboy” or “sports” heroes in their proper place or perspective. To quote someone possibly famous: “Nothing is illegal until you get caught.” The modern American dream indeed.
If an athlete is an exemplary person, it’s coincidental to his playing ability. The one simply has nothing to do with the other. The modern “I’m nobody’s role model” paradigm is sad, but it’s a reflection of the truth of the world.
Holding sports performance as a model of exemplary behavior is counterproductive, since your child will one day realize, by direct observation, that “clean living” and “saying your prayers” have absolutely nothing to do with athletic excellence. Given the choice between “I want to have a stable marriage and a long, healthy life” and “I want to hit 100 Home Runs in a season, make $20 million per year, and have all the women I can handle”, which do you think your average 15 year-old boy will strive for?
mnsmkd about 13 years ago
So sad.
iamthelorax about 13 years ago
This is why I regularly tell my kids that athletes are fun to watch on tv while they’re playing, but other than that they’re just douche-bags. Spent a good amount of time pointing out how Micheal Vick killed dogs and TO’s a complete anus.
-HARLAN about 13 years ago
Remember when baseball was just a kids’ game, sometimes played by adults?
Dtroutma about 13 years ago
Babe Ruth was a distant cousin by marriage, my one “famous” relative. He struck out more than he hit, and had “drinking problem”- but he was still idolized, and that was a long time ago. The problem is America’s inability to put either “cowboy” or “sports” heroes in their proper place or perspective. To quote someone possibly famous: “Nothing is illegal until you get caught.” The modern American dream indeed.
WarBush about 13 years ago
How bout I trade you a lawyer for a jailed supplier?
fritzoid Premium Member about 13 years ago
If an athlete is an exemplary person, it’s coincidental to his playing ability. The one simply has nothing to do with the other. The modern “I’m nobody’s role model” paradigm is sad, but it’s a reflection of the truth of the world.
Holding sports performance as a model of exemplary behavior is counterproductive, since your child will one day realize, by direct observation, that “clean living” and “saying your prayers” have absolutely nothing to do with athletic excellence. Given the choice between “I want to have a stable marriage and a long, healthy life” and “I want to hit 100 Home Runs in a season, make $20 million per year, and have all the women I can handle”, which do you think your average 15 year-old boy will strive for?
pirate227 about 13 years ago
Play ball!