With the recent drama in the sports world (vick, benoit, bonds etc)...Do you think athletes still represent good role models. Are they someone you would want your kids looking up to as they grow up? It seems that in recent times the persona of the athlete has changed in many cases for example compare

Michael Jordan to Lebron James
Babe Ruth to Bonds
Pele to David Beckham

It seems that todays athletes care more about the money then the status of being the best. Whether its that we just follow their lives more closely now from the internet and thus hear about more drama or athletes simply are a different breed of people nowadays different from 10-30 years ago.

Whatever the reason, my question is this. Would you want your future kids to hold today's athletes as role models and if so which athletes do you think make good role models?

8/3/2007 1:42:08 AM

Pele chased the money just like Beckham is doing. Ruth was a fat, drunk asshole just like Bonds is a fat, roided-up asshole. If you're going to make this thread, at least get some good examples.

8/3/2007 1:55:16 AM

ok, bad example, but you get the general idea

8/3/2007 1:56:04 AM

aside from having kids w/ a woman that is not his wife, what has lebron james done to make you think that he is a bad role model? and what has michael jordan done to make you think that he is a good role model or that he doesn't care about the money?

jordan made selling overpriced shoes to kids who can't afford them what it is today, got caught cheating on his wife, and went to carolina.

michael jordan to lebron james... that's a good one.

8/3/2007 2:04:59 AM

Hockey players have gotten a lot less wild.

Thirty years ago, they were going into the stands to beat fans unconcious with shoes and admitting to purposely breaking the legs of Russians.

Now they get arrested for yelling at cars.

8/3/2007 2:07:01 AM

i still think there are lots of athletes out there today that would serve as good role models. Plenty of athletes still keep their noses clean, give back to the community, etc.. I think LT would make a great role model. Hard worker, rarely runs his mouth, and gives back to the local community. Although I admit i'm not the best follower of nba stuff, i'd recommend grant hill as a role model (if he was healthy enough), or even a guy like steve nash or tim duncan. I think what i'd look for in the role model is someone who is not flamboyant, but still gets the job done and is at the top of their game. Throw peyton manning in that list as well.

8/3/2007 2:08:50 AM

So someone who is unhealthy or injured can't be a role model?

8/3/2007 2:10:09 AM

I AM DIKEMBE MUTOMBO

8/3/2007 7:42:51 AM

Quote :

"and went to carolina"

/thread

8/3/2007 7:58:30 AM

^ if the thread was only about Michael Jordan being a role model

8/3/2007 8:07:08 AM

Athletes should not be role models. They are not like the common individual these days. They get paid a large salary that most kids will never make. These athletes for the most part get into trouble and shouldn't be built up so large. They are made role models so companys can make money off the kids buying the athletes clothing lines.

8/3/2007 8:37:02 AM

I would much rather my kid be like Lebron James than Michael Jordan.

There are plenty of athletes who make great role models. Tim Duncan, Dwayne Wade, Luol Deng, LT, Rivers, etc.

8/3/2007 10:26:16 AM

Quote :

"So someone who is unhealthy or injured can't be a role model?"

Sure they can be, but i don't know too many kids who look up to someone who is repeatedly on IR and say "I want to be just like them when i grow up"

8/4/2007 1:28:27 AM

I'd say Rivers would be a good role model
I also think that a few tennis players, such as agassi and blake would be good.

8/4/2007 10:15:46 AM

Quote :

"I think LT would make a great role model."

wait, wasn't LT a cokehead who sent hookers to opponents' rooms??




maybe you mean LDT?

8/4/2007 1:02:38 PM

^ you're a jackass, everyone calls tomlinson LT.

8/4/2007 1:21:10 PM

i guess if a guy name marlin johnson comes around in BBall and is good, everybody will start calling him MJ?

8/4/2007 1:23:23 PM

trying to make logic out of it is useless, b/c no matter what you say, people still call him LT.

8/4/2007 1:25:43 PM

If Marlin Johnson is better and more popular than Micheal Jordan ever was, then yes, they probably will.

8/4/2007 5:20:28 PM

wait

are you saying LaDanian Tomlinson is hands down the best running back, nay the best offensive player, ever to play the game?

b/c Lawrence Taylor is probably the best defensive player to ever play the game and is definitely the best LB to ever play the game.

8/4/2007 9:32:47 PM

I'm not sure athletes have ever been good role models... just most of us didn't watch enough sportscenter or CNN when we were younger to know that Jordan had a gambling problem, LT was addicted to rock, and Dale Sr. never graduated Highschool.

There are a few exceptions (Cal Ripken Jr., steve young) but all that REALLY means is that we don't have any dirt on them yet.

8/4/2007 9:52:02 PM

^^ people call tomlinson 'LT'

get over it.

[Edited on August 5, 2007 at 6:27 AM. Reason : profanity not necessary]

8/5/2007 6:27:15 AM

Quote :

"I think LT would make a great role model. Hard worker, rarely runs his mouth, and gives back to the local community"

Two words : Sorry Loser

8/5/2007 9:32:37 AM

athletes today are examined much more closely (ruth and pele) by the public in general than they used to be, or rather their short comings and deficiencies are made more readily available

8/6/2007 9:04:00 AM