On February 3, 2013, on a podium in the middle of the Mer- cedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, purple and white con- fetti trickled down on Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice. Rice was an imperative reason
as to why the aging, unheralded Ravens earned the title “World Champions.”
Critics were dubious of the Ravens offense and energy level to execute such an improbable run–yet, these same critics never questioned Rice’s behavior.
This preconceived notion that Rice was a “high character, high performing” athlete was shattered on February 15, 2014, when Rice was arrested on charges of assault after beating his wife unconscious in a casino hotel. Today, Rice is unemployed due to his heinous actions.
As this incident made national headlines, those who followed the headline were forced to ask themselves an important question; for the sake of ourselves, our kids, our kids’ kids, etc, is the common pro athlete a good role model for our youth?
First things first, their asking the wrong question. The specificity and issue is correctly raised when one asks themselves
“Should my (unconditionally beloved family member that would be susceptible to find pro athletes as role models) mirror the actions of pro athletes?
My previous anecdote of Ray Rice would signal
a negative answer; yet, my morality provokes me to say yes, our youth should idolize pro athletes.
While many pro athetes who make headlines spend their free time partying (John- ny Manziel), snorting cocaine (Lamar Odom), or abusing in- nocent animals (Michael Vick), others spend their time setting up youth facilities in impover- ished neighborhoods (LeBron James, among others), creating foundations devoted to chari- table endeavors (Albert Pujols, among others), and donating money to charitable causes (Eli Manning, among others).
Many kids look at athletes like Tim Duncan or Derek
Jeter (both whom have shown immense loyalty to their respective organizations) as idols due to their high levels of both integrity and performance. Their character speaks volumes about why America has em- braced them as its golden boy
in their respective sports. Another example is the
ways in which sports often pro- voke an abstinence of drugs, al- cohol, etc. in a young person’s life. Sure, media inundates us with reports of perfomance enhancing abuse and other drug use, but those cases do
not represent the many athletes who set a positive example.
Look at Tim Tebow- Te- bow who is a more publicized example, as he used faith to invigorate Heisman-Trophy caliber play to generate a massive following among our youth. Countless other athletes follow suit, yet do not garnish the media attention Tebow does.
Ultimately, it should be
a moral obligation for pro athletes to become someone of honor, loyalty, and reverence in order for America’s next gener- ation of athletes and citizens to be of high character.
It should be written in every professional athlete’s job title to display themselves in a virtuous manner, which will not only help the athletes themselves, but will set a good example for the youth who admire them.