Are Athletes Good Role Models?

In the United States professional athletics is a multibillion dollar business and have hundreds of icons. Whether it’s the NFL, MLB, NHL, or the NBA athletes can’t stay out of trouble. In the NFL alone 14 different players got DUI’s in the off season. Why is it that our athletes and our icons can’t stay out of trouble? Millions of kids look up to these athletes, and not many set a good example for the kids. Whether it’s Sammy Sosa taking steroids or Allen Iverson being charged with assault athletes everywhere is struggling and have been struggling to stay out of trouble. When my Father was growing up athletes were still American icons but they weren’t making 20 million dollars a year, they were just playing for the love of the game. My Fathers childhood idol was Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings and even though Gordie was the face of the organization in the summer he would work on the farm just to make ends meat. He never had to play hockey he never asked for the fame but he embraced it and set an example for kids to look up to. Now day’s backup kickers make enough to buy a mansion. Personally I don’t have a problem with an athlete making a lot of money as long as they earn it, and give back to the community, and accept that they need to make smart decisions. As a huge hockey fan I can say Jonathan Toews fits the perfect athlete. Toews is an amazing athlete and leader for the Chicago Blackhawks. Toews stays out of trouble works hard and gives to the community. He has his own charity called the Toews foundation where he gives donated hockey gear to inner city kids that cannot afford it. In my mind he is amoung a few athletes around that will inspire the next generation.