Should celebrities be our children’s role models?
In his 1991 biography, A View From Above, basketball great Wilt Chamberlain wrote that he had had sex with approximately 20,000 women. "At my age," he wrote, "that equals out to having sex with 1.2 women a day, every day since I was fifteen years old." A record of which one can be proud? Lucky for him it all was done in the pre-AIDS, era.
French soccer legend Zinedine Zidane was banned for three games after head-butting Italian player Marco Materazzi during the World Cup final. Zidane claimed that Materazzi had been tugging on his jersey during the game so he told him, “If you wait, I’ll give you the shirt after the game.” After the head-butt he claimed that Materazzi then insulted his mother and his sister. Despite the head-butt penalty, Zidand was still awarded the Golden Ball for that competition. According to Wikipedia, over a year after the incident, Materazzi confirmed that his precise words to Zidane were: "I prefer the whore that is your sister." He also claimed that he didn’t realize that Zidane actually had a sister…. Would you want either of these accomplished idiots to be your kid’s role model?
James Harrison punches Aaron Francisco during Super Bowl 43: His proud fans gave him a standing ovation for a record-breaking 100 yard run-back touchdown but, later in the game, Harrison vents his frustration - for which receives a personal foul penalty plus much criticism - by multi-punching Arizona Cardinal Aaron Francisco. What a guy!
Michael Phelps was photographed taking a bong hit. Oops!
Snoop Dog appears seems to love hanging out with the “Girls Gone Wild”- college or otherwise. Setting another fine example….
Trust me, there are many more: Barry Bonds, Roger Clements, Michael Vick, and on and on. The truth is, having talent has nothing to do with being a decent human being. A good swimmer, football, soccer, baseball player, etc., may be very accomplished but possibly meaner than a Tasmanian devil and/or dumber than a rock! Are they good role models? Not in my world!
Don’t get me wrong; there are many accomplished, celebrities and perhaps even our relatives, friends or neighbors that would serve as exceptional role models - folks like Jay Buhner, Jamie Moyer and many other real, down-to-earth individuals. However, the reason they could easily serve as our role models is not because of special skills, or talents, but because they are caring, decent human beings eager to contribute to humanity and still remain humble.
I cried with Jay as he gently, tearfully held that beautiful, but cancer ridden, child at one of the Mariner games and I am truly impressed with his continued dedication to ill and underprivileged children.
A few years ago, I grieved with my grandson over the loss of my son, his father, but was thankful for Camp Erin and to the Moyer Foundation for helping him express his grief and helping us to move on.
These are the true role models; not exceptional athletes, actors or dare-devils - but real, unpretentious, honest individuals who deserve our honor and recognition and would serve as excellent patterns to use as we mold our own character.
