Where are the role models ???

[mckinzie]

Originally Posted by cuffedlinks

I could be a "roll" model...
I think David Robinson is a great choice...
and we, for some peculiar reason, have become people who like nothing better than to hear of someone falling out of grace...

Kobe Bryant

[sctx]

Originally Posted by cuffedlinks

..and we, for some peculiar reason, have become people who like nothing better than to hear of someone falling out of grace...

media scavengers... yes, it is sad ... but we can always look up to John Wayne .... can't we ??? ( Bruce Dern is the devil !)

[MikeW]

Originally Posted by mckinzie

Kobe Bryant

That is sad. Up until that day, I liked him. I like him less because of how he has handled himself since then. He's trying to be good guy this year, but I have a feeling being a nice person is not part of his nature.

[MikeW]

Originally Posted by cuffedlinks

REALLY hard to be 100% "pure" in the eyes of many...so many things can be skewed into what could be considered questionable...and we, for some peculiar reason, have become people who like nothing better than to hear of someone falling out of grace...

I think this is the reason our choices for major political offices suck. The good politicians, who can actually think for themselves, have done something in their past that others can jump on.

In the biography about Sandy Koufax, they insinuate that Sandy was the first to be scrutinized by the media. They could find nothing wrong with him, he wasn't outrageous like other ballplayers of his time (he didn't go out partying and carrying on), he wasn't great at interviews, he kept his private life private. So they dug up stuff about him (they found out his parents were divorced, and they tried to get hold of his real dad to find things out) and reported it.

[sctx]

I heard Artest told security guards he had to "Keep my street rep up".... I hope he's really good at selling rap albums what a loooooser, for 5 million a year, I'd even buy the beer for the guy to throw at me.

[denisea]

Originally Posted by jtm1631

Role models should be found in your homes, schools and neighborhoods. While I admire the athletic ability of any athelete, I think the actions of Friday night show just how "common" pro atheletes are. When they are provoked they will explode and take the bait.

I agree with you JT... however, I also believe that they should not be limited to those environs. I know many parents, teachers and neighborhoods that are far from being good role models. Ironically, some of the best teachers/mentors/role models I've had over the years have been from individuals who many times didn't hold degrees, prestigious jobs, or make oodles of money. As long as a person is a good role model, does anything else really matter?

Here's a story for you... My mom was a teacher at a preschool at our local Congregational Church. She and another woman had been teaching there for numerous years. All the kids and parents loved them both. Then one year the church got a new pastor. Additionally, the population of our little town had been growing considerably. Ironically, the new pastor's wife had been a preschool teacher and some of the new local residents with young preschool age children discovered after some research that my mom and the other woman did not hold education degrees or any college degrees (though my mom, before she was married, had attended college for 2 years studying education). As a result, my mom and the other woman were relieved of their duties. The pastor's wife and another woman with a college degree took over their teaching positions. After the first year, the new local residents who had worked to have my mom and the other woman fired came groveling back to them begging them to return to their previous positions. Too late... my mom and the other woman opened their own preschool... and to this day there are waiting lists for enrollment at the school... parents actually sign their children up when they find out that they are pregnant.

[TAPPY]

Originally Posted by denisea

Here's a story for you... My mom was a teacher at a preschool at our local Congregational Church. She and another woman had been teaching there for numerous years. All the kids and parents loved them both. Then one year the church got a new pastor. Additionally, the population of our little town had been growing considerably. Ironically, the new pastor's wife had been a preschool teacher and some of the new local residents with young preschool age children discovered after some research that my mom and the other woman did not hold education degrees or any college degrees (though my mom, before she was married, had attended college for 2 years studying education). As a result, my mom and the other woman were relieved of their duties. The pastor's wife and another woman with a college degree took over their teaching positions. After the first year, the new local residents who had worked to have my mom and the other woman fired came groveling back to them begging them to return to their previous positions. Too late... my mom and the other woman opened their own preschool... and to this day there are waiting lists for enrollment at the school... parents actually sign their children up when they find out that they are pregnant.

D- thanks so much for sharing that...dont you just love to see Good Karma come around !!!!!!

[MikeW]

Originally Posted by sctx

.. I hope he's really good at selling rap albums

He was still in the stands fighting, when I had that very thought.

[StephenB]

I heard Artest was going to get Mike Tyson to help him with the album
You've got guys like Artest and Tyson and a few others who ruin thier respective sports for everyone. And then there are guys like Richard Petty, Ali, Cal ripken, Terry Bradshaw and many others who, while they may not exactly be role model material to some, have at least managed to show some class on and off the field. Tiger Woods and many of our olympic athletes would fit into this category. Then you have guys like Pete Rose who fit in somewhere in between. As penance, all professional athletes should take a pay cut so a family of 4 doesn't have to mortgage the house to go to a game!

[Beachwolverine]

So the Forum Goddess has a Goddess for a mother - the world makes sense.

Steve Young comes to my mind for the Sport Hero.

[mckinzie]

Wilt Chamberlain

[sctx]

Originally Posted by Beachwolverine

Steve Young comes to my mind for the Sport Hero.

Yeah, I can see your point there... but he was a 49er... can you see my point ???

On a sadder note, I believe it was Mike Evans on the radio this morning that mentioned that a youth basketball coach (in LA ???) has already busted his kids for acting in the same manner, apparently the pros, by their actions do send a message of approval to younger players.
I guess I was lucky when I was young and was on the fast track for a baseball career, Willie Mays and Nolan Ryan were my models, and though I didn't know anything about their personal lives, I never saw them cause fights or abuse the fans in any way...... Nolan did have that one fight on the field though, but who could believe such a dumbass would charge a living legend like that !!! Wasn't that a Ventura ??? Whoever it was, I can hear him bragging to his grandchildren one day ; "Yeah, Nolan Ryan struck me out ... AND kicked my ass"
Knowing more about Nolan now, I'd say he's respectable

[jx2]

Clyde Drexler, as soon as he left the Blazers the whole team went to pot!!! Literally.

[mckinzie]

Originally Posted by jx2

Clyde Drexler, as soon as he left the Blazers the whole team went to pot!!! Literally.

Zach Randolph,Damon Stoudamire,Rasheed Wallace,Bonzi Wells
did I leave out
anybody

[Softy57]

Well,for the 1st. I would say Bobby Orr was a great hocky player,athlete.and is a great all around person,role model and donor to charities.
Wilt "the stilt" Chamberlain ain't to shabby either.
For #2 how about George Foreman? Good Boxer,better pitchman,& his grill ain't bad either! He works with youth to help keep them grounded,& supports his large family with info-mercials. It's the American way.