Where are the role models ???

[sctx]

The brawl at the Pacers/Pistons game Friday was just a sad event and it caused me to remember Charles Barkely's "I AM NOT your kids role model" tirade, years ago.
I felt Charles was right, that he wasn't obligated to be a role model, but still there is a sense that that is part of their job being in the public life. If I had a son, I'd love for him to play sports with the heart and intensity of Brett Favre or the all around skills of Michael Jordan... but would I want him to emulate Jordan's infidelity and gambling... probably not... so that being said, I have two ???'s:

1. Which retired sports figures figure do you feel really attained "role model" status, not only in their physical skills, but in their personal and civic life as well??

2. Do you feel there are any potential future role models in professional sports today?

My vote in #1 would go to David Robinson. He graduated from the Naval Academy and fulfilled his obligation to serve his country at a huge personal expense in missed salary. He was a dominating player that did succeed in taking his team to championship wins. He always exhibited class when talking about opposing players, giving them credit for their effort, he never took personal credit for a win but many times took personal credit for losses. He is a devoted family man as well as a devoted religious man. And he is devoted to his community (he spent 6 million of his own money to build a learning center for inner city/under privileged children in San Antonio). If my son said "I wanna be like David", I'd feel pretty proud

Picking out future role models is tough, but I'd say Peyton Manning, Tim Duncan, possibly Mia hamm and maybe a handfull of others may be on the right track

[Big Kahuna]

Mia Hamm is a great choice for a role model. I also vote for Pat Tillman.

[mckinzie]

I would have to agree with you on that Scotty.
The Admiral

Emmitt Smith is a classy guy.

[Critter]

I met the admiral when he played at the academy, he never changed from then until he retired from pro ball. He grew 6 or 7 inches his pleebe year and didn't start playing basket ball until his second year there. His brother also played at the academy years later, and David used to come and watch the game if he was in the area. Their dad was and Army Colonel working at the Pentagon. A great family all of them. They used to live south of Washington in Woodbridge and were member of a church there. They where generous with their time and money there. He also worked out a deal with the Academy that when the Spurs were in town to play they would practice at the academy, and always seemed to find time to scrimmage with the boys there, always to a packed house even though it was never announced.

[Flash]

I too tend to agree with all of the suggested players. With the state of the NBA as such as it is, I don't follow it at all compared to years ago. Don't want to sound like a homer, but a couple of guys that are playing/played for Houston stand out for me. By all means, feel free to respond/add to this.

David Carr for the Texans. Good family man with good morals, and a belief in God.

Carlos Beltran with the Astros (but for how much longer?). The same as David.

I'm sure that we can all relate to local press. I know more about these to guys than from a team up north. What are some of your local role models?

[bbA2]

Stevie Yzerman...one of, if not the, greatest leader in sports history and a true class guy. Hopefully he will not be in the retired category quite yet but is is surely only a matter of time.

As far as the pistons/pacers crapola, professional basketball has degenerated to a sport I can no longer watch, I still watch college hoops but I cant stand the egos in pro basketball. I think the players in basketball would show a lot more respect for each other if they did allow fighting like in hockey, I have always thought it would be great to watch those big goonie oafs try and duke out any issues that arise on the courts.

bba2

[tommy]

Will Smith....great entertainer...great Husband...Great Father...Great Man.. not a sports figure but still in the public eye...

George Foreman...for adopting all those boys!!!!

[Weave]

Not an extensive "ponder", but:
1. Football's Johnny Unitas comes to mind. (I guess baseball fans might add Cal Ripken....)
2. In soccer, Jaime Moreno (DC United) -- this year, he worked his way back from serious back problems to nearly miss being named league MVP. Pretty impressive!
A view from the East Coast, anyway....

[jtm1631]

Interesting questions Scott. I would agree with your vote for David Robinson to the first question. From what I know about Robinson, he is honorable in all aspects of his life.

I think part of what makes this tough is the position pro athelets find themselves in. I would say that the very fact that they are pro athelets makes them unlikely role models. These are people that upon graduation from college (and in some cases highschool), are making millions of dollars a year. I think one need only look as far as the "stupidest thing you've done" thread to realize that when we were young we did not think about what we were doing. Now throw into that mix the fact that you are an elite athelete and have large sums of cash. That concept of being invincible that most of us grow out of is something that atheletes carry around with them most of their lives. They have people taking care of them, covering up for them and putting them on pedestals. It would take some very strong support systems to keep a pro athelete "grounded".

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.

David Robinson is the rare person who can be showered with adoration, fame and money and still realize what is right and where his values are.

Now I'd like to say Lance Armstrong is a role model, but I am beginning to question his honesty and his values off the bike.

[roni]

Bill Walton.

[Babaloo]

Originally Posted by roni

Bill Walton.

Bill Walton?
Wasn't there some investigation with him concerning the SLA and the kidnapping of Patricia Hearst.
Plus...In IHO I think he is a lousy sports analyst.
But....I could be wrong

[MikeW]

Most role models are found within the home. My role models are my parents. I've picked up the good and bad attributes of each of my parents. Interestingly the bad I learned subconsiously (argumentative, I'm always right), and the good are things I saw or experienced with them (volunteering in the community, charity, tolerance, acceptance).

As for athletes, I was coming up with a list of possible role models, and the list grew quite large quickly. You don't hear much about these athletes, because they don't require the notoriety. A lot of them end being coaches. The athletes that get a lot of the spotlight, do so for a reason.

It wouldn't bother me if one of my kids looked up to Bill Walton. He had to overcome a lot of adversity in his life. He's well educated, learned to accept a role as a 6th player to help the team (Celtics), played injured most of his life, overcame a major speech impediment to become an announcer. He's opinionated, but not outrageous.

I heard that David Robinson, pushed his religious beliefs on teammates, and if they didn't buy into it they wouldn't last long on the team. If that's true, then I have a problem with David Robinson.

[Seakony]

Roger Staubach and Charlie Waters..for the good guys.

Emmit....was....a classy guy until a few years ago.. I got too much inside poop on him.

[mckinzie]

Originally Posted by MikeW

Most role models are found within the home. My role models are my parents. I've picked up the good and bad attributes of each of my parents. Interestingly the bad I learned subconsiously (argumentative, I'm always right), and the good are things I saw or experienced with them (volunteering in the community, charity, tolerance, acceptance).

As for athletes, I was coming up with a list of possible role models, and the list grew quite large quickly. You don't hear much about these athletes, because they don't require the notoriety. A lot of them end being coaches. The athletes that get a lot of the spotlight, do so for a reason.

It wouldn't bother me if one of my kids looked up to Bill Walton. He had to overcome a lot of adversity in his life. He's well educated, learned to accept a role as a 6th player to help the team (Celtics), played injured most of his life, overcame a major speech impediment to become an announcer. He's opinionated, but not outrageous.

I heard that David Robinson, pushed his religious beliefs on teammates, and if they didn't buy into it they wouldn't last long on the team. If that's true, then I have a problem with David Robinson.

Negative ghost rider.
Bill Walton is still living off his old UCLA days.

[cuffedlinks]

Originally Posted by sctx

Picking out future role models is tough....

I could be a "roll" model...

I think David Robinson is a great choice...

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...