Athletes as models...of what?

Michael Phelp's recent travails in Animal House have been met with a surprising amount of sympathy. Many have been surprised by what a big deal some are making of the picture of Phelps with a "bong". Like Charles Barkley before him, some say Phelps (and by extention all athletes) are not role models. They say they have not signed on for the duty of guiding the next generation into the ways of civilized behavior. Both Charles and Michael may not "wish' to be role models, but I have news for them: THEY ALREADY ARE. Not wishing for something doesn't remove it from reality. They certainly don't want the responsibility of having their every action interpreted by the young and impressionable, but it is.

As a teacher of young children, I am accountable for everything I say and do in front of my students. However, even when I'm not teaching, I still would have to maintain a similar propriety if I happened to meet a student outside of school, when I'm not working. I may want to act differently, I may not wish to be a role model at that moment, but I have no choice. The mere fact that a young person is there, that they are watching,requires that I behave a certain way. To all those high profile celebrities out there, THEY ARE WATCHING. Whether you like it or not, you are being watched and emulated and studied. You have a responsibility to live up to the scrutiny, its part of your privledged life.

Whether it's Chase Utley with a microphone in front of him or Michael Phelps during Rush week, you may wish the world wasn't watching, but it's too late. Of course, you could always step off the merry-go-round, if the ride is making you sick.