Michael Vick.... hmmm. very curious.

[cardaway]

I've always felt that the newspaper guys of the past (since they were pretty much the only media in the past) drank & drugged with the athletes, thus they didn't write about it. And I also feel the same way you do about athletes as role models--admire their play, sometimes you can admire the man or woman-- but I think role models should be teachers, parents, grandparents, etc.

The difference between the majority of the press being connected to the team in some way and the current system of groups with websites who need the next big scoop.

 

[cardaway]

You say that they don't really have such an obligation. I disagree. I think that as representatives of their particular sport, they should do all that they can to improve the image of that sport, not drag it through the mud by such ridiculous actions like that of Vick. You also say that the media is working harder than ever to publicize the actions of these men, and you know what, you are right. So you know what that means, they should be even more careful, and work harder not to give the media what it wants to see. If I know that the media is trying to get me for something stupid, I should be even more careful with my public image, wouldn't you think?

IMO the problem is that the expectation extends to things far beyond drug use like who they date (and it's assumed, have pre-marital sex with). I really doubt we would know who Tony Parker and Matt Leinart were dating if Tony they played in the 60's and 70's. If it were limited to big screw up like being caught with pot at the airport, I might be able to agree. IMO the reality is it has become impossible to meet the expectation of those that want them to be role models because they never get to be "off stage".

Of course a parent has an obligation to watch out for his child, but if a kid watches sports (like many, many kids do) he is going to have his favorites - his heroes. Wouldn't it be nice to have a few more good ones out there?

And my opinion is still that there never really has been any more true heroes. What we didn't know didn't hurt us and allowed us to feel better about our kids looking up to these guys.

If you need proof just look at the books coming from different hall of fame players. If they are not admitting what they did, they are being frank about what others did on the road. It's sometimes pretty sick stuff. Rock Stars had nothing on the NBA, MLB, and NFL players in the 60's and 70's.

 

[TheGoofster]

IMO the problem is that the expectation extends to things far beyond drug use like who they date (and it's assumed, have pre-marital sex with). I really doubt we would know who Tony Parker and Matt Leinart were dating if Tony they played in the 60's and 70's. If it were limited to big screw up like being caught with pot at the airport, I might be able to agree. IMO the reality is it has become impossible to meet the expectation of those that want them to be role models because they never get to be "off stage".



And my opinion is still that there never really has been any more true heroes. What we didn't know didn't hurt us and allowed us to feel better about our kids looking up these guys.

If you need proof just look at the books coming from different hall of fame players. If they are not admitting what they did, they are being frank aobut what others did on the road. It's sometimes pretty sick stuff. Rockstars had nothing on the NBA and NFL players in the 60's and 70's.

Unless the player is dating a know terrorist or whatever, I don't think that really has anything to do with being a role model. Using drugs, threatening an officer with a gun, drunk driving, using steroids, cheating, carrying dope onto a plane - things like that have everything to do with being a role model (which is what this post was originally about). I don't care if my kid hears that Tony Romo is dating that American Idol girl or not, but I do care if he hears that Michael Vick is caught bringing dope on a plane.

And I agree with you that players of old were not perfect - far from it. But if, as you say, they were able to do things, and yet keep their noses clean in front of the media, then they were still able to keep their idol status in check (even if they didn't deserve it). You are right, that it is much harder to keep away from the media today, but that just means that these players should try harder. Hey, if I know that a cop is sitting behind a certain bridge, I'm going to slow down. If these players know that the media police (if you will) are waiting for them to pull a no-brainer (like Vick), they should be smart enough to avoid putting themselves in such a situation. When I was a kid, as far as I knew, my sports "heroes" were great, honorable men. Were they really? Who knows, but as far as I knew, they were - they kept themselves from getting in trouble publically. Today's "heroes" don't seem to give a rip one way or another. They know that there are many people watching them, hoping for them to fall, and they just don't seem to care. And again, that more than anything else, is what really burns me.

 

[cardaway]

Today's "heroes" don't seem to give a rip one way or another. They know that there are many people watching them, hoping for them to fall, and they just don't seem to care. And again, that more than anything else, is what really burns me.

And if I were in their shoes, and expected to be on stage 24/7, I would probably feel the same way.

 

[TheGoofster]

And if I were in their shoes, and expected to be on stage 24/7, I would probably feel the same way.

Hey, that's the price they pay for making millions and millions of dollars and having fame and forture for doing nothing more than playing a game. Personally, I don't think it's asking a lot of them to try and avoid doing stupid things for all that.
Do you really think it would be asking a lot of Vick NOT to try and smuggle drugs onto a plane? I don't think it's asking too much, but maybe I'm just strange.

 

[JDH]

in explaining why he can;t seem to throw a pass to the correct color of jersey and why they wouldn't let him audible.

 

[FSUGrad97]

in explaining why he can;t seem to throw a pass to the correct color of jersey and why they wouldn't let him audible.

And to think I thought he just wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, it turns out that he is a big proponent of herbal remedies.

 

[cardaway]

Do you really think it would be asking a lot of Vick NOT to try and smuggle drugs onto a plane? I don't think it's asking too much, but maybe I'm just strange.

I tried to be real clear that I agree we agree about what Vick did. As for the rest, just watch ESPN or any of the Hollywood gossip shows, or look at their websites, and take note of how much coverage there is of their off field lives.

 

[MICKEY88]

one big difference between today and the 60s and 70s is that pro sports did not have substance abuse policies back then, so athletes were free to do what they wanted,,

now all leagues have some type of policy and the players no that it is forbiden when they sign the big contracts..

 

[olena]

DH despises Vic and enjoys big ol' gut laughs at all his foibles.......the herpes...AKA Ron Mexico affair, flipping off fans and now this.

 

[Pugrpooh]

I wonder if Bobby Petrino is wishing he had stayed in Louisville now. There's a big Orange Bowl celebration tomorrow and instead of being here soaking up the adoration he has to deal with Michael Vick.