...Athletes as Role Models Learning Team A SOC/105 August 26, 2013 Michelle Gardner Athletes as Role Models The effect of professional athletes has always played a big role in society. Talented, young, charming, women and men smashing world records on the field or court seem to be natural role models for our youth. These athletes and their behaviors and actions are so closely observed and mimicked by the youth it makes you ask the question should they really be considered role models? Athletes throughout history have always been considered role models for young children with a gift for sports. There have been many misdeeds that have occurred that makes us question whether athletes deserve to be considered role models. Conversely, athletes make good role models for several reasons such as promoting physical fitness, educational success, self-confidence, and a strong work ethic. The role of being an athlete is a good goal to reach in itself especially with the obesity epidemic that we are currently having in America. Athletes must have a strong work ethic and devote a large portion of their personal time to training in order to become a professional. Athletes also need to display a high degree of self confidence in order to be successful. With the exception of a very small few most athletes do go to college, and are expected to be successful, which promotes children to seek further education (Williams, 2011 ). A current...
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...catch, hit, and shoot a ball as children we have all had some kind of professional athlete to look up to. These athletes represent to us the highest level of accomplishment and they are our “sky’s the limit” type of goal that everyone would love to achieve. The men and woman professional athletes have to constantly watch what they do and say because kids are everyday idolizing them and trying to copy every move they make. These athletes are on the news for things in their personal lives such as rape, drugs, fights and other illegal things. That is a bad influence on children when they see on the news about athletes being put to jail. Many kids in school are in sports, and many of those kids just go to school so that they can be in sports. But if you are their parents, do you want them turning out like today's professional athletes? To help stay in shape, many professional athletes use steroids, which are illegal. Once children see that the professional athletes use these illegal drugs, it is a bad influence on them. Other players have been known for drunken rages and domestic disputes which is definitely not a good interpretation of them in the public eye. Kids will start to believe that since these athletes are on top then it is ok to get drunk all the time and do drugs because there no other worries besides waking up to playing ball and making money but that is not the case. To be a great athlete you need to constantly work hard and not let people influence you no matter what...
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...Professional athletes should be more aware of their actions because of their celebrity status making them role models for children. With all the media surroundind athletes in every aspect of their lives, one would think they would want to be more aware of their actions, role models or not. If an athlete gets a speeding ticket, everyone knows. If an athlete has an affair, everyone knows. I am not saying athletes should be perfect, because no one is. I am just saying they should think a little more about what they do because children look up to them more often than not. This is evident in the amount of sports posters, pennants, and clothing that are for sale everywhere. Just look on the walls of most children's bedrooms and you are bound to find at least one sports figure on their walls. For instance as long as there have been professional sports ahildren have idolized athletes, just remember the baseball card collections and how collectable they were and still are today. There are more than just baseball cards now. The card collections have grown to include all sports like football, basketball, hockey and even soccer. Some of these cards are worth more than some homes. The children who collect these items may trade them for ones they dont have and keep them safer than anything else they own. Some children may just want the cards of their favorite athlete, not worrying about the monetary value of the card, just the value it holds for them. The fact that the card is...
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...According to the New Oxford American Dictionary character is defined as the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual. Being in the sports world, athletes are role models for younger children. Children dream to be like Lindsey Vonn, Michael Jordan, Stephen Curry, and many others like those people. But some athletes in major league sports have reshaped their character of the actions they chose to make. Is competition slowly carving away their character and making them look bad simply to be on top? By the actions of athletes today, it is showing that this true. As a professional athlete you have to stay at the top of your game at all times. There is always a chance to be taken over by the “rookie” of the group. Some people take...
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...Should Athletes Be Considered Role Models By Antonio Dean Should athletes be role models? That is the question that is being asked here. The answer can go both ways. There are some people that view them as role models and some that do not. I personally think that it’s the parent or guardian place to be role models for today’s children. Kids this day in age have so much access to so many different things such as the internet and there is hardly anything that you can’t find on television now. There isn’t anything wrong with kids admiring athletes and wanting to be like them. But how often does that child actually see that athlete or famous person that they are admiring, it is very rare. There are a lot of times where those athletes or professionals did not have role models themselves and that is why you see them become famous they do not know how to handle them fame and glory that comes with it. As parents we should do things that help our children grow as a person and be responsible. To take a quote from Charles Barkley, he said (and this is not a direct quote) I am not a role model. I am not paid to be a role model. Parents should be role models. Just because I can dunk a basketball does not mean I should raise your kid. Read more: http://www.city-data.com/forum/sports/738186-should-parents-role-models-athletes.html#ixzz0gCGHSlUw Rather they like it or not athletes are role models especially if they have children of their own. You have athletes that are using performance...
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...Before I criticize this passage, I would like to define a few terms. The first term I want to define is “character” and by definition it is defined to be “The mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual”(Oxford University). The next term is “role model”, also by definition it is defined to be “A person looked to by others as an example to be imitated”(Oxford University). This passage “Sports Build Character” presents three arguments with two proving a larger conclusion and the larger argument helps the conclusion that professional athletes are not good role models because it isn't what we want our kids or society to learn. The first sub-argument is that athletes personal lives should be judged with their professional lives. The arguments defence was “this is an artificial distinction”, which is saying in simpler terms that this is ”a fake difference”. This...
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...Dear Lukas Raschilla, In your article, “Athletes are artists, not role models”, you claim that you are bewildered that anyone would view professional athletes as role models. By saying that sports figures are "not" and "shouldn't be expected" to be role models in their actions on and off the playing field is in my opinion giving a free pass for bad behavior. As the saying goes...to those who much has been given, much is expected. You claim, "athletes do not choose to be role models", but I feel anyone who holds a position of notoriety and popularity with the public should shoulder that admiration with dignity. As we know, merely by association in any career, be it sports, education, health care, government, and even religion, does not guarantee that the individuals will be positive role models. Instead, moral obligations need to be nurtured and, when necessary, consequences clearly enforced in incidents of conduct not befitting the role that person represents. It is unrealistic to think there will not be transgressions in the athletic arena as they are all human, but even this can serve as a valuable lesson to young fans. Charles Barkley is correct when he says in the Nike commercial that "parents should be the most important role model for kids" and no one expects a sports figure to replace that position, but it also takes a village to raise good citizens. Everyone that occupies attention in a child's life should realize that their actions will be seen and will affect the...
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...and class. Today we will be looking at Athletes as role models and how they can be a very bad influence on the people that look up to them especially children. I’m not saying that all athletes are bad role models but some are. We shall also see what athletes can do in the future so that when children look up to them they ARE a good role model Athletes have been looked up to as role models for as long as they have existed. There is just something attractive about the thought of being a great athlete. But, are athletes the kind of people that other people should be looking up to for guidance or direction. A survey was taken in 1995 by sports illustrated the majority of people under the age of 18 said that a professional athlete and only 4% of people under the age of 18 said their parents were their role models. Because today’s media always puts athletes in the spotlight of the public’s eye. Every athlete is monitored on and off the field. Some of them speak a positive message through their fame by demonstrating constructive ideas such as teamwork and commitment while they are on the field. And off the floor they set a good example by going to visit schools, hospitals and set up foundations or organisations for charity or things along that line. People like Michael Jordan are a great example. His dedication on and off the court was to be admired and donated to charities and set up organisation to helping people. However, other athletes are not as considerate to the fact that...
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...important role in advertising and marketing. For Bush, Martin and Bush’s article, based on customer socialization and previous findings, they make four hypotheses: 1) Teenagers' athlete role model influence is positively related to product switching and complaint behavior; 2) Teenagers' athlete role model influence is positively related to favorable or positive word-of-mouth behavior; 3) Teenagers' athlete role model influence is positively related to brand loyalty and 4) Female teenagers' athlete role model influence is more positively related to (a) product switching and complaint behavior, (b) favorable word-of-mouth behavior, and (c) brand loyalty than male teenagers. After test the hypotheses, they found that 1) teens' athlete role model influence is not significantly related to product switching or complaining behavior; 2) athlete role model influence is positively related to teenagers' favorable word-of-mouth communications; 3) the results show that athlete role model is positively related to teenagers' brand loyalty; and 4) there are no significant differences between male and female members of Generation Y when it comes to athlete role model influence on product switching and complaint behavior. For marketers, they should realize that celebrity sports athletes are important to adolescents when they make brand choices and talk about these brands positively. Moreover, regardless of their public behavior, teenagers do consider athletes as important role models. In addition...
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...Role of Sports in Popular Culture Paper: Athletes as Role Models Sports for quite some time have become an intriguing part of history as well as people’s heritage. This paper will illustrate how athletes can serve as role models in a tremendous way. Great athletes are viewed all over the place such as magazine articles, television commercials, and shows. There is a greater need for the more positive role models who engage in fair play and sportsmanship. Their influence on our youth is paramount because children do mock or emulate their favorite stars. Children tend to want to have all of the riches, glamorous life, and fame that are associated. Athletes generally provide hope for even some of the younger up and coming future athletes all across the world. History Ever since the beginning of time in the sports world, dating back to 800 B. C., the Olympians were required to uphold the homage of Zeus. At this time in history, games were considered a religious ritual. In early Roman days, there were chariot races and gladiator games including athletes that represented different states. The need for competition between competitors was enthused all over the world. Adults as well as children idealized the monumental courage and determination of great athletes. Although history tells that role models were considered not only heroes in their own right, but also major contributors. People who emulate and adore sports personalities question whether or not if it is worth the debate....
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...Informative Role modls in Sport Role Models are seen everywhere throughout the course of life. However, we are focusing on the positive and negative role models on the sporting fields. Jonathan Vilma, an American Football linebacker, said ‘Whether we like it or not, we are high-profile athletes. We're role models. Kids come up to me all the time to talk and it makes me remember when I was a kid and I got to meet Jerry Rice and how much that meant to me. And how we've got to set a good example.’ The media plays a key role in how sports and athletes are represented, as certain media outlets can broadcast what they want, and are often being bias (one sided). Although the media can have a positive and negative impact on the society, it often...
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...Article: The Effect of Role Model Influence on Adolescents' Materialism and Marketplace Knowledge Author(s): Alan J. Bush, Craig A. Martin and Paul W. Clark Source: Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, Vol. 9, No. 4 (Fall, 2001), pp. 27-36 This study can basically inform RO 3a) i.e. contribution of celebrity endorsements to materialistic values. Introduction: The article takes a look at how role models impact adolescents’ market place knowledge. It includes teachers and parents as direct role models and entertainers and athletes as vicarious role models. The study gauges that athletes and fathers have the greatest impact on adolescents where materialism is concerned. Literature Review: Researching current literature we can see that consumers learn or model behaviors, values, attitudes, and skills through the observation of other individuals, or through observations of electronic or print media (Bandura 1977). Thus, social values of youth are shaped at their foundation by role models, one of the most influential of which are celebrity endorsers, particularly athletes. Moschias (1985) contends that it is during adolescence that consumers develop their buying patterns that generally continue well into later life. Therefore, this is a particularly essential time for companies to target consumers as it can lead to the generation of an exceedingly loyal consumer base. Ward (1974) also postulates that a process of consumer socialization is influenced by environmental...
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...Role of Sports in Popular American Culture Our group will cover the world of sports and its effects on pop culture. The sports that will be focused on are the NBA, NHL, MLB, And the NFL. In our discussion we will cover why athletes are considered role models and if they should be. Also we will discuss the debate of why many athletes make millions of dollars before even playing a game and if they are actually being overpaid. Throughout the paper we will explain how pop culture effects why these players get paid what they do by ratings and popularity of the sport. We research why teams take risks on players risking millions of dollars when that money could go back to the fans. In looking at major sports in America in referencing professional athletes as role models . Yes, we know how much money they make and what type of endorsement deals they get; what types of clothing they wear in to the locker rooms before/after the games and to press conferences; if they have of the field incident it is known to the public via media outlets; These athletes are looked up to for the skills possess during the sporting event. These people are great athletes again they are not recognized for what they do off the field of play. Most of Americans all ages that compete in sports copy some type body movement; buy a piece of equipment; develop a swagger that is influenced by professional athletes through which is seen during the time the time competition. These athletes are not recognized for time...
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...Many professional athletes and entertainers earn large sums of money. Do you agree or disagree with these individuals making such high salaries? I agree in my opinion because these individuals bring joy and laughter into people’s lives. Some of them have charities to help others, like the elderly and children. Some of these people are someone else's role model and give their lives meaning. Some of these athletes and entertainers have charities to help people. For example, Michael Jordan donates money to the Boys and Girls Club of America. He helps those children so they can have a better life. The entertainer Kevin Hart supports a charity called the Make a Wish Foundation, this charity helps a child’s wish actually come true....
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...Performance enhancing drugs (also known as PED) are legal and illegal substances used by professional athletes to enhance their performance. Performance enhancing drug use by professional athletes is a topic of medical, ethical, and social debate. PED usage by professional athletes has advocates arguing that the negative health consequences reported are grossly exaggerated and they contend that it’s an athlete’s personal decision to accept any potential harmful health hazards. They believe that performance enhancing drug usage is just part of a sport’s natural progression and nothing more than the incorporation of enhanced training approaches and new sport technologies. Additionally, they believe that the use of PED by professional athletes helps them to achieve the highest levels of athletic performance and puts a better product before the public. Opponents of performance enhancing drug use by professional athletes argue that their usage is extremely harmful, and possibly lethal to an athlete’s well-being. Such use makes a professional athlete a fraud, gaining an unfair competitive advantage, violating the competitive spirit of athleticism, and sending an immoral message to youngsters. Opponents further argue that the use of performance enhancing drugs by professional athletes is unethical behavior. PED use is one of the most controversial and talked-about issues in professional sports. The professional sports most impacted are baseball, basketball, and football, which...
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