For the Love of the Game
Sports stars are undoubtedly public figures. Their fame can gather the masses to fight for causes and the sport they play can change the world we live in, as illustrated by Nelson Mandela’s success in bringing together a divided nation through the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Should their fame mean that society puts them up to a higher standard? The bottom line though, is that they are still humans.
In 1993, Charles Barkley said in his famous Nike ad, “I am not a role model. I am not paid to be a role model. I am paid to wreak havoc on the basketball court. Parents should be role models. Just because I dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.”