It has struck me recently that I have a son. I know, I know..."Ummm, Will, you have had a son for 18 months now...please tell me you knew this?"
I DO know this, but it has struck me that my son will grow up one day and like many of us, will have role models. Some of these role models will likely include sports figures of some kind. Thus is the subject of this current blog....
The two people I would like to touch on are people whom you have probably heard and now the story so I will spare the details. I would also like to touch on a subject in general and again, the details are known so I will not review them here.
Feel free to google these topics as you see necessary.
1. Evgeni Plushenko-in case you dont know this the Russian ice skater/dancer who won silver just recently
YOU JUST WON THE SILVER MEDAL AT THE OLYMPICS!!! Instead of displaying respect and self-dignity, he decides to bash the gold medal winner in every possible way. Including referring to his medal as "platinum" and not silver. It really frustrates me that this is the guy who basically ruled the mens ice skating world and I have lost all respect for him.
2. Tiger Woods
Do I really need to say anything? This guy claimed to stand for so many things. Well, I guess not Tiger. It is really difficult to accept his apology and I am not even a fan of golf?!?!
3. Professional Cheaters
Anything that gives you an unfair advantage in any sport is cheating. I am specifically talking about baseball. I am guilty of falling for the Sammy Sosa/ Mark Mcguire home run race. It was all a lie. All of the players, known and unknown, who have taken any kind of steroid, HGH, or whatever, have lost ALL respect from me. I would not even consider them baseball players and for surely dont have any place in the Hall of Fame.
All this to say, I have realized I will have to carefully watch who and how my son looks up to professional sports athletes as he grows. Which qualities is he really attaching himself to in these people? It truly is a shame. Maybe there is hope after all, I turned out OK and I looked up to many sports figures who...well, were much less than any kind of role model.
Any thoughts or tips for a young Dad?
~Will
