Over my many years in sports, a recurring statement I hear from fans is how “athletes are role models.” I’ve always challenged that statement and those who have said it. While I understand how fans can have the perspective that “athletes are role models,” in light of my trip to Iraq and the tragedy of hurricane Katrina, I feel compelled to urge everyone to put that thought to rest, once and for all.

Sports fans tend to lead with their hearts and emotions, rather than with their heads and rationale. There’s nothing really wrong with that unless it comes in conflict with real life issues. Being a role model is such a real life issue. Athletes, particularly highly skilled and successful ones, should be appreciated, acknowledged and celebrated for their efforts and accomplishments. To want to emulate them for those efforts and accomplishments is not only worthwhile, but also commendable. But, in doing so, athletes should be role models only in their efforts, their determination, their commitment, and their athletic skills and abilities. A parent can tell a youngster to “be like Mike” in basketball, like A-Rod in baseball and Tom Brady in football, but only to be like the athlete they are, not necessarily like the person they may be. An athlete’s efforts, determination, commitment and skills are evident and can be judged, but personal traits, attitudes, actions and social philosophies can’t. Therefore, either for ones self, or for use as an example to others, an athlete as a role model should always be limited to what we know and can see, which are their athletic skills and accomplishments. Mark McGwire once told me that role models shouldn't be athletes, but parents, grand parents, teachers and accomplished people who better our lives. He’s absolutely right.

Not all athletes get in trouble, but too many times we read or hear about athletes who are arrested for spousal or girlfriend abuse, fighting, carrying a gun, drugs and driving while intoxicated. Too many times that arrested athlete is the one we cheered for making the great catch, scoring the winning touchdown, hitting the game deciding home run or the basket at the buzzer. Too many times we make the athlete, the star player, the hero of the game more important in life than we should. We make them role models for our lives, when we should make them only people we appreciate and admire for that special talent they have. The talent to play sports at a high level.

My view on this was re-enforced with my trip to Iraq. I saw men and women, who for no other reason than they had an obligation, they believed in what they were doing, and they wanted to help, put their lives on the line to do so. Their motivation wasn’t the cheers and accolades of the fans, big money and a future fat contract, or face time on Sports Center. It simply was their personal desire to do what they thought was right and what was needed. That unselfishness trumps anything an athlete can do anytime, any place. And, it’s what makes calling an athlete a “role model” a meaningless gesture and unwarranted. Politics aside, giving ones life is the greatest sacrifice a person can make. Nearly 2,000 American service men and women, along with countless others, have made that sacrifice in Iraq. In the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, thousands of volunteers, every day people, have gone to the aid of those who have suffered from this disaster. And, everyday there are numerous places around the world where unselfish people are giving of their time and even their lives to help others. These are the true role models and that title and honor should not be diluted when compared to the talents of athletes. This is not meant to demean the talents of athletes, but to ask all of us to properly evaluate those talents when we make value judgments and use the “role model” label.

Being a “role model” carries the weight of responsibility. No one asks to be a role model, but the ones who are, do so naturally and without applause, or the expectation of appreciation, or a fat contract. Role models set the standard for life, not games.

I’m Ron Barr.

Ron Barr is an Emmy award winning writer and the host of the nationally and internationally syndicated sports talk show, Sports Byline USA.

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