Question of the Day!

I don't think I can generalize this to yes or no. Admittedly, I'm not a sports fan; I think the emphasis we put on sports is a net negative for society, especially when the "competition" part is amplified over the "cooperation" part. But there are individuals in sports who could be role models, just as there are plumbers or teachers or musicians who can be. One thing that's positive about athletics is the idea of personal growth and achievement (I just think that these goals need to not be limited to the physical), and anyone who exemplifies this has the potential of being a role model.

What we need to beware of, though, is expecting too much. They're people, and as such, they sometimes make mistakes or do bad things. Role models, maybe. Idols, never.

All of which is to say that anyone, athlete or otherwise, can be a role model; or, as in my case, an anti-role model.