Ever since our ancestors first started chasing rocks around a field of play, we have demanded too much from the character of our athletes. Talented though they may be at their respective games and as valuable as that is to mass marketers, anyone who makes a living playing with a ball into adulthood probably suffers from arrested social development. We, therefore, should not be surprised when some of the best of them misstep off the playing field, especially when we heap so much praise and "dinero" on them. Sports figures and other entertainers (that's what they are, really) are not the only notable transgressors of late. You need two hands to count the number of politicians that have been caught with their pants down recently. It seems money and power make some people think that they can get away with almost anything. Who can forget Bernie Madoff?
That's our mistake as a society. We place too much value on competitive games, like politics and sports, and the people who play them. Not enough on character-building endeavors in the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. That's just not sexy enough.
The next frontpage of the New York Post should picture a math teacher from Queens with two starlets on his arms as they hit the night clubs. Maybe that will excite more kids about learning from real role models, who can provide the tools for a productive and realistic life. Then, maybe it will matter less about how many scores are on Tiger's golf card.
And, That's That...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I agree.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Bob
ReplyDeleteI agree, Tio Bob! In my role as AVID District Director, I spend quite a bit of time in several middle schools. One of my biggest pieces of advice to all of my AVID Coordinators is to focus on character development with their students. I have found that character development provides for a sense of self-worth, self-discipline, and self-esteem. As Jaime Escalante once said, "Children will rise to the level of expectation." If the level of expectation is to be a "pimp like Tiger", as I once heard him called, then what's that say about our level of expecation of athletes, or anyone for that matter? If we develop a sense of self-worth, self-discipline, and self-esteem, maybe the future of our society wouldn't see Tiger as a "pimp", but more as someone who needed a little character development of his own. (Stepping off my soap box now LOL)
ReplyDelete