"I Am Not A Role Model"

Charles Barkley filmed this commercial in 1993 amid criticism of some of his over the top on -court actions.  As the years go by it seems this has only gotten worse, particularly with African-American athletes.

Certainly you have to question their mindset. Do they believe they are not role models? Better yet, do they feel they don’t have to be?

In professional sports black athletes are often seen as having "natural" talent but not intelligent and undisciplined.  They constantly have to fight this stereotype.  Black athletes are often portrayed as ignorant troublemakers that only see dollar signs when they step on to the playing field. They become headlines on sports shows and websites across the country not because of the achievements in their respective professions, but for their personal behavior. Was it always this way or have things just gotten that much worse?

Well let’s see - Part of it is the media. With a 24-hour news cycle, sports journalists are always looking for their next story, which leads to the constant critique of the players they cover. Growing up I idolized Michael Jordan, like many others my age. Many of my fond sports memories also include Dennis Rodman, a very talented player on the court, but constantly showed tardiness and was simply a loose cannon. I shudder to think what would be in print about Rodman if he were playing today. The articles and video pieces would be nearly endless. Currently, that’s the nature of the media… it’s up to the Dennis Rodman’s of today to make the adjustment.

Another part is the reluctance for some black athletes to make smart lifestyle changes. Many future professional athletes come from poor backgrounds and neighborhoods that contain violence/hardships an average person wouldn’t experience.

When growing up, your friends become your family and support system in this environment (at least that’s what you come to believe), and as you become successful the “support system” feels as though your gain is also their’s. While becoming part of an entourage may change the clothes on their back and improve their financial situation, but this support system often retains there child-like maturity level.

The old adage, “You can take the boy out the hood, but you can’t take the hood out the boy,” comes to mind.

This type of influence was evident as I watched Adam “Pac-man” Jones find his way in to strip clubs over the past few years and engage in various acts of violence. At some point one must roll their eyes at him and say, “man, what is going on at these strip clubs that you can’t stay away from?” Well, maybe the answer to that question is pretty obvious. But the people by his side during theses situations were his friends containing nothing short of a “short temper and violence is the answer” attitude.

Michael Vick went down a different path. After having been exposed to dog fighting at a young age by his father, Vick attempted to fund his own sort of business venture where his friends could be employed and dogs would viciously fight each other to the death.

On December 11th, 2007 Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in jail (released early because of good behavior) on a number of charges.

The young brother took the majority of the penalty after those involved negotiated plea bargain deals that included them testifying against their “friend” Michael. His support system would then fail him.

When I heard the news that former NFL Quarterback Steve McNair had been shot to death my reaction was nothing short of shock. McNair’s legacy includes one MVP trophy, a trip to the Super Bowl, and a long list of teammates that speak of his high character and toughness.

It doesn’t contain any headlines relating to late night arrests that led to a mug shot being shown on Sportscenter, none about late arrivals to practice that led to suspension or media turmoil, or even a domestic violence charge (a growing trend). In fact, the biggest story I ever saw ESPN run on McNair was regarding the relationship he had with his mother, the hardships they experienced together, and in the end how the two of them persevered through it.

Growing up many kids like myself idolized him as a black male that was a leader of his team. Football is a sport unlike any other in the sense that so much is dependent on one position – the quarterback. To see an African-American man in that role in an era where there were very few black quarterbacks was uplifting to say the least.

Prior to McNair, I believed athletes would crumble when they failed to realize that they were no longer in the hood and that their actions had consequences. But McNair knew this and adjusted his life so that he would not become a headline. He really did. Yes he involved himself with a women other then his wife, but the sad truth is that countless athletes have done this before black or white, and honestly I never thought that it would lead to their death.  Yet, when I checked espn.com following a 4th of July barbeque the top headline read, “Former MVP McNair found dead.”

Even though all the details surrounding McNair’s passing have not yet surfaced, his death has shown me one thing. Professional sports do not protect you from life and its consequences.

Like it or not, African-American athletes/icons need to acknowledge that they are more than one athlete on their own journey, having their own successes, making their own money and not connected to the black community. What famous athletes do and how they do it matters. All young black men in the U.S. want to believe that you can be a successful athlete  - and black! Their example is more important than others in the spotlight. In a world where young black Americans often find themselves surrounded by violence and the opportunity to turn to illegal activities, those in a position of power can be the ones to show how to live a successful lifestyle.

Those who have abused the privileges of stardom such as Adam Jones and Michael Vick, have a greater weight on their shoulders to show how to recover after faltering, when your "support system" becomes a thing of the past. They need to "brush their shoulders off," stand up, accept responsibility, and go forward.

We are watching.