What's a Role Model

When I was growing up, I had role models. Specifically, Bugs Bunny, Oscar the Grouch, Pope John Paul II, and Mel Brooks. Now, Bugs taught me to take life in stride; Oscar taught me how to be a bitch when necessary (OK and sometimes I go overboard); The Pope (well, that goes without saying); and Mel taught me how to laugh out loud until my side ached.

How or WHY does anyone want an athlete to be a role model for their kids? If you have to teach your child the virtues of life via a game played by testosterone-driven, sport junkies, something tells me you let your kid watch too much tube. Besides, who decides which athlete should be a role model?

Maradonna, Dennis Rodman, Joe Theisman, John Daly... What makes any of these guy more or less worthy of being coined a "role model"?

Just picked up this little note from Dr. Z on SI.com


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/dr_z/07/10/zidane/index.html

Here, here!! Apparently, I'm not the only one who learned something from Oscar!