By William H. Glover Jr. J.D.

What is a role model? The official definition in a dictionary states that it is somebody to be
copied; a worthy person who is a good example for other people; someone worthy of imitation; a
person who is unusually effective or inspiring in some social role, job, etc. and so serves as a
model for others.[1]

Although, many athletes believe it is unfair to hold them to a higher standard of behavior; a survey conducted by the American Bible Society showed that athletes were considered important role models to 18.3% of the teens who participated in the survey. Whether an athlete accepts it or not, he or she is definitely seen as a role model to some children.[2]

Many sports writers say that athletes should not be role modes. “Spoiled-athlete syndrome begins early in sports socialization. From the time they could be picked out of a lineup because of their exceptional athletic ability, they’ve been pampered and catered to by coaches, classmates, teammates, family members and partners. As they get older, this becomes a pattern. Because they’re spoiled, they feel they aren’t accountable for their behaviors off the field. They’re so used to people looking the other way.”[3]

“The idea that people who make millions of dollars to play a game should be idolized by our youth today is a travesty. What are kids supposed to think when they see stories regarding steroid use among baseballs greatest sluggers, including Bonds, McGwire and Sosa. Is that the type of message that we should be sending. That you must do whatever is necessary to succeed, even if it means cheating, lying and hurting yourself in the process. More and more, high school athletes are taking the lead from professional athletes who are at the pinnacle of their respective sports, and more and more it is leading to disaster. Steroid use is at an all time high among high school seniors, a direct correlation to the mammoth statistics by superstar sluggers who cheated the game.”[4]

What does this Post have to do with Sports Law or Law in general? James Madison, the fourth president, known as “The Father of Our Constitution” made the following statement “We have staked the whole of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government, upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.”[5]

Bobby Bowden, the venerable long­time coach of Florida State football com­mented a few years ago on the problem. He said. “So many kids now that I’m coaching that are coming up, they think no more of breaking the law than the man in the moon. Most of them don’t even know them. Some of them don’t even know the Ten Commandments. And they’re what I call ‘living in sin’ and don’t even know it. I sure appreciate my parents disciplining me and trying to teach me what was right at that early age.”[6]

Bowden was right about the fact that many young people have been brought up without knowing the Ten Commandments, but that does not give them-or us-a rea­son to ignore God’s commands. However, a missionary to Indonesia was trans­lating Scripture into the language of the people. As she did her work, she wondered if they would be able to comprehend the difference between right and wrong. So she asked the people to begin naming what they felt were the top rules for living. To her shock, these people, who had never even heard of the Bible, named the rules that we know as the Ten Commandments.[7]

When God codified those rules and etched them in stone for Moses, he was not making up new rules. He was simply put­ting down in writing what he had already put in every human heart.[8]

Aside from their unusual and gifted talent, professional athletes are usually people just like you and me. They experience the same family problems other people do, have to pay bills like we do, and basically have a home life, albeit usually a larger home than the rest of us have – a lifestyle that is similar to that of many middle-class Americans, although on a far-larger scale. Athletes come from different social and cultural backgrounds and are a reflection of those backgrounds, which are fundamentally based on family and education.[9]

Should we hold athletes to a higher standard? The Ten Commandments were not written just for them. Should not we all be role models for young people?

[2] Role Models by Cheryl Weldon, http://cawworldwide.com/rolemodels.html  

[3] Raina Kelley, They’re Not Role Models. Why we should stop worshiping athletes—unless they’re on the field. Newsweek, March 11, 2010 

4 Farzin Mojtabai, Athletes Negative Impact on Kids Exposes Societal Flaws, http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/26607/athletes_shouldnt_be_role_models.html?cat=40

5 James Madison, 1778 to the General Assembly of the State of Virginia

[6] Sports Devotional Bible, Zondervan, 2002, page 76 

 7Id                                            

 8 Id                                                                                                                                                                                              9 USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Sept, 2001 by Gary Sailes

Georgetown named Lee Reed its 17th director of athletics, effective May 10. Reed will oversee the operations of all Georgetown’s intercollegiate athletics programs, which includes 29 sports and more than 750 student-athletes. Reed comes to Georgetown after serving as the director of athletics at Cleveland State.

Associate athletic directors – Husson named Bob Reasso as the senior associate director of athletics … Michigan Executive Associate Athletic Director Mike Stevenson will begin a phased retirement from the athletics department on July 1. He will begin a half-time appointment through December 31, 2010, at which time he will fully retire from the university.

Coaches

Men’s basketball – Rhode Island agreed to extend the contract of men’s basketball coach Jim Baron through the 2013-14 season … Wright State hired Billy Donlon as men’s basketball coach … Jeff Bzdelik was named men’s basketball coach at Wake Forest. Brad Brownell was hired as men’s basketball coach at Clemson … Hartford men’s basketball coach Dan Leibovitz announced his resignation.

Women’s basketball – Grove City women’s basketball coach Sarah Harris resigned … Debra Clark was named permanent head coach of the Norfolk State women’s basketball program … Bob Boldon has been named the women’s basketball coach at Youngstown State. Nicole Burford has been promoted to head women’s basketball coach at Olivet.

Football – Purdue extended the contract of football coach Pat Hope through the 2014 season. Wyoming announced that the contract of football coach Dave Christensen has been extended through 2014 … St. Lawrence football coach Chris Phelps resigned.

Men’s and women’s ice hockey – Bowling Green named Chris Bergeron men’s ice hockey coach.

Men’s and women’s lacrosse – Saint Rose announced Liam Gleason as coach for its new men’s lacrosse program.

Men’s and women’s soccer – Ashland selected Glenn Francis as women’s soccer coach and Jon Freeman as men’s soccer coach. Men’s and women’s soccer assistants – Lindsay Massengale has been named assistant women’s soccer coach at Northeastern.

Men’s and women’s volleyball – 
Valparaiso announced that Carin Avery has signed a new four-year contract to continue as coach of the women’s volleyball program … 
Steve Shondell has signed a three-year contract to become the women’s volleyball coach at Ball State.

Men’s and women’s volleyball – Tami Ores has been named women’s volleyball coach at Georgia State.

A Critical Look at Contemporary Sports Law

Faculty: William Glover