Role Model Athletes

I really liked the presentation Bradford made to the class on Tuesday about professional athletes as role models. This subject really made me think about all the athletes that get into trouble and don't take into account the fact they thousands of kids or young adults are seeing them not only on the court or the field but also on the news for their arrest.
When someone realizes that he or she is an exceptional athlete and they want to make a career out of participating in a sport, they must know that they will be living their lives in the spotlight; especially if they are a "favorite" who gets alot of media attention. Maybe this isn't fair, but each athlete knows this going into it. Maybe athletes shouldn't have such a huge influence on kids today, but regardless of that they still are.
I think these situations are similar to celebrities who say they don't want their personal lives invaded. I'm sure that having cameras around everytime you go to the grocery store is really annoying and of course there are times when it gets carried away. However, celebrities know what to expect when they start acting, singing, and ect. As unfair as it may be to athletes they are role models to all the little kids out there who watch Monday Night Football and want to grow up to be a professional quarterback.
I also think Bradford made a good point in his presentation the other day when he said the key word is "professional." Regardless of how they wish to live their lives they need to realize that they are "professionals" and need to start acting as such. For the most part you don't see "professional" businessmen or women getting caught for drunk driving or possession of illegal drugs.