There is a concerning trend among storylines in the national media surrounding athletes and the negative choices in their personal lives. I think that, although unfair, athletes can turn this perceived slight into something positive.

Misconduct, immature behavior and poor choices are not exclusive to athletes. However, for professional and collegiate competitors, the emergence of twenty-four hour sport-centric media outlets such as Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, Fox Sports, Sports Illustrated and the thousands of fan blog sites has created a gargantuan microscope in which these athletes conduct their daily and professional lives.

I do not think it is fair for the athletes to have their personal laundry aired to the nation on such outlets. They are people just the same as you and me, full of flaws and trying to move as far away from our perception of sadness as possible. I am in a bit of a philosophical conundrum here, considering I am a part of the media whilst this opinion article somewhat calls out the media’s actions, but I do believe there is a lesson to be learned here for all.

In my opinion, the most important reason why any one of us is taking breathes right now is to gain enough wisdom and knowledge to pass down to our children, or the next generation, in order for them to grow into a more prosperous form of society. Here is where athletes can have a tremendous impact outside of the game they play.
Indeed, some may argue it is unfair to automatically elevate athletes to the pedestal of “role-model”. For instance, they might challenge the inherent value in being a professional at children’s games and that excelling to the ranks of the National Football League or Major League Baseball has absolutely no correlation with living a moral life (whatever “moral” means to you).

National Basketball Association Hall of Famer and current NBA analyst Charles Barkley holds this belief, confirming such in a 1993 Nike commercial in which he said, “I am not a role model…Just because I can dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids”.

Conversely, I submit that it is exactly the result of the connection between the adolescent and the adult through sport that serves as the perfect vessel for moral instruction. There is a sense of idolizing our sports heroes in children, as well as in men. That athlete, no matter how many or few children look up to him, has a moral obligation, in my opinion, to promote a righteous and harmonious lifestyle to his loyal fans.

Former NFL player and coach Herm Edwards, in his now infamous address to recently drafted players at the 2011 Rookie Symposium, uttered the now iconic phrase “Don’t Press Send” while explaining to players how their new bosses expected them to act. The context of the phrase involves players tweeting things that they would not want ESPN to see and feature on their next NFL Live episode.

This idea of thinking before we act can have a lasting effect on all aspects of life. Think about your younger brothers and sisters, your little cousins, the kids still at your high school that look up to you before you “press send” in your mind.