1. http://www.medialit.org/ reading_room/ article212.html

A Good Example: Sports Figures as Role Models

Do sports figures have a special responsibility to model behavior for others?

Adulation may create a burden for some athletes, but many take seriously the challenge to help youngsters develop appropriate attitudes about life.

Olympic diver Greg Louganis tells the story of a 10-year-old he encountered smoking a cigarette. Surprised, he asked the youngster, Why do you smoke?”

“Because you do,” the boy replied.

That was the day Louganis quit.

2. http://www.smh.com.au/ news/Opinion/ Highs-and-lows-for-role-models/ 2005/05/19/ 1116361673813.html

Excerpt: What impact does making everyone a role model have on our children? We seem to have robbed them of the ability to discern

3. http://www.mfc.org/ pfn/97-2/sports.html

Excerpt: Tafoya noted that while athletes can’t escape being role models, there are both good role models and bad role models. “Parents are ultimately responsible to point out to their children which are the good role models and which are the bad role models, and why,” she noted. “My role models as a human being–who exemplified integrity, who exemplified goodness–were my parents.”

4. http://teenink.com/Past/ 1996/7469.html

Excerpt: There are those athletes who are good role models, such as Mo Vaughn of the Red Sox, but the athletes who are bad role models overshadow the good ones.

Hope this helps you!