Athletes Shouldn't Be Role Models

Athletes Negative Impact on Kids Exposes Societal Flaws

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 steriod 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.

A 2004 national survey reported that 3.5% of high school seniors reported using steroids, and increase from the 2.1% back in 1991.  In such an ultra competetive society in which we currently live, high school athletes are seeking the edge that will distinguish them from their counterparts.  Naturally, in their quest to become the best, they look towards those who have already achieved the fame and stardom which they are trying to obtain.  They look towards Barry Bonds, who blasted a record 73 home runs and elevated himself to a new platuea.  Bonds, an alleged steroid user, said that he unknowingly used certain illegal substances.  This claim has been refuted in a new book documenting Bonds steroid use.  A high school athlete looks at this and says to himself that if it means having to lie like Bonds, in order to be the best than so be it.