Sports Anti-Role Models

We may bemoan the salaries of sports figures. We admire and maybe even occasionally covet their abilities. It is discouraging to read of the recent news of Michael Phelps and Alex Rodriguez. Children and young people watch them and look up to them. Instead of staying on course, they have made life choices that send a message that "it is okay" to indulge in inappropriate behavior. Even if they subsequently apologize, the damage is already done. Phelps' Olympic teammate Dara Torres seemed to blame the media at least in part for the fallout, saying that everything he does is news. She added, "However, this is no way, shape or form diminishes anything that he's done. It's sort of a double-edged sword. When you're recognizable, you're looked up to as a role model. He is recognizable and everything you do gets looked at and picked apart. I guess that's the price of winning 14 Olympic medals." That is the part of fame that Phelps cannot avoid even if he wanted to.

Jason Lezak, whose remarkable anchor leg of the 400-meter freestyle relay helped Phelps stay on course to break Mark Spitz's record in Beijing, said he was "saddened" to hear of the report.
"While I don't condone his conduct, I am a teammate and fan," Lezak said in a text message to the AP on Saturday night. "Unlike many fair-weather people, I am sticking by him. If my wife and I can help him in any way, we will. I believe he will grow from this and be better person, role model and teammate."

Torres and Lezak seem to have their heads screwed on tightly. Now if only Phelps and Rodriguez are listening, they might want to borrow the screwdriver.

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