I Am Not A Role Model

We have all seen the quote from Charles Barkley when he said, “I am not a role model.” If not, check out this video…

I disagree with Charles. There are many athletes who look up to you, want to be like you, and want to play like you. So even if you don’t want to be a role model, you are. The choice is up to the athlete. If he or she is a negative role model then the people who look up to you will follow everything that you do.

For example, Matt Leinart is a Heisman Trophy winner, was drafted in the first round of the NFL and is considered one of the best quarterbacks to come out of The University Of Southern California. There are a lot of athletes who want to be like him in every way, so when I see on ESPN that Matt Leinart’s coach from the Arizona Cardinals is upset with him for partying and having three or four women laying up in a hot tube, it amazes me that he doesn’t realize that people who look up the him will imitate his every move. Athletes may not think that they are role models but they are like it or not!

As a coach, don’t just coach them to be better athletes. Coach them to be great players and great role models on and off the playing field.