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Yes, good guys can be winners, finish first, be competitors, all-time NFL record passers, role models... congratulations, Drew Brees.

Right or wrong, good or bad, our youth look up to sports stars as role models.  It's sure nice to have some good ones at the top.

Last edited by cabbagedad
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Yes. Thanks for starting this thread cabbage. I think it is very important for kids to have positive role models in their lives. And I think Drew is a great example. I don't want to hijack this thread but I would love to weigh in on this whole role model thing. Should I start another thread Cabbage? I would like your permission because I don't want to hijack this one.

I will just start by saying "We need more Moms and Dad's that are our kids role models." It shouldn't be something that is farmed out. What about the role model that for their entire life has gotten up every day and provided a living for his or her family? Has sacrificed of himself so others could have what they needed? It's not glitzy or exciting. Their not famous. There just an everyday hero. They may be a factory worker. They may be a carpenter. They may be a business man. A service member. A teacher. A house wife. We celebrate the famous and hold them up as role models. I think we need to have more Mom's and Dad's living as role models for their kids. Living what they want their children to emulate. Striving to see their children be good people first and that's just great if they make it to the show. But just as great if they are a great farmer and really great if they are a good Husband and Father. 

How do you teach a young man how to treat a woman? How do you treat your wife? How do you teach a young woman how a man should treat her? What does she see every day? How do you instill a work ethic in a young man? What's he seeing from you every day? How do you teach a young man how to persevere when times are tough? Well, how do you? How do you teach someone to be compassionate and caring, loving and decisive when he needs to be? Well what is he seeing from you? Can he learn these things from a Sports Hero? Can he learn these things from a rock star? From a Hollywood celebrity? Do the actions match the words? 

I'm really thankful my Dad was my role model. I never wanted to be anyone else but me. I raised my boys knowing I was their role model and that was one job I was sure as hell not going to fail at. It was just too important to me. By the time they realized I wasn't Superman it was ok. They were old enough to understand it was enough I tried to be for them.

Drew seems like an awesome man and one heck of a football player. For those that don't have role models they could pick worse for sure. But I would much rather see that role model in their home setting the example each and every day on how to be a man. Role models let you down. Super Star's and Mom's and Dad's. But the real role model is real not a guy on TV. JMO

By the way I failed more than I would like to admit. And I apologized and got back on the horse. There is role model in that as well. Never be too proud to help someone else by admitting your failures. Role Models? I believe it's called Mom and Dad. 

On point, as always, Coach.  Parents should absolutely be role model #1 and 1A before any others... not even close.  In fact, we are so, whether we behave like it or not.  If more parents were as determined as you describe to be the proper role models our kids need, they and our country would be in a heck of a lot better shape.   

That said, you know, even with kids of great parents, there are times when they look elsewhere also and emulate for a variety of reasons.  Of course, the spotlight usually lands where there are spotlights...  often TV/movie personalities, sports stars, political leaders, teachers, coaches, pastors, etc.  It is also very important that those people recognize their role and potential influence on our youth.   

My son's USSSA coaches were an amazing group. One had played baseball at a variety of levels, one was a police officer, others were just dads who helped out with the team. But they were terrific role models in all senses of the word.

When the boys were little, they climbed into the stands after a game on Mothers Day to present each mom with a personally decorated baseball and a rose. We thought they'd had practice the night before, it had really been to put together these gifts (I still have the ball).

At Christmas, the coach organized them to adopt a family in need. The project culminated in a team gathering to wrap the gifts. That gathering always included a speech from the coaches on the importance of parents and how lucky those boys were to have the families and advantages they did. We plan to gather the boys this Christmas (they are in college now) to repeat the tradition one more year.

Maybe the thing I remember most was when my mom died. We were at the visitation and turned around to find the entire team there, decked out in slacks and dress shirts, and with the coaches keeping a watchful eye on them. The next day, the coaches were there at the funeral.

These guys taught all our boys a fundamental lesson — a hero is someone who is there for others whenever and however he's needed.

 

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