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opinion
What mixed messages
athletes keep sending
Lamar Odom, Jason Williams, and Jamal Lewis all have a few things
in common. Not only do they play professional sports but all
three have been suspended from their sport for drug violations.
Odom, 22 of the
Los Angeles Clippers was released to play last week after
his six-game suspension from the NBA for violation of the
NBA anti-drug policy. This is his second violation within
a period of eight months.
Williams, former
Sacramento Kings guard faced the same charges and was suspended
for five games last February.
Baltimore Ravens
running back, Lewis, tested positive for drugs a few weeks
ago and faces similar consequences. Not only was he suspended
but all communication with his team and trainers must be cut.
The NFL has ordered all rehabilitation efforts to be sought
out elsewhere.
I understand professional
sports players are human. Everyone makes mistakes and
stardom does not change. However, when you enter into the
spotlight you are called on to be an example -- it comes with
the job description.
Odom, Williams,
and Lewis are not the only ones who have committed such crimes,
just the most current. Many have gone before them and many
will follow. The problem I have is that people of such
status go into our communities to send children positive messages.
When they mess up so badly it sends a mixed message. Children
look up to these stars. When these athletes tell them to read
more, not to do drugs and to practice safe sex, children listen.
Children especially
are vulnerable and willing to do anything their role models
do and say. Fans of all ages wear the athletes' sports jerseys.
But children wear them in hopes of one day being just like
their favorite athletes. Children are innocent. All they see
is the glory and the talent, and when drug charges or any
other unlawful acts are committed by their role models one
of two things may happen. One, they lose all the hopes and
dreams they put into this person. Or two (my fear), they feel
doing drugs is all right because this athlete has done so.
I am in no way
saying a professional ball player one should be perfect. I
am, however, saying a person with so much power should watch
his or her actions because the things they do affect us all
in some way. They are watched closely by fans of all ages
and because of this their actions are not their own. Their
lifestyles should always match up with their messages so that
the message is never gray but always clear.
Charity Bailey
is a journalism major at Cal State Long Beach.
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