Author Topic: Terrell Owens: Role model? (Read 898 times)

Ripsnort · « **on:** August 17, 2005, 09:07:49 AM »

Role models are difficult to direct for kids. They tend to choose their own, even though we as parents try to be one, or direct the role models that we feel they should look at.

Whether professional athletes like it or not, they are indeed in the limelight, and will be looked upon favorably (or not..) by fans..

So, with that in mind, talking with quite a few fathers during this football season, its apparent most of the kids have their favorite football player. Terrell 'I'm the CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE!" Owens came up in a discussion last nite...Most parents I spoke with detested him for his selfishness and tacky behavior on the field when scoring touch downs (whatever happened to the class acts like Sanders for Detroit, or "Sweetness"?)

So the question put forth: Would you encourage or discourage your kids if they just absolutely adored Terrell Owens?

Me personally, I would probably just hold my opinion to myself if my sons got all goosey about Terrell out of kindness. But I would probably point out players who's hard work ethic and good sportsmanship get my vote.

Casper1 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 17, 2005, 09:24:23 AM »

As an avid Philadelphia fan, and overall Football obsessor...I have a little insight to this. I am not a parent though, so, FWIW:

Discourage his behavior, flashiness, attitude. Encourage his work ethic, dedication to success and determination. If you haven't already, pick up his biography. Good read, in all honesty.

The guy is a complete jerk, selfish, egotistical: a HORRIBLE role model for a youngin.

On the other hand the guy works his butt off, always was determined, and is an incredible athlete: a good role model for a youngin looking to start playing sports liek football.

Masherbrum · « **Reply #2 on:** August 17, 2005, 09:40:40 AM »

TO is a whining, crybaby. What's even funnier is that people are shocked that he is pulling the crap that he is pulling now. Players like him are a disgrace to the game. I hate the Cowboys with a passion, but loved it when they cleaned his clock with his "antics".

Karaya

Reschke · « **Reply #3 on:** August 17, 2005, 09:44:06 AM »

On the field versus off the field? To me thats the underlying factor.

Most kids have no idea what T.O. is all about other than being a player on Madden and then seeing him catching touchdown passes from McNabb. My son can't stand him because he has seen the crap that T.O. does on television. Especially with his no comment workout in his driveway the other day.

As a complete role model I would rather my son learn about the guys like Barry Sanders or Robert Smith who left the game and still could have gone out and done it for a few more years but chose to step away and give back to their community and family. Also some of the best role models these kids can have are the linemen and back ups who work football camps in the offseason. They give back infinetely more than they recieve and as a result kids get interested in other aspects of the game instead of just running back, quaterback and wide reciever. One that my son attempts to emulate each day in practice is a very good friend of mine (Chris Gray) who plays for Seattle. Its people like him that our sons should look toward for inspiration on how to play the game.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #4 on:** August 17, 2005, 09:46:42 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Casper1
On the other hand the guy works his butt off, always was determined, and is an incredible athlete: a good role model for a youngin looking to start playing sports liek football.

Yes, we witnessed his work ethic...by intentionally causing a scene so he could miss two weeks of football camp while "getting a tan" (His words, not mine) in the Bahamas.

Sandman · « **Reply #5 on:** August 17, 2005, 11:02:51 AM »

IMHO, the "professional athlete as a role model" card is overplayed.

If an athlete wants to use his/her celebrity to become a positive influence for children, more power to him, but being a professional athlete doesn't mean they have to.

I don't know when or how it happened, but some time in the past two or three decades, a group of people did a lot of hand wringing and decided that professional athletes had to be enviable examples for our children. I think it's a load of crap.

rpm · « **Reply #6 on:** August 17, 2005, 01:48:06 PM »

I have a bottle of Dom set aside for the day TO blows out his knee. Hopefully it's against the Cowboys and it happens on the star.

Eagler · « **Reply #7 on:** August 17, 2005, 01:54:14 PM »

pro sports a role model?

might as well make the hollyweird stars role models for your kids... they live in about the same reality as the millionaire pro sport "ath-eilte"

is he goes from a private jet to a stretch hummer - best not to make him a "role" model - you are setting your kid up to fail in so many ways...

Ripsnort · « **Reply #8 on:** August 17, 2005, 02:07:59 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Sandman
IMHO, the "professional athlete as a role model" card is overplayed.

If an athlete wants to use his/her celebrity to become a positive influence for children, more power to him, but being a professional athlete doesn't mean they have to.

I don't know when or how it happened, but some time in the past two or three decades, a group of people did a lot of hand wringing and decided that professional athletes had to be enviable examples for our children. I think it's a load of crap.

Well, television certainly helps. Children mimick what they see. Thus, the "role model" is born. Blame the children....in psychology its known as learned behavior.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #9 on:** August 17, 2005, 02:09:16 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Eagler
pro sports a role model?

might as well make the hollyweird stars role models for your kids... they live in about the same reality as the millionaire pro sport "ath-eilte"

is he goes from a private jet to a stretch hummer - best not to make him a "role" model - you are setting your kid up to fail in so many ways...

I think you missed the first paragraph of my initial post:

Quote

Role models are difficult to direct for kids. They tend to choose their own, even though we as parents try to be one, or direct the role models that we feel they should look at.

bustr · « **Reply #10 on:** August 17, 2005, 02:28:48 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Sandman
IMHO, the "professional athlete as a role model" card is overplayed.

If an athlete wants to use his/her celebrity to become a positive influence for children, more power to him, but being a professional athlete doesn't mean they have to.

I don't know when or how it happened, but some time in the past two or three decades, a group of people did a lot of hand wringing and decided that professional athletes had to be enviable examples for our children. I think it's a load of crap.

Sandman,

Are you someone who the fathers of young boys on this board would want to encourage and support in attempting to model themselves?

American athletes have always been role models to young impressionable boys. This has not been a recent thing in this country unless you are talking about the players and their 30 year decent into garbage conduct.

Young boys since the begining of homo sapien have always tried to emulate the conduct of the males around them who are the fastest, strongest, and most successful. Problem with this human mode of learning through imitation, if the male being emulated is suck A## sack of stuff, your son is in danger of becomeing one to.

I have to wonder that more parents disagree with your assessment, and understand their young boys are going to look on these athelets as the pinicle of maleness in our homo sapien society, and become low lifes like them.

DREDIOCK · « **Reply #11 on:** August 17, 2005, 10:16:41 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Sandman
IMHO, the "professional athlete as a role model" card is overplayed.

If an athlete wants to use his/her celebrity to become a positive influence for children, more power to him, but being a professional athlete doesn't mean they have to.

I don't know when or how it happened, but some time in the past two or three decades, a group of people did a lot of hand wringing and decided that professional athletes had to be enviable examples for our children. I think it's a load of crap.

"When you were kids, you all admired the Champion mable shooter, the fastest runner, the toughest boxer" -GS Patton Jr.

More then just the last decade or two.
Kids choose their role models whether people like it or not.
Thoughout time Athletes and other people considered great and/or noble at what they do have been admire and chosen by children to be their role models.

Some people may have decided athetes should be enviable examples BECAUSE they know children will choose them and look to them as role models.

Its not a load of crap. Its the way it is.

Can a person or player live up to the pedastal that children put them up on? Given the way the media reports it every time one of these guys farts these days. Probably not.

Used to be a time when the media would keep some things to themselves. Read Art Donovans book "Fatso" and you will find out just how pure guys like Don Shula,Tom Landry and Dan Reeves were in their playing days. These icons were no angels.
But the media didnt report it.

On the other hand these guys also didnt run off at the mouth in public acting like a spoiled attention hungry brat in dire need of a few welts on their butts either.
So to a large extent these guys like TO and Moss bring alot of the bad stuff upon themselves.

Which is a shame because if they just learned to shut up and play they could keep everyone happy and still get all the attention they crave and still acheive damn near godlike status with kids. Without behaving like an Anal Oriface in the process.

and lets face it. all these antics are nothing more then a way to draw attention to themselves and nothing more

moose · « **Reply #12 on:** August 17, 2005, 10:29:46 PM »

role models: lance armstrong, bobby orr, jackie robinson, wayne gretsky, magic johnson, teddy bruschi

you cant put TO in the same book as these guys whatsooever. bruschi is a great modern day football example - hes his own agent and he took less money then he could have made anywhere else to stay at home with the patriots. even now that he's out for the season i believe he's working with the new guys at camp.

Sandman · « **Reply #13 on:** August 17, 2005, 10:55:14 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by DREDIOCK

Some people may have decided athetes should be enviable examples BECAUSE they know children will choose them and look to them as role models.

Some children, but I think it's not the majority. Most find their role models at home, at school, on the field... they don't look for them on television.

Hell... I'd bet that if you went to the local highschool or junior high and did a poll asking if students could identify Terrell Owens or Bam Margera most would correctly identify Bam.

Viper17 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 17, 2005, 11:05:13 PM »

how can he get a tan:confused: