Athletes and Entertainers as Role Models

English 79 Role Models Some humans feel that “people such as entertainers and athletes are ideal role models for young people. ” I disagree with that. In fact, I feel the opposite is true. I have seen many cases where young people end up in all sorts of trouble because they where imitating something that an entertainer or athlete did. People such as entertainers and athletes are poor role models for young people. To begin with, entertainers and athletes usually live immoral lives. Even if their mouths are not polluted with foul language, their actions are unwholesome.

An example who comes to mind is Barry Bonds, who took drugs to improve his sports performance. Other athletes take drugs to improve their physical appearance. This is a horrible example for young people. Similarly, many entertainers they too are morally unclean. It seems like every other day I hear about an entertainer who has a drug or alcohol problem. You can read about all of their slip-ups in the newspaper. Their various problems are also portrayed by the media. Sometimes movies are made about their addictions. Songs have been written about their very risque lifestyles.

Both of these cases prove that athletes and entertainers usually live immoral lives. Moreover, entertainers and athletes usually do not have a satisfying, nor life-long career. They may become outdated or out of style, or they may get hurt. For instance, entertainers usually don’t have a long career, because they get replaced. A younger generation is brought into the spot light, and the older generation is pushed out of the spot light. Similarly trends change so frequently, that what was once popular before is now out of style. With that comes the challenge of pleasing people’s demand for the newest, and the best.

All of that would make me want to end my career too. Likewise, athletes face numerous physical problems causing harm to their bodies. Many break bones, or injure themselves beyond the point of repair. Often an athlete retires at an early age permanently injured and severely crippled. Just think about Bo Jackson, who had to give up his football and baseball careers because he injured his hip while playing. As shown by these two examples, entertainers and athletes usually don’t have a satisfying, life-long career. Lastly, entertainers and athletes do not live in the “real” world.

They are not in touch with reality and live extremely extravagant lives. For example, you can look at almost all of the athlete’s homes, and you find not just normal houses, but plush mansions. Their incredibly large homes house only a few people. Most require the best of the best in everything. Many people can’t even afford to eat, yet athletes chow down on Kobe beef and caviar. How can somebody actually spend so much money on things that really are not necessary? Finally, entertainers and athletes do not receive repercussions for their bad actions.

If caught driving under the influence, they rarely spend one night in jail. I have seen so many court cases where a “star” was merely given a warning. Had they been a “normal” person they would have gone straight to jail. Entertainers must have a get out of jail free card, or something. Not only are they endangering themselves, but also everyone around them. Judges just don’t pay any attention to that. Look at Jack Nicholson, who was caught driving while heavily intoxicated; he only had to pay a very small fee. Entertainers are let off the hook way too easily, and athletes have too much money to spend.

In these instances it is obvious that entertainers and athletes do not live in the “real” world. As you can see, entertainers and athletes are poor role models for young people. With all of the evidence brought forth, how on earth could they be a good role model for anyone? Entertainers and athletes usually live immoral lives and they do not have a satisfying, or life-long career. Also, they are not in touch with the “real” world. Unfortunately, many people still believe that athletes and entertainers are good role models for young people.