European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 18, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Athletes As 1 a. A it role models Success carries big responsibility by Steve Wilstein the associated press he image shocks and confuses of. Simpson led away in Handcuffs then charged in the murder of his former wife and another Mam Simpson was the consummate american Success Story a a troubled youth who became a football hero television commentator corporate Pitchman comedy actor. Parents pointed to him As the perfect role Model kids liked him and it respected him yet none of them really knew him. They saw his warm smile and eager eyes heard Little about him beating his wife. There have been other jarring images this year Jennifer Capriati in a police Mug shot arrested for marijuana Possession Tonya Harding in a courtroom plea bargaining in a conspiracy Mickey Mantle his face drawn recovering from a lifetime of drinking. Sports heroes come and go. Sometimes they go Down hard. But contrary to popular belief they really Are not role models who exert a profound or lasting influence on most youngsters. When Black youth were asked in a National Survey to name two or three people they most Admire Michael Jordan tied with god. If that seems a curious commentary on America s values it should be noted that most of the 11 to 17-year-old Blacks questioned in a recent children s defense fund poll cited their parents As role models. Mom and dad were named by 53 percent god and Jordan by 6 percent each. In Between were grandparents Brothers and Sisters aunts and uncles teachers and the Rev. Martin Luther King or. The associated press asked child psychologists sociologists athletes coaches and hundreds of kids whether children actually use sports figures As role models. The answer is an emphatic no. To children athletes Are ideals setting standards of excellence in sports but not Success in life. Quot As role models athletes have a negligible effect on most kids Quot said William Beausay president of the Academy of sports psychologists. Quot a role Model is someone you learn roles from a what mothers do what fathers . Simpson shown herewith lawyer Robert Shapiro is just one of a number of fallen sports heroes this past year. First of two do what students do. It s kind of a formal set of rules that they re learning. Athletes and musicians Are More like heroes to  Charles Barkley stirred up debate about the Issue of role models when he said in a to commercial last year that Quot i m not paid to be a role  the Phoenix suns Star later said he had been misunderstood that it was acceptable to use athletes As Quot secondary role  Quot parents should Point out some of the positive things in athletes lives but that should t be the Only thing Quot Barkley said. Quot parents have to do a better Job of leading their kids. Making athletes the main role models sends that message especially to Black kids that the Only Way they can make it is in athletics. Quot it makes me shudder when people Tell kids they can be anything they want. Well they can t be Michael Jordan or Charles Barkley or Barry Bonds. There s Only one of  even As heroes athletes can deeply affect children at a critical stage in development. Many kids from about 8 to 12 years old looking for examples of Success fantasize about becoming athletes and identify with them. Athletes Are especially idealized by kids who Lack. Pqrter positive role models at Home. Fighting taunting and trash talking among pro and College players shown repeatedly on television Lead to similar actions in football basketball and baseball in High schools. Quot i Don t see the Mound charging brawls yet in the youth leagues but if they continue at the major league level the kids will emulate them and it will definitely come a said Ken Keiper chairman of the Mcaa s division ii baseball. Quot it will continue to happen until we have a tragedy. Somebody s going to get hit with a Bat and killed or somebody s going to get hit with a Ball and killed. The influence of the major leagues will have an Impact on Amateur baseball no question about  Misbehaviour by athletes that kids hear about but Don t see a drug use gambling speeding carrying a gun a is less Likely to be copied. Children May do the same things but for other reasons. Instead kids Are left disillusioned by their heroes and become More cynical As they get older. Adolescents make a lot of judgments it about athletes beyond their performances. The character traits in athletes that older children most Admire a continued on Page 18 closer look Aaron Aaron still a hero to America s youth Hank Aaron Long retired but not forgotten even by kids who never saw him play ranks right behind Michael Jordan As the most esteemed athlete among american adolescents. Kids 12 to 17 show genuine respect for past stars and utter indifference for some of today so most hyped athletes according to ratings from a study by the sports marketing group of Dallas. . Simpson also made the list based equally on popularity and perceptions of character and was tied for no. 5 among All americans 12 and Over in the study conducted last year. That explains Why so Many people were shocked by his arrest for the murder of his former wife and another Man. Kareem Abdul Jabbar Mary Lou Retton Julius Erving Willie Mays Scott Hamilton babe Ruth Mickey Mantle and Dorothy Hamill All made the adolescents top 20 list based equally on popularity and perceptions of character. Only five athletes on the list Are still competing Jordan Scottie Pippen Joe Montana Jackie Joyner Kersee and Kristi Yamaguchi who skipped the last olympics but is preparing to come Back. The rest retired recently after distinguished careers magic Johnson Larry Bird George Foreman Nolan Ryan and evander Holyfield. These athletes Are some of the True models for America s Young people the ones kids look up to As much for their accomplishments As for a belief in their integrity. Though Aaron retired As baseball a Home run King in 1976, and Ruth died in 1948, their deeds live on nurtured by admiring tales from parents and grandparents. And what of Young stars like Shaquille o Neal Andre Agassi Barry Bonds and Deion Sanders they did no to even come close. Quot popularity and respect take years to develop Quot sports marketing group chairman Nye Lavalle said. Quot there s really no such thing As an overnight Success in America. It takes a Long time to build your reputation and your status. But one incident can make it crash overnight. That s what happened with Pete Rose Mike Tyson and Tonya  based on a nationwide study of 1,479 americans age 12 and Over the ratings weighed perceptions of four positive traits a sportsmanship intelligence trustworthiness and charitable Ness a and three negative traits a greediness cockiness and arrogance a among 609 athletes and sports celebrities. Lavalle used a formula to produce a rating system that could be As High As 100 if an athlete were popular with All respondents and perceived by everyone As having ail the positive traits and none of the negative ones. Conversely an athlete cobia have a rating below Zero if he or she were immensely unpopular and viewed As possessing More negative traits than positive ones. A the associated press monday july 18, 1994 the stars and stripes 17