informative+research+product

media type="file" key="Athletes video.wmv" ** Informative Research Product Organizer **
 * ** Research Topic: **
 * Are athletes obligated to be role models? ** ||

Parents must be careful not to glorify their favorite athletes because their behavior off the field may not be as admirable off the field. Instead parents should encourage their kids to idolize people like doctors, lawyers, and their favorite teachers. ||
 * ** Focusing Statement: **

Parents are kids true role models, so whatever athlete parents support, their children are going to support too. So if the athlete’s behavior isn't good off the field, their children will be susceptible to following inappropriate behavior. Athletes are people too, they make mistakes, and they occasionally like to have fun, even if it might not be exemplary behavior. Even though parents need to step up their influence, athletes still have to be conscious of their behavior. It’s inevitable that these athletes are going to be emulated, so when making decisions, athletes should think about whom all is watching them. ||
 * ** Essential Background Information for Introduction: **


 * ** Potential Hook/Grabber ( ** Story, anecdote, quote about your issue**):**

Michael Vick was the highest paid player in the NFL at the time that he was arrested. Vick was signed to a 160 million dollar contract with the Atlanta Falcons. His coach trusted him to go home every weekend to go visit his family, but in reality Vick was going to his ranch in Virginia and organizing his fighting crime ring in Virginia. He and his childhood friends ran "Bad News Kennels" for six years before he was caught. Law enforcement found 74 dogs on the property 8 of them deceased. One of his major mistakes was denying the rumors when they first came out. He lied to the press, Goodell, and his coach Arthur Blank, the one who made him the highest player in the NFL. Vick stated that he didn't really realize that his actions were so influential until the prison doors slammed. Vick admitted that he made it through the days in prison by finding his lord and savior, and he also wept himself to sleep multiple nights. The interviewer states that Vick was introduced to dog fighting at the age of 8 in Newport News Virginia. Vick states that in Virginia cops would get out of their cars, see two dogs fighting, and just get back in their cars and drive away. He saw the adults in the neighborhood fighting dogs, so there were no moral conflicts. When Vick got out of prison he was temporarily re-instated into the NFL. Rodger Goodell the NFL's commissioner asked Tony Dungey to be a mentor to Vick in his recovery back to the league. Vick was picked up by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009 and signed to a 2-year 7 million dollar contract. Since he had to file for bankruptcy he didn't receive even a fraction of the 7 million. Vick is now in the process of changing his image, working with the Human Society. He also has stepped his work ethic up on the field. Before, he was the last one in the building and the first one out. When asked who he blames for his involvement in dogfights he stated, "I blame me". ||

====In an 1991 commercial for Nike Charles Barkley stated "I am not a role model". He was criticized for these remarks because the public interpreted this statement as "athletes shouldn't have to be role models//",// but that wasn't his message at all. Barkley realized the obligations that athletes have to their fans, his point was that more of the responsibility should be on parents to set good examples==== || Warrick Dunn furnishes and buys houses for single women every year || // Since the Steelers won the Superbowl, many Steelers have given back to the community since. These stories haven't made any news however, because the media amplifies the negative actions of their QB. If the media talked about the positive influence of athletes as well as the negative influences, there would be a much larger perspective of professional athlete role model capability. // ||
 * ** Topic 1: Are athletes role models? ** ||
 * ** Explanation **
 * Yes they are inevitably looked up to. But whether they fit into this role is their choice. ** || ** Evidence/Quotes: **
 * ** Explanation **
 * Athletes who do assimilate into these roles should be glorified though. ** || ** Evidence/Quotes: **
 * ** Explanation **
 * The media covers the negative things that athletes do, while the good deeds often go unreported. ** || ** Evidence /Quotes: **

====When an incident at a Michigan State softball camp left a parent mad, a panel was held to see if athletes should be held to a higher moral standard then other students. University alum David Han said "student-athletes are recruited for their skills on the field, not to set an example for children".==== || 60% of NBA players are broke within 5 years of leaving the game; and 78% of NFL players will suffer the same financial fate ||
 * ** Topic 2: Athletes are just everyday people ** ||
 * ** Explanation **
 * Athletes, expecially students have enough responsibilities as it is. Role modeling shouldn’t be a concern of theirs. ** || ** Evidence/Quotes: **
 * ** Explanation **
 * Athletes often times haven’t had role models themselves. ** || ** Evidence/Quotes: **
 * Mike Vick was introduced to dog fighting in Newport News, Virginia when he was 8. The adults in his neighborhood did it, so growing up; he thought there was nothing wrong with it. ** ||
 * ** Explanation **
 * Often times athletes aren’t even 21 when they run into these large sums of money. ** || ** Evidence /Quotes: **

====Kobe was admired for his god-like skills on the basketball court, and his quiet and polite personality off it. When the allegations of sexual assault arose, it caught people so off guard that it almost unbelievable. If we provide our kids with a good role model (ourselves), then we don't have to worry about our kids being mislead or disappointed.==== ||
 * ** Topic 3: **
 * Athlete’s live in a different world, it’s not fair to use them as a moral standard. ** ||
 * ** Explanation **
 * Just because athletes actions on the field seem ideal, their lives off the field can be the opposite. ** || ** Evidence/Quotes: **
 * ** Explanation **
 * Often time’s athletes are young and stupid, and naive and immature. ** || ** Evidence/Quotes: **

NFL runningback Travis Henry had 9 children by 9 different women, a costly expense as well as a moral dilemma. Also, players have made terrible investments such as $500,000 in a sofa with a flotation device in it so that if you suffered a flood you could use it to float away. This type of behavior is nothing to follow, and it just shows the lack of maturity of these athletes. ||
 * ** Explanation **
 * These young athletes are under so much pressure that they just want some source of entertainment. ** || ** Evidence /Quotes: **

// Swimmer Kenrick Monk broke his elbow riding a skateboard a few weeks before a competition. A tragic accident, but instead of telling the truth, Monk lied and said he was hit by a car, just to avoid being criticized for his irresponsibility. // ||

Athletes such as Bonds, McGwire and Sosa have been caught doing them. This type of behavior shows the youth that they should do whatever it takes to succeed even if it means cheating and breaking the law. ||
 * ** Topic 4: **
 * We put so much pressure on these athletes that were bound to see them make bad decisions, nevertheless they are still seen as role models ** ||
 * ** Explanation **
 * We put so much pressure on these athletes to perform well, no wonder they use performance enhancing drugs. ** || ** Evidence/Quotes: **
 * ** Explanation **
 * We should glorify athletes achievements on the field, and not pay attention to their faults off ** || ** Evidence/Quotes: **
 * When do you ever see a kid looking up to a retired player? They aren’t emulating their personalities or characteristics, rather their athletic ability. ** ||
 * ** Explanation **
 * Athletes would rather break the law then admit that they were being irresponsible. ** || ** Evidence /Quotes: **
 * Monk lied to police saying that he was hit by a hit and run driver rather than telling them that he broke his elbow riding a skateboard. That is disturbing that an athlete would rather break the law and jeopardize their freedom rather than receive criticism from the media. ** ||

The ten commandments weren't written just for athletes. We shouldn't hold athletes to a higher standard, instead we should all work to be role models for the youth of America. || // Everyone is equal, and besides their unusual talents, professional athletes are no different than us. So why should we hold them to a higher standard? // || ** Evidence/Quotes: **
 * ** Topic 5: **
 * Why should we hold athletes to higher standards? Aren’t they just everyday people? ** ||
 * ** Explanation **
 * Why should athletes be required to conduct themselves flawlessly when the everyday person isnt? ** || ** Evidence/Quotes: **
 * ** Explanation **
 * Off the field, an athlete is just a human being. Once they take that jersey of they are just sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, and siblings just like us. When they do something that’s wrong, it shouldn’t be any different then when we do something. ** ||
 * ** Explanation **
 * Even if viewed as more then an everyday person on the field, off the field there is often a lot uknown. ** || ** Evidence /Quotes: **
 * Mike Vick was viewed as a timid, shy, even bashful player off the field. He didn’t talk much and was quite reserved. When the allegations of his dog-fighting came out, it was almost inconceivable because his personality didn’t fit his actions. Obviously we just didn’t know enough about Mike Vick. ** ||