Lashay Hilliard

English 112
Professor Connie Douglas
Annotated Bibliography- Polished
5 December 2014

Athletes as Role Models

"Athletes Are Human, They're Certainly Not Role Models." Sydney Morning Herald
[Sydney, Australia] 5 July 2014: 60. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 16 Oct.
2014.
Darren Kane offers his point of view on why athletes are not role models. He takes into
consideration that athletes are just humans with exceptional skills to entertain. Kane includes a
conversation that his ten year old son was having with his classmate and how he had to explain
to them that not all professional athletes are drug cheats, some are actually good. Kane also
addresses how parents should teach their children the difference between liking an athlete for
how they perform and not looking for athletes to show them the way through life. Kane emphasis
that athletes are just as human are we are, they just make more money and have eyes on them
constantly.
This source has valid points because athletes are human and they do make mistakes.
Kane makes a good example by including the conversation his ten year old son and classmate
were having. This article gives me another view on how children view athletes after a negative
reporting. This article is very useful in the event that he has his views plus the views of a child.
Rather than having an article pouring out all the negative reports about athletes he chooses to
embrace the voice of a child who perhaps looks at athletes as role models.

I would use this source as a viewpoint from a parent and how they feel about athletes not
being role models for their children. Kane pointed out how he had to explain why an athlete
would make such bad choices and that all athletes make bad choices in life. I would also use this
source for the topics that are relevant in todays era. This article is based on opinions and facts
about athletes so it would be a great asset to my essay.

"Athletes as Role Models: Actions Speak Louder than Words." UWIRE Text 14 Nov. 2013:
Infotrac Newsstand. Web. 6 Oct. 2014.
In this article athletes are being represented as humans that make mistakes and when they
make mistakes its an opportunity to teach children of what not to do. Athletes have a huge
impact on their fans when they make negative decisions. This article talks about how disciplining
athletes for their actions shows children that its not ok for such things as bullying. This article
also promotes some of the good habits that some athletes have.
This article supports my topic with valid points by addressing negative issues with
athletes as lessons that children can learn that there are consequences to your actions. Not only
children but, adults are also affected by the decisions that some athletes make. The article
addresses the issues that can be used as lessons of what not to do unfortunate its at a high cost
for the athletes and their image.
I would use this article to express how the mistakes that an athlete make can be used as
lessons for children. If parents take the time out to teach their children about life and the proper
standards to live by to make it through life their children wouldnt need to look at an athlete as a
role model. This article would also be beneficial to address the good habits of athletes that dont
make negative decisions.

"BASEBALL HALL OF FAME: TOM GLAVINE." Atlanta Journal-Constitution [Atlanta, GA]

28 July 2014: C7. Infotrac Newsstand. Web. 6 Oct. 2014.
In this brief article Tom Glavine explains how he only looked up to his parents. He
looked up to his father for being a great provider and spending time with him as a child and how
if he could be like his father then he was blessed. Although he always wanted to be a baseball
player, his parents still were his role models.
This article goes to show that your parents dont have to have all the athletic skills that
you see your favorite athlete have but if they spend time with you and teach you about the
standards and value in life you can still be successful. I would use this article to strengthen my
essay from the athletes point of view and how he still became successful. Tom Glavine admired
the skills of the baseball players but looked up to his father and the values that were instilled in
him as a child to become successful in whatever he chose to do in life.

Jost, Kenneth. "Sports and Drugs." CQ Researcher 23 July 2004: 613-36. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.
This article address many topics from athletes using drugs to enhance their performance,
the negative effect that using drugs have on their performance, and the value of sports changing
through time. Kenneth Jost states the statistic from what athletes are using enhanced drugs to the
athletes who would not believe have used enhanced drugs. Marion Jones who ran in the
Women's 200 Meters qualifying during the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team in 2004 was one
of many athletes who confessed to using drug enhancements. Drug enhancements athletes
range from track athletes to on the field athletes to basketball and other sports also. Jost address
the fact that it has become very popular for athletes to use drug enhancers because they are in a
competitive market.
This article has many valid points and it is based solely on facts and statistics about
athletes and their use of drugs. Jost not only states what his thoughts are but more of what the
facts show and how drugs can effect an athlete and the many reason why athletes turn to
enhancing drugs to improve performance. In this article is how sports managers and owners are
cracking down on the use of steroids by issuing higher fines and suspensions from games. There
is also research that presented that is creditable such as a survey that had been conducted with
over 1,000 participates to questions their thoughts on athletes using steroids. This article is very
valid and strong enough to prove the point that sports and dugs is an issue that the sports agency
need to pay closer attention to.
Using this article to support my topic would be ideal because it address the main reason
why children shouldnt look up to athletes and why parents shouldnt hold athletes up on a
pedestal. Jost state facts about the pros and cons of using drug enhancers. Jost emphasize that the

value of sports have changed throughout the years. Ten to twenty years ago athletes actually
cared about the game they were playing and how they were viewed by their fans. In todays era,
athletes are very competitive and always looking for ways to be the next biggest star. I would use
this article to support my topic in why athletes shouldnt be role models because if so children
would think its ok the take drugs to enhance their skills.

Kelley, Raina. "Professional Athletes Are Not Role Models." Professional Athletes. Ed.
Margaret Haerens and Lynn M. Zott. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2014. Opposing
Viewpoints. Rpt. from "They're Not Role Models." The Daily Beast. 2010. Opposing Viewpoints
in Context. Web. 6 Oct. 2014.
Raina Kelley address the different viewpoints that endorsement sponsors have on athletes
and how the fans are their biggest problem. One point she address is that fans should stop
overlooking their bad behavior because the team is winning. She also points out instead of sports
writers questioning athletes about being a role model for children they should encourage the fans
to think twice about supporting athletes who commit crimes. Kelley goes on to say that
endorsement sponsors really dont care about what the athletes do as long as they are winning,
depending on the degree of the crime.
Kelley points are valid and I agree with them because of the support from fans the
athletes think its ok to commit crimes and not be punished for them. Athletes have been catered
to since they were young and all of their short comings with law as always been a pat on the
wrist. I believe that these big companies dont care about the athletes in general they only care
about how much money the athlete makes them by promoting their products.
This essay is very beneficial to my essay because it gives a different view on why athletes
are not role models. I would use this essay as a viewpoint from a sports columnist and what they
have to say about athletes and their negatives decisions that may affect the way a child looks up
to them. This essay can also be used to show how athletes dont care about being a role model,
they only care about how much money they can make. Kelleys essay strengthens my point of
why athletes should not be considered role models.

"Role models like A-Rod aren't worth your time." Washington Times [Washington, DC]
7 Aug. 2013: C06. Infotrac Newsstand. Web. 6 Oct. 2014.
In a column of the Washington Times Marybeth Hicks questions that actions of New
York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez and twelve other players for using enhancing drugs. Hicks
points out again like other reports that athletes are just human beings and that society should not
hold them up to high standards because the minute they fail society begins the judge them like
they should know better. We all make mistakes but on a professional athletes level their life is
public for the world to see.
Hicks points are valid she emphasizes that parents should work harder at being a good
role model for their children. I love her closing remark So the question isn't, what can we do to
get children to stop looking up to failing celebrities? It's, what are we doing to get them to look
up to us? stated by Marybeth Hicks. The points are strong enough to prove my point that
children should not look up to athletes and look up to their parents.
This column sums up my topic that parents should do more to have their children look up
to them as role models because looking up to an athlete can be confusing to a young child. Hicks
view comes from facts about players in major league baseball. I support Hicks with her statement
about parents teaching their children the difference between being like an athlete and playing the
game like the athlete does. Hicks column in Washington Times is very beneficial to my topic of
why athletes are not role models. I would use this article to address the parents of children who
look to athletes as their role models.

"So much for 'role model'." UWIRE Text 15 Sept. 2014: 1. Infotrac Newsstand. Web. 6 Oct.
2014.
In this article the reporter address the reasons why athletes shouldnt be role models. He
addresses the fact that athletes make a lot of money, only to disappoint their fans and most of all
the children that look up to them. This reporter emphasize on how parents constantly have to
explain to their children why an athlete committed a crime. The article states the relevant topics
that are happening now such as Ray Rice being charged with domestic violence, Adrian Peterson
and his child abuse case and others.
This article is strong because it gives an example of a conversation him as a parents has
had to have with his son to explain why Ray Rice would hit a woman and why Paul George think
domestic violence is okay. This points out the voice of parents that have to explain the actions of
the players they look up to committing crimes or setting a negative image. Another point that
makes this article strong is the fact that it has current issues that are happening right now.
Im going to use this article as a supporting source of my topic because the reporter
emphasizes that athletes should be held to the same standards a non-athlete are held to when they
commit such crimes. This reporter touched many areas that are issues in todays era with athletes
and how their senseless behavior can cost them more than just a suspension but their whole
career. I would also use this article to voice why a parent should teach their children the
difference between wanting to be just like an athlete and just wanting to have the professional
skills as an athlete.

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Stalter, Anthony. "Parents Should Not Rely on Athletes as Role Models."

Are Athletes Good Role Models? Ed. Geoff Griffin. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005.
At Issue. Rpt. from "Barkley Had It Right All Along." Bullz-Eye. 2007. Opposing Viewpoints in
Context. Web. 6 Oct. 2014.
Slater a sports columnist explains four points about athletes and why parents shouldnt
expect them to be role models for their children. This essay breaks down the areas to why
athletes are not role models. It also demonstrates why parents should be more in control of the
type of athletes their children look up to and foremost being the best example to them first. He
emphasizes that if parents teach their children values and standards and the difference at a young
age that they would look up to them instead of someone who they think is cool because they can
dunk a basketball or score a touchdown.
His points are valid and strengthen my essay by its first point which is that athletes are
typical human beings and with that one reason alone parents should teach their children to
admire the athletic skills and do their best but not to be just like an athlete because they are the
best on their team. He emphasize that nobody knows what kind of lifestyle an athlete lives
outside the field or court. His second point is that children are taught to look up to athletes
because of their athletic skills and this only cause an upset to the children when an athlete
commits crimes that no one would think they would do. Later, Slater points out that good deeds
done by athletes can be deceitful because if the athlete had not been caught committing a crime
would he or she be so prompt to do camps and sponsor non-profit organizations. The last point
that Slater makes is that parents should be moderate and lead by example over any athlete so
their children will grow to be themselves and not like someone else.

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I agree with Slater and his opinions on why athletes are not role models and why parents
should take more responsibility of being role models for their children. I would use this essay to
inform my readers on the four points Slater made about how and why parents should not
consider athletes role models. Slaters essay will show my readers that parents should become be
responsible in being their childrens role model over any athlete.