Wow, okay so it has been months (nearly 4) since I last posted to the blog. I have a lot to write about but will write a quick post on what is currently on my mind. Just tonight I was sitting comfortably on the couch perusing my favorite website....ESPN.com... and read a quick article about one of the athletes I grew up watching. The article was about Mr. Karl "the Mailman" Malone, and was called "Getting to know the real Karl Malone".
Now, I have to mention my opinion of sports in general. I am a huge sports fan at almost every level. I enjoy watching the amazing talent of a swimmer's freestyle pull and quick flip-turn, a volleyball player's kill for a sideout right at the corner line, a soccer player's banana curving hit on goal from 30 yards out to the upper corner of the net, or a golfer's approach shot from 250 yards out that hits the green and spins back 10 yards to end up inches from the whole. We have some amazingly talented people on this earth and to be able to display their talents under such high pressure in front of thousands and millions of people is stunning. HOWEVER, some athletes, mostly professional athletes, and more recently collegiate and even high school or prep athletes, act as if the whole world owes them something. They act as thugs, whiners, uncaring, child-like criminals. It seems that they care about nothing more than money, attention, and the world alone.
I understand that some of you may not agree with me and that is fine. I understand that some people/athletes were raised in a different way and that deep inside most athletes are probably honest, caring, hard-working individuals, BUT many of them now days are not. I am amazing at the millions of dollars that some of these athletes make and yet still act the way they do. They have chosen a career with public spotlight and should respect that. It is not right when other amazing civic leaders are improving communities, individuals, and companies with sustainable change and make 1/1,000th of what some of these athletes make. I think of educators/teachers, police officers, and other civic employees. These are the people that help us learn the skills to be successful in life AND keep us safe. Some are paid so poorly that they qualify for Medicaid, WIC, and other government welfare, HOW IN THE WORLD is that happening!? I want to be clear that not all teachers and police officers are wonderful people either, but for the most part they are humbly doing their job, and that is important....and I haven't even mentioned hospital administrators yet....HA :)
Okay, enough of the tirade on athletes and generalizations that I have made. I just thought I would give a quick background as to why I think this article is revealing of the types of professional athletes that are acting as role models??
Karl Malone is definitely not the "greatest" example of the qualities mentioned above (he has his past and probably still isn't perfect), BUT at least in some major ways he represents some positive attributes and seems to do A LOT of good with his talents and the money he has made in his life. He continues to be a person that is happy with what makes him tick.....outdoors, tractors, service, fishing, and probably Louisiana! He was loyal as an athlete, spending nearly his whole career in Utah (until he left for those darn Lakers).
I guess the whimsical purpose of this post is to urge us all to keep our heroes and mentors as people that represent the true meaning of hard work, values, and civic service. Some may be athletes, but most are the people we meet or interact with daily. I hope that I can teach my children to do find true heroes AND I hope that I can provide a good example of such an individual as I grow in my career and life.
Thanks for reading my ramble!
Now, I have to mention my opinion of sports in general. I am a huge sports fan at almost every level. I enjoy watching the amazing talent of a swimmer's freestyle pull and quick flip-turn, a volleyball player's kill for a sideout right at the corner line, a soccer player's banana curving hit on goal from 30 yards out to the upper corner of the net, or a golfer's approach shot from 250 yards out that hits the green and spins back 10 yards to end up inches from the whole. We have some amazingly talented people on this earth and to be able to display their talents under such high pressure in front of thousands and millions of people is stunning. HOWEVER, some athletes, mostly professional athletes, and more recently collegiate and even high school or prep athletes, act as if the whole world owes them something. They act as thugs, whiners, uncaring, child-like criminals. It seems that they care about nothing more than money, attention, and the world alone.
I understand that some of you may not agree with me and that is fine. I understand that some people/athletes were raised in a different way and that deep inside most athletes are probably honest, caring, hard-working individuals, BUT many of them now days are not. I am amazing at the millions of dollars that some of these athletes make and yet still act the way they do. They have chosen a career with public spotlight and should respect that. It is not right when other amazing civic leaders are improving communities, individuals, and companies with sustainable change and make 1/1,000th of what some of these athletes make. I think of educators/teachers, police officers, and other civic employees. These are the people that help us learn the skills to be successful in life AND keep us safe. Some are paid so poorly that they qualify for Medicaid, WIC, and other government welfare, HOW IN THE WORLD is that happening!? I want to be clear that not all teachers and police officers are wonderful people either, but for the most part they are humbly doing their job, and that is important....and I haven't even mentioned hospital administrators yet....HA :)
Okay, enough of the tirade on athletes and generalizations that I have made. I just thought I would give a quick background as to why I think this article is revealing of the types of professional athletes that are acting as role models??
Karl Malone is definitely not the "greatest" example of the qualities mentioned above (he has his past and probably still isn't perfect), BUT at least in some major ways he represents some positive attributes and seems to do A LOT of good with his talents and the money he has made in his life. He continues to be a person that is happy with what makes him tick.....outdoors, tractors, service, fishing, and probably Louisiana! He was loyal as an athlete, spending nearly his whole career in Utah (until he left for those darn Lakers).
I guess the whimsical purpose of this post is to urge us all to keep our heroes and mentors as people that represent the true meaning of hard work, values, and civic service. Some may be athletes, but most are the people we meet or interact with daily. I hope that I can teach my children to do find true heroes AND I hope that I can provide a good example of such an individual as I grow in my career and life.
Thanks for reading my ramble!
