Sports Athletes like any other celebrity can be seen as role models and heroes to many fans of theirs. They’re put up on a pedestal, seen as the peak of masculinity by many. However, unlike other celebrities, their fame come from their skill at a sport. They’re working to play a sport really well; they’re not putting on a performance. Their personality matters but it isn’t the crux of their career.
If you get accused of some bad behavior, most people might not know or overlook it for your talent on the field. That’s where the problem lies, athletes can get away with a lot given their fame and fortune.
Celebrities can get away with a lot, even with publicity. If you’ve seen any of Kanye West’s rhetoric in recent years you know people like to separate art from the artist. Same thing applies with athletes to a degree, but they’re seen as pieces on a game board rather than the people they are. You can be a really good quarterback but you’re replaceable for a different quarterback.
As long as you play good and your situation doesn’t get too known. Or you could be like Cristiano Ronaldo or Donald Trump and have so much power that you drown any lawsuit or accusation against you with your fame.
Athletes do have to care about their public image; they are replaceable players chosen for their skill and use on the field. However, they’re rich no matter what, they get paid in contracts worth millions each. That’s why they’re okay with rough housing on the field because even if they press charges they could pay for those charges. It’s normal for an athlete to roughhouse out of frustration but any mention of anger from a celebrity and their reputation is tarnished.
I think like any other celebrity, athletes should not be seen as role models, or if you want to then do it with a grain of salt. We’re all people, nobody’s perfect. Make your own nuanced judgements.
