Athletes as Role Models

7 Pages 1794 Words

s in stride. You have to love a sport in order to do it well. Hard-working and motivated people understand that winning isn’t everything. Leading a team in homeruns or 3-pointers, is meaningless when compared to one just giving his/hers best shot at it. Champion distance runner Joan Benoit says, “Winning is neither everything nor the only thing. It is one of many things” (Globus). Athletes have made many contributions to society over the years. Los Angles Rams linebacker George Andrews is one example. Andrews stood outside the principle’s office at Douglas Macarthur Fundamental Intermediate School in Santa Ana, watching about three hundred sixth graders file into the auditorium for his anti-drug speech. “I think you can give kids a positive role model, it helps.” Andrews said (Berkow). All professional teams in the L.A. area have Adopt a School programs, in which athletes meet with students and stress getting an education and staying off drugs (Berkow). Tim Wakefield of the Boston Red Sox is another pro athlete who has done good deeds especially for kids with disabilities. Wakefield ran a golf tournament (Tim Wakefield Celebrity Golf Classic) in Jan. 1993 and raised $40,275 for...