Lessons from A Rod: elite sports needs a new play book
Submitted by Dr. Gwenn Is In
Last weekend my husband decided to take advantage of the warmer weather and melting ice to attempt to hack away at a 2 foot mound of ice that had deposited on our front stoop. Making incredible progress, I opened the front door and joked “So, feeling like Hercules today?” He smiled, admiring his progress, and replied back “Not quite. More like Hercules’ dad!”
My husband was just being modest. An athlete his entire life, breaking ice was actually no big deal. What’s cool is that while his zeal for sports has changed by being a dad, his inner drive to stay in shape and find a way to continue the sports he loves, run, lift weights and play softball, has not. He keeps it fun and moderate in his own workouts and tries to pass that on to our girls, even working out with them when possible. He’s also honest with them about what’s happened to some of his friends who have over done it over the years either by working out too much and pushing too hard or turning to the dark side and using steroids, or “juice”.
When the A Rod story broke last weekend, I couldn’t help but think of the comparison between athletes like my husband and his friends, and ‘elite’ athletes like A Rod. While I applaud A-Rod for coming clean now, we must remember that he did turn to “the juice” and did lie about it for a long while. He’s only coming clean now because he got caught. We could make a strong case that if Michael Phelps is to be punished so strongly for his actions, so, too, should A Rod.
It’s truly amazing to me how many of those guys with dream contracts just toss it all away “for an edge” and because of “pressure” from the money, as A Rod explained. Or, toss it all away by not thinking, as Michael Phelps may have inadvertently. BTW, if there are any doubters out there about the power of “the juice” and how it destroys lives, go see The Wrestler. You’ll have no doubt by the movie’s end.
What divides elite athletes from all others is money - the gigantic salaries and sponsorship deals that some get and most others do not. There are some elite, high salaried athletes who try to do good with their fame and fortune (like Tom Brady and David Ortiz, to name a few) but those few are sadly overshadowed by the many who do not and just selfishly squander their fortune, overspend, ask for more…and turn to drugs to get an edge.
The sports world is spiralling out of control. To grab honor back on all levels, we have to clean up the top and give the right messages to the youth. Salaries have to return to a more reasonable level, especially given our current economic times. A priority must be placed on team loyalty for all players, regardless of their salary level and star power, with stiff penalties for unsportsmanlike behavior and using illegal substances of any kind. And, ball parks have to become accessible again for fans, and not just VIPS who may become the next sponsor. Anyone tried recently to get a ticket at Fenway Park?
Don’t think for a second that the true sports heroes are the ones you hear about in the news:
- The true sports heroes are the kids who play because they love it.
- The true sports heroes are the grown-ups who are still playing sports and staying active because they love it and who recognize that team sports isn’t the be all, end all to fitness and sports.
- The true sports fans are the ones who cheer no matter what and go to each others games and take pride in what they see on the field: parents cheering for kids, kids cheering for parents, parents cheering for each other as they continue playing sports into their adult years.
How’s this for a new MasterCard ad for this summer: Tickets to Fenway Park: $$$$$. Fenway franks and water for a family of 4 at Fenway Park: $$$. New shirts for kids with their favorite Red Sox players: $$$. Watching Hercules’ dad break another summer softball record: priceless.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
Have a health issue you want to discuss or just a general issue regarding children? Register on Children's Health Blog now and get published within minutes. Before posting, it is recommended that you review our posting guidelines.
