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Charles Barkley might have been right.
About 20 years ago, during his NBA career, he boldly and controversially announced that he should not be expected to be any kid's role model. He said being a role model was a parent's responsibility.
The outcry came fast and furious. I admit to being one of the critics. We perched atop our high horses and proclaimed that Barkley and other sports stars carried a certain responsibility. After all, it was the kids and their parents who put them in the position to be looked up to. And it was their money and adoration that kept them very well paid.
That all is still true. But, I think Barkley was making a very good point. Of course, Sir Charles never has been accused of being reticent. He makes a lot of controversial comments. But that doesn't make him wrong.
This all came back to mind with the problems of Tiger Woods. Woods, one of the most adored, recognizable and wealthy sports heroes of all time, stumbled mightily when he was caught cheating on his wife.
Woods, of course, was hounded by the media (we do that because you like to read about the fall of heroes).
The Woods affair (pun intended) makes Barkley's earlier statement even more interesting. Woods has done a lot for charity. Lots of it for kids. He has introduced an entire generation of minority kids to golf. But he screwed up. He admits that.
The point is, even sports stars and celebrities are human. They make mistakes. No one is perfect. And that is a lesson that needs to be taught to kids by their parents. It's not Tiger Woods' or Charles Barkley's job to teach our kids such things.
Do kids need good role models? Of course. A parent explaining to their kids that just because someone is a sports star or celebrity it doesn't make them any different from regular people and certainly doesn't make them immune from being human makes for a pretty good role mode.
I still think that stars such as Woods and Barkley carry a responsibility because of who they are. But as far as being a role model, maybe Charles Barkley was right all those years ago.
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