AthletesShouldBeRoleModels.docx

1、AthletesShouldBeRoleModelsAthletes Should Be Role Models Karl Malone 1 I love Charles Barkley like a brother, and except for the times when were banging and pushing each other under the boards in games between my team, the Utah Jazz, and his, the Phoenix Suns, were great friends. We dont necessarily

2、 like the same things: Charles loves golf so much he would play at halftime if he could, but I think a golf course is a waste of good pasture-land. One of the reasons we get along so well, though, is that we both say whats on our minds without worrying about what other people are going to think-whic

3、h means we disagree from time to time. Heres an example of what I mean: I disagree with what Charles says in his Nike commercial, the one in which he insists, I am not a role model. Charles, you can deny being a role model all you want/as much as you want, but I dont think its your decision to make.

4、 We dont choose to be role models, we are chosen. Our only choice is whether to be a good role model or a bad one. Not necessarily不一定Great minds think alike. 1）The reason (why)is that Eg. The reason their cars sold so well was that they had a brilliant marketing strategy. 2）have reason for sth/ dong

5、 stheg. 我有充分的理由不相信你的话。2 I dont think we can accept all the glory and the money that comes with being a famous athlete and not accept the responsibility of being a role model, of knowing that kids and even some adults are watching us and looking for us to set an example. I mean, why do we get endorse

6、ments in the first place? Because there are people who will follow our lead and buy a certain sneaker or cereal because we use it. 3 I love being a role model, and I try to be a positive one. That doesnt mean I always succeed. Im no saint. I make mistakes, and sometimes I do childish things. And I d

7、ont always wake up in a great, role-model mood. There are days when I dont want to pose for a picture with every fan I run into, when I dont feel like picking up babies and giving them hugs and kisses (no matter how cute they are), those are the days I just try to avoid the public. There are days (t

8、ime) when有时Eg. In a love relationship there are times when I am bored, when I may feel like giving up, and when I feel I cant move forward.Feel like doing sth 1)感觉好像 2）喜欢做某事4 But you dont have to be perfect to be a good role model, and people shouldnt expect perfection. If I were deciding whether a

9、basketball player was a positive role model, I would want to know: Does he influence peoples lives in a positive way away from the court? How much has he given of himself, in time or in money, to help people who look up to him? Does he display the values-like honesty and determination-that are part

10、of being a good person? I wouldnt ask whether he lives his life exactly the way I would live it or whether he handles every situation just the way I would handle it. Give of 献出来帮助Eg. 她愿意用自己部分的业余时间来给那些农民工的孩子上课。Migrant workers5 I do agree with Charles on one thing he says in his commercial: Just becau

11、se I can dunk a basketball doesnt mean I should raise your kids. But sometimes parents need a little assistance. There are times when it helps for a mother and father to be able to say to their kids, Do you think Karl Malone or Scottie Pippen or Charles Barkley or David Robinson would do that? To me

12、, if someone uses my name in that way, its an honor. Sure, parents should be role models to their children. But lets face it, kids have lots of other role models-teachers, movie stars, athletes, even other kids. As athletes, we cant take the place of parents, but we can help reinforce what they try

13、to teach their kids. 6 Parents just have to make sure they dont take it too far. Sometimes they put us on a pedestal that feels more like a tightrope-so narrow that we are bound to fall off eventually. This is not something Im especially proud of, but Ive had parents in Utah say things to me like, Y

14、ou know, Karl, in our family we worship the ground you walk on. In our house your picture is right up there on the wall beside Jesus Christ. Now, thats going too far. Is it any wonder/no wonder some athletes dont want to be role models? Who wants to be held up to that kind of impossibly high standar

15、d? Imagine someone putting a lifesized picture of you on a wall and saying things to your picture before they go to bed. Thats scary. 7 Constantly being watched by the public can be hard to tolerate at times. I am sorry that Michael Jordan had to deal with the negative publicity he received about ga

16、mbling. I dont think most people can imagine what its like to be watched that closely every minute of every day. I was told once that it wouldnt be that bad for me because no one would know me outside of Utah, but thats not true. Ever since I played on the Dream Team in the Olympics, I cant go anywh

17、ere without being the center of attention, and thats very confining at times. For instance, there have been occasions when Ive felt like buying a big Harley-Davidson motorcycle and riding it down the street. First, the Jazz would have a fit and say its too dangerous. Second, everyone would be watchi

18、ng to see if I wore a helmet, if I was obeying the speed limit, if I was taking turns safely-you name it. The first time I didnt measure up to expectations, I would hear, What kind of example is that to set for other people who ride motorcycles? Tolerate vt. Put up with/standEg. You have made such a

19、 serious mistake that could never be tolerated.Tolerant adj. tolerable adj.Publicity n.1) 公众注意 2）宣传推广Measure up to eg. It was tiring sometimes to try to measure up to her standard of perfection.8 But the good things about being a role model outweigh the bad. Its a great feeling to think youre a smal

20、l part of the reason that a kid decided to give school another try instead of dropping out or that a kid had the strength to walk away when someone offered him drugs. But one thing I would encourage parents to do is to remind their kids that no matter which athletes they look up to, there are no per

21、fect human beings. That way, if the kids heroes should make mistakes, it wont seem like the end of the world to them. 9 I would never criticize someone for saying what he thinks. If Charles doesnt consider himself a role model, thats certainly his right. But I think he is a role model-and a good one, too. And if he gets that NBA championship ring, I might just make him my role model. （注：可编辑下载，若有不当之处，请指正，谢谢!）