Sports in today's world have a major role in American culture. They are
             used to escape daily routine, as entertainment, as a part of a healthy
             lifestyle, and as a tool to teach fundamental teamwork. More importantly,
             however, the people who play sports on a state, national, or international
             level, are seen as role models to the youth and adult populations. While
             the influence of those role models can be extremely positive, there are
             also negative effects that can be equally detrimental.
             According to a 1999 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 88% of
             American kids ages 10 to 17 believe that athletes teach children good
             behaviors. The children rank athletes second only to parents and equally
             with their teachers as the people they admire and look up to. More than
             half of the 1,500 children surveyed, 54 %, reported that they strive to
             work harder at a sport because of an athlete they look up to (Kaiser,
             One question this brings about is whether or not the reasons we choose
             athletes as role models are valid. Many people hold unrealistic views of
             the athlete's traits that make them a role model, and have unnaturally high
             expectations for those role models. They are often perceived as obviously
             athletic, as well as good team players with good sportsmanship qualities.
             In addition, many perceive them as having strong family values, as generous
             with both their time and money, and as being co-operative and law-abiding
             Advertising promotes these idealistic views. Tennis shoe ads show
             professional athletes jumping higher and running faster, breakfast cereals
             hail athletes as modern heroes, and video games depict athletes that simply
             can't lose a game. This type of image depicts athletes that are not only
             perceived as talented, but also as champions in today's society (Baker,
             In some cases, the message its self can be misleading. Nike, for
             example, in the early 1...