Sports Editor Justin Kline says that professional athletes aren’t the only ones that kids can look up to.
While covering Plant City-area sports for almost four years, I’ve noticed that many programs like to preach the importance of character. Specifically, coaches tell their players the importance of being a good role model for others.
That may seem strange, at first, to a kid who’s spent his or her entire conscious life wanting to be the next LeBron James, Serena Williams or Aaron Rodgers. But I’ve seen firsthand that the coaches are right: sometimes, the athletes that we can all look up to are the ones who aren’t even old enough to vote.
I’m on the record as saying that we, as a society, shouldn’t expect pro athletes to be good role models as often as we do. I wrote that in a column that ran on Friday, Jan. 24, 2014, and I haven’t changed my stance on the subject at all. I don’t know how many kids read that and took it to heart, but I have talked to a lot of young athletes who were happy to tell me about their favorite college players, or even their high school teammates, that were a little older, but still reached out to help.
In my opinion, few people are more important to a kid’s athletic development than the peer that sets a great example.
That kid’s attitude could be the difference between someone leaving a sport after giving it a try, and
sticking with it long enough to improve, play well and earn a college scholarship offer. That kid’s attitude could be the difference between letting a losing streak define a season, and making the adjustments needed to get back in the “win” column.
That kid’s attitude could be the difference between someone getting into trouble off the field, and being influenced to make the right choices in life.
In the last two weeks, I’ve written about two high school athletes that are exceptional in their own ways. If I were a parent, I’d have no reservations about letting my kids learn from the experiences of Manny Ramirez and Aaliyah Battle, different as they may be.
I have nothing but respect for Ramirez, who has spent this school year making a great effort to get on the right path and make better choices in life. Getting into trouble doesn’t always make someone a bad person at their core, and it’s not always easy to let parts of one’s past go. I would say Ramirez makes a good example for kids in similar situations: his 2016-17 school year is what happens when you make a commitment to better yourself for the sake of your future.
Battle, who had never played organized sports until this year, has the perfect attitude to accomplish what she’s set out to do. When I talked to her, she was extremely upbeat and confident in herself, thanks to the progress she’s made in her quest to get healthy. Whether she sees a ton of action on the flag football field or not, Battle’s personal success — losing over 100 pounds and making the cut for two sports teams — is proof that kids can achieve just about anything they want if they’ll set their minds to it.
Sometimes, all they need is a role model they can relate to — someone just like them.
