Footballers as positive role models?

The search is on for football's positive role model http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4326215.stm

Following the earlier discussions on education, and the need for positive role models, this may not be such a bad thing.

But, I'm less impressed when I note with possibly one exception, that their 'role model behaviour' only came after they became 'famous'. And in one case, the positive seems to be the reversal of a negative.

I'd be much more impressed if their biographies included a comittment to their education (note - I didn't say high achievement - just best effort!) or their involvement with a youth organisation - e.g. Scouts. That way they might make their fans see that their education is important, and that a worthwhile use of their time is valued more than hanging around local shops with their mates.

And once they achieve their goal (pun intended) of earning more in a week than most people do in a year, it would be good to see a little more philanthropy and a little less philandering.

The idea that a single celebrity role model is all it takes to turn things around is ignoring all the fantastic work done in the voluntary sector by the 'real' role models in our society. (Who, rather than getting paid, often end up out-of-pocket in the process instead.)

What a good post, I would have thought many modern footballers are anything but positive role models. (The following sarcasm is not directed at you btw )

Unless, of course, a few desultory runs round a training pitch and a maximum of 3 hours actually working a week does constitute a 'proper' job.

Of course during the course of the job, in the full view of the public, the necessary techniques of lying, cheating, swearing and unprovoked violence will be demonstrated - so that is good.

Then there is the demonstration of how one can get paid thousands of pounds for the priviledge of wearing someone elses trade mark, or logo - and the free car, Rolex etc etc. actually it is looking better than ever.

But above everything the confirmation that completely ignoring an education & being good at kicking, is a valid career choice for anyone, should be tremendously useful in restoring the self esteem of our poor downtrodden youth.

So yes, I think it should be a tremendous success - hopefully someone in another country will make some television sets, that we can watch when everybody has become a footballer.