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Do any kids really look up to footballers or other sportspeople as role models?

  • 09-07-2014 10:58am
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,928 ✭✭✭


    You know, you hear commentators and other daily mail-type journalists say this anytime anything somewhat distasteful happens on a football pitch... Do you think it's really a problem? Like, when I was 8 or 9 I think I was just too stupid to look up to anyone in a role model kinda way.. :rolleyes:


Comments

  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 18,184 ✭✭✭✭Lapin


    A kid down the road from me never finished his dinner.

    Last week his granny told him, eat up all your dinner or you'll never be a famous footballer like Luis Suarez.

    Since then little Jimmy eats everything put in front of him.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,290 ✭✭✭mickydoomsux


    I can't imagine why anyone would look up to a sportsperson unless they themselves were striving to become one.

    Otherwise you just getting all gushy over a grown man/woman that plays a game.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 43,028 ✭✭✭✭SEPT 23 1989


    Euro 88 Italia 90

    plenty of heroes to look up to at that time

    maybe kids are not so innocent now


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,861 ✭✭✭Irishcrx


    Not in Brazil anyway...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,750 ✭✭✭iDave


    Always thought the idea of sports people or any famous people being role models and someone young people look up to to be quite overblown.
    When I was a kid I didn't suddenly want to karate kick anyone who gave me abuse just because Cantona did.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,218 ✭✭✭Lucifer MorningStar


    My role model

    YNxcoNZ.jpg


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,290 ✭✭✭mickydoomsux


    Euro 88 Italia 90

    plenty of heroes to look up to at that time

    Sports people aren't "heroes".


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,737 ✭✭✭Tombo2001


    OK....

    A kid doesnt know what a role model is.

    Kids have heroes, and imaginary friends.

    Their heroes and imaginary friends - these can be Captain America, Cuchulainn, Dora the Explorer, Doc McStuffins, Bernard Brogan, Katie Taylor, Neymar Junior, Robin Van Persie.....

    Do kids copy what their heroes/ imaginary friends do?

    In short, yes they do.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,737 ✭✭✭Tombo2001


    I can't imagine why anyone would look up to a sportsperson unless they themselves were striving to become one.

    Otherwise you just getting all gushy over a grown man/woman that plays a game.


    Explain that to a five year old.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,792 ✭✭✭Gandalph


    Is that even a serious question? It doesn't have to be limited to their associated sport either, how many kids do you think look up to Usain Bolt but don't actually do Track and Field? A lot.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,792 ✭✭✭Gandalph


    Sports people aren't "heroes".

    Because they don't wear a cape? Plenty of heroes in the sporting world


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 18,184 ✭✭✭✭Lapin


    Sports people aren't "heroes".

    Young Jay Beatty may beg to differ.


    People are free to make their own definition of their 'heroes'.

    Not everyone is so narrow minded


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,290 ✭✭✭mickydoomsux


    Gandalph wrote: »
    Because they don't wear a cape? Plenty of heroes in the sporting world

    No, because they don't do anything heroic.

    They play a game.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,835 ✭✭✭✭cloud493


    I'm my own role model. I strive to be myself every day.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,128 ✭✭✭Staplor


    Kid A: "I'm being Messi"

    Kid B: "You can't be Messi, I'm Messi, you're Ronaldo"


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,982 ✭✭✭Caliden


    Staplor wrote: »
    Kid A: "I'm being Messi"

    Kid B: "You can't be Messi, I'm Messi, you're Ronaldo"

    Everyone wanted to be Cantona so what started as a football match ended up as a WWF fight as everyone went around drop kicking each other.

    Good times!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,792 ✭✭✭Gandalph


    No, because they don't do anything heroic.

    They play a game.

    Plenty goes on outside the game, get real.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,453 ✭✭✭Shenshen


    I can't say I ever did. But then again, when I was a kid I absolutely hated and detested sport of all kinds.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 627 ✭✭✭House of Blaze


    Sports people aren't "heroes".



    ;)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,792 ✭✭✭Gandalph



    The story also springs to mind of Alves sacrificing his career in order to donate a kidney to one of his ex team mates, but these sort of things don't get huge media coverage because neither of them banged each others Miss :L


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 18,184 ✭✭✭✭Lapin


    No, because they don't do anything heroic.

    They play a game.

    Again with the narrow minded ignorance.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,537 ✭✭✭Arthur Beesley


    What about Biggles?


  • Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 12,037 Mod ✭✭✭✭Say Your Number


    This is what former basketball player Charles Barkley thinks



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,537 ✭✭✭Arthur Beesley


    Gandalph wrote: »
    The story also springs to mind of Alves sacrificing his career in order to donate a kidney to one of his ex team mates, but these sort of things don't get huge media coverage because neither of them banged each others Miss :L

    And he ate that banana.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,068 ✭✭✭LoonyLovegood


    One of the kids I babysit idolises Messi, but for more than football. He likes him because he's gone through things and become successful. As long as it's not because they want to live their lifestyle without putting in work, there's no harm.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,719 ✭✭✭dundalkfc10


    CTYIgirl wrote: »
    One of the kids I babysit idolises Messi, but for more than football. He likes him because he's gone through things and become successful. As long as it's not because they want to live their lifestyle without putting in work, there's no harm.

    Grew up to a working class family, had a Growth Defect Disease which would cost thousands, Barcelona said if you sign for us we will pay for your treatment. Him and his Dad moved to Spain. Barcelona basically brought him up with a privileged lifestyle

    Messi has gone through **** all compared to hundreds of players.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,692 ✭✭✭✭castletownman


    Better role models than those rappers with their hoes, backward caps and jeans around their knees.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 81 ✭✭Gallowglass


    I was a big fan of Gianfranco Zola as a young fellow, however not many footballers nowadays are role models, sure even Frank Lampard has a sex tape online when he was pounding a woman on holiday in 2000.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,314 ✭✭✭caustic 1


    I don't think look up to them, I do think they admire and imitate their actions, for instance watching young people diving during a football game in order to get a free. Happens frequently in every soccer game round the country.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,894 ✭✭✭UCDVet


    I'm skeptical.

    I think people who dislike sports are flocking here to tell everyone how rational they are for not looking up to athletes who are just regular people who are good at some trivial activity. And I totally agree with them.

    But the thing is - we're the minority.

    Forget kids - ADULTS - imitate athletes and celebs. All the time. And it is stupid and irrational, but we do it. Look at how many adults are paying lots and lots of money to wear an 'authentic' replica jersey of their favourite player? What about all the sponsorship deals? Do you know why companies pay athletes millions of dollars? Because a pro athlete with their product results in billions of profit. Michael Jordan make Nike 'the brand' to have for nearly a decade. Lance Armstrong sent Trek sales soaring. Same deal with the celebs.

    Adults go crazy for that stuff. And they are supposed to be mature and rational. It seems hard to think that kids would be above it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,581 ✭✭✭✭kowloon


    Heroism is a term that gets applied VERY loosely. I don't think Hero is necessarily restricted to great warriors (think Achilles), I'd be fine with applying it to anyone who puts their neck out to save others or to take a strong moral stance at cost to themselves. Giving up a kidney and destroying your own promising career, I think that meets the requirements for a heroic act. Playing lots of football and getting really good at it under difficult circumstances for what is ultimately your own personal gain doesn't.

    Self sacrifice is a big part of it, getting a place on a team despite having a condition that made it more difficult is definitely a sign of determination but don't confuse it with some notion of the person doing it for the greater good.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,048 ✭✭✭Da Shins Kelly


    I'm sure there are plenty if kids who look up to footballers in the big footballing nations. I'm sure there is a whole generation of Argentinian kids who will be looking up to Lionel Messi as a hero of sorts or at least an inspiration. Same could probably be said of Brazil and Fat Ronaldo. Although the current Brazil team are probably young enough to have been inspired by Fat Ronaldo...Scratch that!


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