DO IT THROUGH ATHLETICS
Are you as tired as I am of our politicians and others continuing to throw money at the many failed solutions to our racial and related problems? Please read on for a relatively simple, inexpensive and potentially profound solution to many of them.
Evidence abounds that role models play a hugely important part in shaping our young men of all colors. From their earliest formative years, boys need older men to emulate in all sorts of ways. Absence of a good role model or the presence of a bad one almost guarantees unsatisfactory outcomes.
What’s the answer? Simple. Use athletics in its broadest context — to produce role models who can do their part to solve a huge and heretofore insolvable problem inherent in male development.
Here are a few of the limitless numbers of things that could be done to “clean up” the role of athletics as a primary source of positive, effective male role models. All are applicable to some degree across the broad spectrum of athletics from Little League baseball, Pee Wee football etc., up to the teams and organizations associated with the highest levels of professional sports. That obviously includes both high school and college sports. All boys and men of all races are included as are the governing bodies of Major League baseball, National Football League, National Hockey League, National Basketball Association, colleges and universities, and the U.S. Olympic team.
Although I’m emphasizing the highest level of sports for brevity, remember there will be a huge trickle down effect to all lower levels of sports activity:
› Military standards for hair length, presence/absence of beards, tattoos, earrings and other visible body piercings would be mandatory. Since athletes at all levels are well compensated in some fashion, it is reasonable to expect compliance with expectations.
› No visible dancing, kneeling, jumping or other physical demonstrations unrelated to the sport’s activity or of an unsportsmanlike nature.
› Off the field, individual appearance that conforms to generally accepted societal standards for cleanliness, style and appropriateness. This includes out of the ordinary clothing, shoes and jewelry, and unusual approaches to attire such as baggy pants, huge shirts and hoodies on a hot day.
› Individual behavior off the field must also be an integral part of solving our dilemma. This must include drug and alcohol abuse, spousal abuse, children out of wedlock and all forms of criminal activity. Each of these warrant penalties, not wrist slaps, even if not imposed by applicable laws.
Conclusive list? Not hardly! Doable? You bet. With salaries into millions of dollars per year for athletes, the owners, league governing bodies, school administrators, et al, can unite and insist on working on the problem.
Current events are certainly providing ample evidence of the financial if not altruistic power of American society. It’s time for the owners, coaches at all levels, college and school district administrators, and families to take bold steps. It’s way past time to resolve these issues and help America’s young men once again become the greatest.
Dr. Michael Babbidge is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel. He lives in Chattanooga.