What is a Role Model?

as people grow up, get married, have children and watch their children have children, there are some things which never change from generation to generation. hair color, eye color, height, likes and dislikes, personalities. things which trickle down and remind you that there is a little bit of you within that person's makeup. reminders that your influence has been noted and is continuing to be carried out by someone else. one thing which rarely changes from generation to generation, especially when we are kids, is the fact that we all have a hero or someone in the limelight we look up to or want to be like.

when i was a tiny tyke my role model was the new york mets lead-off-hitter, centerfielder, #4, lenny dykstra. to me, he seemed to embody what it meant to be a team player and a true athlete. i also thought, even at a very young age, that he was pretty easy on the eyes. in my opinion, his only downfall was that he chewed tobacco. and then there was that pesky drinking problem. well, we all have our hangups.

some of my fondest memories as a kid was watching baseball games, no matter the team, with my grandfather. it was a guarantee that i would soon be transported back to the 1930s and 40s before all nine innings were played. my grandfather would always share his memories of playing stickball in the streets of manhattan and then on the polo grounds when he was older. of course, he was accomodated by his best friend (my great uncle) and a few other of 'the boys' as he often referred to them. the stories of him watching willie mays and babe ruth play were my favorite. true ballplayers who played sick, injured, in the daytime summer heat before stadiums began adding lights. that was baseball. before it became a business it was once a sport. a game with true physical strength. a game of heroes and role models.

within the past year, many allegations of different players using substances has come to the forefront. several players actually went before congress testifying that they did or did not use steroids to enhance their performance. rafael palmeiro, who failed a drug test this week, began his speech by saying 'i never used steroids. period.' and yesterday he is saying that he does not know how the drugs found their way into his body. let's see. did you possibly drink from the same cup of a teammate who does use? did you possibly walk pass a syringe containing the roids and a drop of it got onto your uniform? wait. i think i have the answer. i think your use has made you so incredibly stupid that you could rationalize yourself into thinking that the amercian public would never believe you do them if you say you don't, although you tested positive. don't insult my intelligence you a$$hole. or the players who came before you and were true athletes. you know, the players who could actually hit the ball out of the ballpark on their own.

i really think you need to take the time over your suspension and think about the message you are sending to the youth of today. i am old enough to realize what a jacka$$ you are. but these little kids who buy the merchandise carrying your name, who beg their parents to take them to the ballpark to see you in action, who find a way to stay up 5 more minutes on a schoolnight to watch you play on the tv. they are the ones you are hurting. sports and true athleticism is all about mental and physical strength. mental and physical strength that is not meant to be enhanced by illegal, damaging substances.

and let's not forget about going on tv, sitting before our government and lying. a former president did that and came close to being impeached. in my opinion, you got off easy with just a 10 day suspension. our current president, who claims to be a friend of yours, claims that he believes you and supports you. this is also an a$$hole who believes we have a right to be in the middle east when members of his own army are saying we need to get out. just crawl into a hole and hide now.

and although jose canseco is at fault for doing the same thing, i give him credit. he took his tiny balls and stood up and took fault for what he did. say what you want about him. that's a man. a possible role model. a man who realizes what he did wrong and acknowledges it. he's got more balls than all of those who are trying to hide and protect your reputations. a reputation which if you ask me is nothing but one big false misconception anyway. you listening mr. mcguire?

so, mr. palmero, make sure you keep the viagra handy since you are their spokesman. with the shrinking of your manhood, you're gonna need it. i think you should keep going. you're already a pu$$y in my book.