I know everyone says kids need role models, and people to look up to. And when they are aspiring athletes, who better to look up to then a pro athlete. But is that really what we should be letting our kids aspire to?

Sure I know there are athletes out there, that are great role models, Derek Jeter of the Yankees, Charles Woodson of the Packers. Both do a lot for charities, give back to their communities, make sure they make a positive difference. There are more, but those are the 2 that stand out to me immediately, when I think about athlete role models. They always know exactly what to say in interviews, are professional, hold them selves to a higher accountability because they understand kids look up to them.

The problem with athlete role models is that the majority don't care about their image or the fact kids look up to them. A great example of why athletes make bad role models is, Jayson Williams, Pac Man Jones, and many more but the list is to long. With Jones, he was a very gifted football player, natural abilities, and looked great on a football field. The problem was, he didn't clean up his life, and continued to hang out with the wrong crowd. He repeatedly got in trouble with the law, was involved in a shooting, that left a man paralyzed. Was suspended multiple times by the league and yet in his eyes, nothing was wrong. Is that who we really want kids looking up to?

And who could forget the whole Vick situation regarding his extra curricular activities with dog fighting. He saw nothing wrong with it at all, in fact took the money he made with sports to fund this fighting. There is no doubt he only confessed that he was wrong, so that he could get back into the league.

Even more so then the public screw ups with the law are the self entitled athletes, who care about nothing past making money. They act as if they love the game, and love the team, but what it comes down to is that they only want money. If they truly loved the game, and the team, then money wouldn't be an issue.

This has long been an issue with me, seeing athletes become so greedy that they put themselves before the team, and in doing so don't set the proper example for kids. Its no wonder alot of athletes from the 50's, 60's, and 70's hate where sports are heading now a days. Alot of people called it jealousy, since they didn't make anywhere near what they make now. And to be honest I thought they were jealous, but more and more I see they are just upset at the direction their sports are heading.

Growing up, I used to pray to be a pro Baseball player. I thought it would be great, traveling the country, playing a sport, having fans cheer me on, being a hero. Making money, having the girls follow me around, and being paid to play a sport. I am so happy that I am not a pro athlete with the way things are heading. So many become greedy once they become a pro and are signed by a pro team.

A great example is Hockey, they had a whole season cancelled because of greed, then they try to defend it saying they just want to be paid properly for their skills. Ok first of all, you play a SPORT! Something you grew up playing for free, in fact paying to play because you loved it, and still do. So why do you now feel the need to become greedy and only play for money.

The direction of pro sports scares me actually. I love watching Football on Sundays, and Baseball almost every single day during the spring and summer. But at this rate, athletes are becoming more and more greedy, and eventually at this rate, fans will give up on the sports, and the sports might become bankrupt.

I just wish athletes would understand that they are looked at by millions of kids aspiring to be them. They need to set an example for these future generations and not let them see the greed, and make them understand that being a pro athlete comes with much responsibility. I hope that one day players will understand, and become more responsible so they can all be considered role models.

Have the Bengals players and management had head exams anytime recently? I only ask because it seems as if they are about to make a huge mistake, one that could destroy what chemistry the team currently has. It has been made known that the Bengals and Owens have discussed a possible contract to bring him to Cincinnati. 

Originally the Bengals were smart and had passed on the chance to sign Owens back in March. But as he stayed a free agent, they looked at the opportunity again, and decided to rethink having him on the team.

The fact that Palmer, and Ochocinco have been begging for Owens I am sure also helped the team rethink this process. The problem is that its Owens, and we all know his past track record of destroying teams chemistry. So why would the Bengals, who already have a great receiving core want to sign Owens, an aging, slowing, receiver. Who by the way drops a ton of easily catchable balls in crucial situations.

Now it should be said that since Ochocinco and Owens are friends, it might not be as big of a problem. But its still Owens, and knowing his past, was it really worth taking such a huge risk for someone with diminished skills? The answer is NO!

Last year without Owens the Bengals had a great year. They have an amazing defense, and a great receiving core, that went 10-6 overall, and 6-0 in their division, last year. A team like that doesn't need an extra player to their team, what they need is to continue building team chemistry, and working towards having an even better year.

Guess we will find out if this experiment works, but seems like a bad idea. Of course, they could also be trying to get a reality TV show, I mean lets not forget that both Owens, and Ochocinco have reality TV shows. And now they might be playing for the same team, one thing leads to another, and you can imagine what you get.