Drunk driving charges, steroid use, domestic disputes, and assault. These are just a few of the actions of professional athletes that have been making headlines nationwide lately. With the news of Indiana Pacers Jamaal Tinsley and Marquis Daniels surrendering to police after Wednesday’s victory over the Milwaukee Bucks for their roles in a February 6th bar fight, I’m wondering what leads professional athletes to behave so ridiculously. Is the pressure to measure up to their competitors too much? Do they not know what else to do with themselves other than act out of control now that they’ve made it into the pros?

I went to the Pacers game Wednesday night, but it’s hard to get excited and root on your team when you don’t really respect them as people. News of the infamous 2004 Pacers fight at Detroit even spread around the world - while I studied in Athens, many Greeks asked me about it when I told them I was from Indianapolis. It’s hard to be proud of your city when its highest profile citizens are making headlines for something far from winning games.

But beyond damaging what people like me think, what effect will these athletes have on children? Ask ten little boys what they want to be when they grow up and I bet that at least five of them will mention how they would love be to be a star in the NBA or a MLB pitcher. How many children do you see wearing their favorite athletes’ jerseys or begging their parents to get a new pair of shoes because of who’s endorsing them? Kids are like sponges—do we really want them to have criminals as role models?

Some pro athletes are standing up and saying that what their counterparts are doing is negatively impacting kids. Others realize how much of a responsibility they have and simply do what is expected of every citizen by obeying the law. What a crazy concept!

All pro athletes aren’t to blame. I’m sure most behave within the law, and many help their communities by donating to charities or mentoring kids. I think it’s about time to get some sportsmanship back into the game. Are you scared of what impact pro athletes are having on American kids?