“Just because I can dunk the ball doesn’t mean I can be a role model”: Charles Barkley sagely explains why NBA players and other athletes shouldn’t be role models for children

We’ve always known and trusted that Charles Barkley will give us his unfiltered version of the truth. That’s one of the admirable qualities he has.

Barkley has managed to retain his authenticity throughout the course of his public life. The Alabama-born 58-year-old has been through his trials and tribulations in life. His wisdom stems from this varied experience that he’s taken on over the course of his life.

The modern athlete has now been typecast into pretty much a traditional role, for one reason or the other. Barkley has successfully avoided that by carving a niche for himself with his unabashed personality.

What makes Chuck different from others who don’t believe in political correctness is that he holds himself to the same standards as everyone else. This reassures his fans and his audience that his concerns and words are genuine.

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Charles Barkley sagely explains why NBA players shouldn’t be role models for children

Charles Barkley was a guest on the Arsenio Hall show once at the peak of his powers. This was in early 1990, while he was still a member of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Chuck’s rise through the ranks of the league’s popularity scales had been rapid. He’d gone from a rotation player to a top-3 MVP contender alongside Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan.

He was also the center of a famous marketing campaign by Nike, titled ‘I am not a role model’. He explained why he believes in this motto for himself on this appearance:

“I don’t think athletes should be role models, I think that we’re very lucky and blessed. The only thing we do is that we have some god-given ability. Just because I can run and dunk the basketball they shouldn’t make me a role model.”

“I think parents should be role models and I think that’s one of the main problems. Parents aren’t taking a forceful enough role in raising their kids.”

“I’m still a human being, I’ll do something to the right and something to the wrong. But the main reason people make athletes role models is that they play a sport well, and that’s not good.”

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