Jon Jones is first and foremost a citizen of the United States of America. He’s an athlete second.
As an adult and responsible individual, athlete or not, he must obey the laws of his country and state. He should not drive under the influence of alcohol or any other prohibited drug.
Having committed that violation, he must pay as the law dictates—whatever his social status, popular athlete or otherwise.
And, like it or not, he remains a role model who should rectify his error and continue in fulfilling that role as a famous athlete. (I’m not going to jump off his bandwagon just yet—unless he chooses to drive it while…)
No one can be blamed for ascribing to Jones a role-model status, someone to be looked upon by just about everyone who follows him and his exploits. It’s a role that befits a popular athlete, and therefore any famous American citizen— regardless if Jones accepts it or not.
“Role model” has become an automatic label and expectation for a society seemingly desperate for at least a few guiding lights—especially to steer youth in the right direction (which is where?).
Buttressing this view, here’s a passage written by Drew A. Hyland from his book Philosophy of Sport:
The fact of the matter is that, particularly in our culture where athletics receive so much media coverage, top-level athletes are extremely charismatic. They will be imitated by young people…Therefore, whether they asked for it or not, athletes do have a social responsibility to conduct themselves as acceptable role models for youth.
Now is there any MMA fan who doubts that Jones willingly accepted the role of role model and all that entails?
Didn’t he ask us if Rashad Evans was the one we wanted to be our champion, implying instead of himself?
Wasn’t it shown on the official UFC video promo of their title fight how he asked if we prefer Evans, who does this and that “unwholesome” gesture, over him who is, er, more decent and admirable?
Well, now that he successfully remains the champ after beating Evans, his question is rendered moot and academic. He remains our champion, and it’s still a given that Jones has “a social responsibility” to conduct himself as an acceptable role model for our youth—even after the incident.
Still, let us not forget that the main responsibility in raising good children remains on our shoulders as parents, within our very own homes. It is not being done by any champion inside the Octagon or any athlete on the NBA hard court or NFL football field.
We are ultimately responsible.
But…given this article’s topic on parenthood, just how much of MMA’s fanbase from its 18-34 male demographic can actually relate to this? I guess that will be best answered by our embedded poll.
A note on the title and concept
The phrase “he ain’t raisin’ your kids” is absolutely unoriginal. I first heard it from Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Charles Barkley.
It was in the early 1990s, and I was a teenager watching for the first time Sir Charles’s Nike basketball shoes TV commercial, with a couple of men in a living room. It most likely aired during a break of an NBA game.
It showed Barkley declaring, “I am not a role model” repeatedly, in between clips of “The Round Mound of Rebound” displaying his basketball skills.
Each time Barkley uttered those words, the fathers in the room snidely remarked, “It’s true, it’s true.” They, like true NBA fans, were obviously aware of Barkley’s well-founded notoriety gained on and off the basketball court.
Then, nearing the end of the commercial, Barkley started to say, “Parents should be role models. Just because I can dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.”
The fathers fell silent.
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