May 8, 2008

I opened up my morning paper at the Broken Egg the other day. The headline in the sports section was all too familar, chronicling the troubles involving Bears running back Cedric Benson.

Are you kidding me? He got in trouble by being intoxicated on a boat.

I am getting so tired of reading these stories. I am getting fed up with some of these athletes. There are guys out there who feel they are invincible.

This mentality blows my mind.

There was the recent story about Josh Howard and his use of marijuana in the off-season. I guess he got to smoke early since the Mavericks were knocked out in round one by the Hornets. When do athletes understand this poem: that little eyes are watching, every little thing you do, and there are little boys and girls dreaming to be just like me and you.

I know there are some athletes that have said they don't want to be role models. Unfortunately youngsters look at the pro athlete and they idolize them. Believe me, there are plenty of great athletes with lots of class. Look at Peyton Manning, Derek Jeter, Grant Hill and David Robinson to name a few.

Unfortunately these days we read more and more about athletes who just don't get it. They feel they are above the law and they can get away with anything. It is a sad commentary and I am getting tired of it.

Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in December 1979. Send him a question for possible use on ESPNEWS.