《Unit 5 Athletes新编大学英语第二版第四册课文翻译》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《Unit 5 Athletes新编大学英语第二版第四册课文翻译（12页珍藏版）》请在金锄头文库上搜索。
1、Unit 5 AthletesAthletes Should Be Role ModelsI love Charles Barkley like a brother, and except for the times when were hanging and pushing each other under the boards in games between my team, the Utah Jazz, and his, the Phoenix Suns, were great friends. We dont necessarily like the same things: Cha
2、rles loves golf so much he would play at halftime if he could, but I think a golf course is a waste of good pasture-land. One of the reasons we get along so well, though, is that we both say whats on our minds without worrying about what other people are going to thinkwhich means we disagree from ti
3、me to time. Heres an example of what I mean: I disagree with what Charles says in his Nike commercial, the one in which he insists, I am not a role model. Charles, you can deny being a role model all you want, but I dont think its your decision to make. We dont choose to be role models, we are chose
4、n. Our only choice is whether to be a good role model or a bad one. I dont think we can accept all the glory and the money that comes with being a famous athlete and not accept the responsibility of being a role model, of knowing that kids and even some adults are watching us and looking for us to s
5、et an example. I mean, why do we get endorsements in the first place? Because there are people who will follow our lead and buy a certain sneaker or cereal because we use it. I love being a role model, and I try to be a positive one. That doesnt mean I always succeed. Im no saint. I make mistakes, a
6、nd sometimes I do childish things. And I dont always wake up in a great, role-model mood. There are days when I dont want to pose for a picture with every fan I run into, when I dont feel like picking up babies and giving them hugs and kisses (no matter how cute they are), those are the days I just
7、try to avoid the public. But you dont have to be perfect to be a good role model and people shouldnt expect perfection. If I were deciding whether a basketball player was a positive role model, I would want to know: Does he influence peoples lives in a positive way away from the court? How much has
8、he given of himself, in time or in money, to help people who look up to him? Does he display the valueslike honesty and determinationthat are part of being a good person? I wouldnt ask whether he lives his life exactly the way I would live it or whether he handles every situation just the way I woul
9、d handle it. I do agree with Charles on one thing he says in his commercial: Just because I can dunk a basketball doesnt mean I should raise your kids. But sometimes parents need a little assistance. There are times when it helps for a mother and father to be able to say to their kids, Do you think
10、Karl Malone or Scottie Pippen or Charles Barkley or David Robinson would do that? To me, if someone uses my name in that way, its an honor. Sure, parents should be role models to their children. But lets face it, kids have lots of other role modelsteachers, movie stars, athletes, even other kids. As
11、 athletes, we cant take the place of parents, but we can help reinforce what they try to teach their kids. Parents just have to make sure they dont take it too far. Sometimes they put us on a pedestal that feels more like a tightropeso narrow that were bound to fall off eventually. This is not somet
12、hing Im especially proud of, but Ive had parents in Utah say things to me like, You know, Karl, in our family we worship the ground you walk on. In our house your picture is right up there on the wall beside Jesus Christ. Now, thats going too far. Is it any wonder some athletes dont want to be role
13、models? Who wants to be held up to that kind of impossibly high standard? Imagine someone putting a lifesized picture of you on a wall and saying things to your picture before they go to bed. Thats scary. Constantly being watched by the public can be hard to tolerate at times. I am sorry that Michae
14、l Jordan had to deal with the negative publicity he received about gambling. I dont think most people can imagine what its like to be watched that closely every minute of every day. I was told once that it wouldnt be that bad for me because no one would know me outside of Utah, but thats not true. E
15、ver since I played on the Dream Team in the Olympics, I cant go anywhere without being the center of attention, and thats very confining at times. For instance, there have been occasions when Ive felt like buying a big Harley-Davidson motorcycle and riding it down the street. First, the Jazz would h
16、ave a fit and say its too dangerous. Second, everyone would be watching to see if I wore a helmet, if I was obeying the speed limit, if I was taking turns safelyyou name it. The first time I didnt measure up to expectations, I would hear, What kind of example is that to set for other people who ride motorcycles? But the good things about being a role model outweigh the bad. Its a great feeling to think youre a small part o
