Reverend Ref +

ROLE MODELS

There's been alot of controversy over role models for awhile. Who are role models? Parents? Presidents? Sports stars? Rock stars? The slim women/girls on magazine covers? Jesus? Osama? I could go on and on and on.

Ever since Charles Barkley said, "I'm not a role model," it seems there has been this "thing." The fact of the matter is that athletes are, for many people (children as well as adults), role models. We watch them on the court or on the field and imitate their actions and behaviors. As a high school football ref I saw this, and I can tell you that the National Federation (the governing body of high school sports) fights this battle to keep sportsmanship in the game.

Well, here's a player who IS a role model. Dominik Hasek has publicly stated that he doesn't deserve to be paid right now. Basically, his injury has kept him off the ice, and he says that he is paid to play, not sit. So until he can play, he's not collecting a check. (Granted, he can probably afford to not take a check, but that's another issue).

As the old saying goes, "It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game." It seems that integrity should play a big part on whether or not someone is a role model; and right now, Dominik is winning this game.

Peace