On The Tunney Side of the Street #216, Feb.16, 2009 (www.JimTunney.com)

After Further Review … Two prominent sports stars are in the spotlight as I write this: Santonio Holmes and Michael Phelps - both for the wrong reasons. Holmes caught the winning touchdown pass with 35 seconds left in Super Bow XLIII that sealed the Pittsburgh Steelers
sixth Super Bowl title www.steelers.com as they defeated the Arizona Cardinals 27-23. www.azcardinals.com
http://www.nfl.com/players/santonioholmes/profile?id=HOL657297

Holmes’ catch was certainly a sensational ‘feet’ of athletiscm and he was rewarded by being named Super bowl XLIII MVP. Holmes has had his share of off-field problems, and during the 2008 season Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin deactivated him for one game. Holmes was arrested and charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana. Small amount? Sorta like being “a little bit pregnant.” http://www.nfl.com/players/santonioholmes/profile?id=HOL657297

Where was his focus and sense of loyalty to his T.E.A.M. during the season? BTW, that game for which Holmes was suspended, the Steelers lost to the New York Giants. The Giants, of course, had their own issues during the 2008 season with WR Plaxico Burress, who was arrested – and suspended – for shooting himself in the leg with a gun he was not licensed to carry. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaxico_Burress
What happened to “just do the right thing” as we say in my book, “It’s the Will, Not the Skill.”

Holmes says he’s “learned his lesson” and was given cogitative advice from teammate Hines Ward, who told Holmes (when he won the MVP) to “stay humble.” Holmes spent his time after the Super Bowl www.nfl.com superbowl/43 game with his 3 young kids watching a movie. Good for him!

Phelps, winner of 8 gold medals for the USA in the 2008 Olympics www.nbcolympics.com held in Beijing, was photographed inhaling from a marijuana pipe (bong) in November 2008 at a party. Phelps, who attributes his swimming prowess to his superior training and conditioning, obviously lost his focus on what got him to the pinnacle of success. http://www.michaelphelps.com/2004/english.html

Phelps www.michaelphelps.com appeared almost daily in the news apologizing for his “regrettable behavior,” which has now cost him the loss of sponsorships, as well as esteem. Further, the USA Swimming Committee www.usaswimming.org suspended him for 3 months. While it is admirable that Phelps is remorseful, the “role model” tag, as envisioned here, is the athlete who says “no way” and thus avoids situations like these in the first place. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/02/michael-phelp-2.html

Some have proclaimed both Holmes and Phelps as heroes for their athletic accomplishments. Heroes? Not in my book. Role models? Hopefully, only if their future behavior is unequivocal, and casts a positive influence on others.


Will your behavior reflect yourself as a role model, rather than focusing on sports “heroes”?


For more information about Jim Tunney, please visit his website: www.JimTunney.com, or if you would like to respond to this message, please send your email to Jim@JimTunney.com