Athletes Should Be Role Models

英语自学网

　　Unit 7
        　　Athletes
        　　In-Class Reading
        　　Athletes Should Be Role Models
        　　Karl Malone
        　　1 I love Charles Barkley like a brother, and except for the times when we're banging and pushing each other under the boards in games between my team, the Utah Jazz, and his, the Phoenix Suns, we're great friends. We don't necessarily like the same things: Charles 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 what's on our minds without worrying about what other people are going to think-which means we disagree from time to time. Here's 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 don't think it's your decision to make. We don't choose to be role models, we are chosen. Our only choice is whether to be a good role model or a bad one.
        　　2 I don't 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 set 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.
        　　3 I love being a role model, and I try to be a positive one. That doesn't mean I always succeed. I'm no saint. I make mistakes, and sometimes I do childish things. And I don't always wake up in a great, role-model mood. There are days when I don't want to pose for a picture with every fan I run into, when I don't feel like picking up babies and giving them hugs and kisses (no matter how cute they are), those are the days I just try to avoid the public.
        　　4 But you don't have to be perfect to be a good role model, and people shouldn't expect perfection. If I were deciding whether a basketball player was a positive role model, I would want to know: Does he influence people's lives in a positive way away from the court? How much has he given of himself, in time or in money, to help people who look up to him? Does he display the values-like honesty and determination-that are part of being a good person? I wouldn't ask whether he lives his life exactly the way I would live it or whether he handles every situation just the way I would handle it.
        　　5 I do agree with Charles on one thing he says in his commercial: "Just because I can dunk a basketball doesn't 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 Karl Malone or Scottie Pippen or Charles Barkley or David Robinson would do that?" To me, if someone uses my name in that way, it's an honor. Sure, parents should be role models to their children. But let's face it, kids have lots of other role models-teachers, movie stars, athletes, even other kids. As athletes, we can't take the place of parents, but we can help reinforce what they try to teach their kids.
        　　6 Parents just have to make sure they don't take it too far. Sometimes they put us on a pedestal that feels more like a tightrope-so narrow that we're bound to fall off eventually. This is not something I'm especially proud of, but I've 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, that's going too far. Is it any wonder some athletes don't want to be role 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. That's scary.
        　　7 Constantly being watched by the public can be hard to tolerate at times. I am sorry that Michael Jordan had to deal with the negative publicity he received about gambling. I don't think most people can imagine what it's like to be watched that closely every minute of every day. I was told once that it wouldn't be that bad for me because no one would know me outside of Utah, but that's not true. Ever since I played on the Dream Team in the Olympics, I can't go anywhere without being the center of attention, and that's very confining at times. For instance, there have been occasions when I've felt like buying a big Harley-Davidson motorcycle and riding it down the street. First, the Jazz would have a fit and say it's 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 safely-you name it. The first time I didn't measure up to expectations, I would hear, "What kind of example is that to set for other people who ride motorcycles?"
        　　8 But the good things about being a role model outweigh the bad. It's a great feeling to think you're a small part of the reason that a kid decided to give school another try instead of dropping out or that a kid had the strength to walk away when someone offered him drugs. But one thing I would encourage parents to do is to remind their kids that no matter which athletes they look up to, there are no perfect human beings. That way, if the kid's heroes should make mistakes, it won't seem like the end of the world to them.
        　　9 I would never criticize someone for saying what he thinks. If Charles doesn't consider himself a role model, that's certainly his right. But I think he is a role model-and a good one, too. And if he gets that NBA championship ring, I might just make him my role model. (1090 words)
        　　Time taken: ______ minutes
        　　Proper Names
        　　Charles Barkley
        　　(男子名)查尔斯·巴克利
        　　David Robinson
        　　(男子名)戴维·鲁宾逊
        　　Dream Team
        　　梦之队
        　　Harley Davidson
        　　哈利·戴维森(著名摩托车品牌)
        　　Karl Marlone
        　　(男子名)卡尔·马龙
        　　Michael Jordan
        　　(男子名)迈克尔·乔丹
        　　NBA National Basketball Association
        　　国家篮球协会(美国)
            
            

entwo

        　　Nike
        　　耐克(美国体育用品公司)
        　　Scottie Pippen
        　　(男子名)司科特·皮蓬
        　　the Utah Jazz
        　　犹他爵士队(篮球队名)
        　　the Phoenix Suns
        　　菲尼克斯太阳队(篮球队名)
        　　Utah
        　　(地名)犹他州(美国州名)
        　　Phoenix
        　　(地名)菲尼克斯(美国亚利桑那州首府)
        　　New Words
        　　dunk
        　　v. throw the ball downwards into the basket in basketball 扣篮
        　　endorsement
        　　n. a recommendation of a product in an advertisement 产品广告
        　　gamble
        　　v. play a game for money or property 赌博
        　　e.g. For vacation, I went to Las Vegas to gamble.
        　　glory
        　　n.
        　　1) high fame and honor won by great achievement 光荣;荣誉
        　　e.g. The soldiers valued glory and honor above life itself.
        　　2) beautiful and splendid appearance 美丽，壮观，辉煌
        　　e.g. The bright moonlight showed the Taj Mahal (泰姬陵)in all its glory.
        　　halftime *
        　　n. the break between two halves of a sporting event, such as in basketball or football (比赛中上下半场间的)休息时间
        　　lifesize(d) *
        　　adj. (of a work of art) of the same size as what it represents (艺术作品)与真人(实物)一样大的
        　　e.g. The magazine printed a life-size(d) picture of a baby kitten.
        　　motorcycle *
        　　n. a two-wheeled motor vehicle 摩托车
        　　outweigh *
        　　v. be greater in weight, value or importance than (在重量、价值或重要性上)超过
        　　e.g. These chemicals are dangerous, but their benefits far outweigh any risk to the environment.
        　　pasture
        　　n. land covered with grass and similar plants, suitable for grazing animals 牧场，牧地
        　　e.g. The farmer's pasture was enclosed by a wooden fence.
        　　pedestal
        　　n. the base on which a statue or pillar stands (雕像、柱子等的)底座
        　　perfection
        　　n. the quality or state of being complete or correct in every way 完美，完善
        　　e.g. I ) I always hope for perfection in whatever I do.
        　　II) He worked hard at the perfection of his technique.
        　　phoenix
        　　n. an imaginary bird of ancient times, believed to live for 500 years and then burn itself and be born again from the ashes 凤凰，长生(不死)鸟
        　　publicity
        　　n.
        　　1) providing information in order to attract attention; advertising 宣传，宣扬
        　　e.g. The publicity for the book was poor and sales were low.
        　　2) public notice or attention 公众的注意，尽人皆知
        　　e.g. The film star's marriage got a lot of publicity.
        　　scary *
        　　adj. causing fear or alarm 令人害怕的
        　　e.g. The scary movie frightened the audience.
        　　tightrope *
        　　n. a rope or wire high above the ground on which tightrope walkers perform (供走索者表演用的)绷索，钢丝
        　　worship
        　　v.
        　　1) admire or love someone very much 崇拜，崇敬
        　　e.g. She loves her sons and they worship her.
        　　2) have or show a strong feeling of respect and admiration for God or a god 敬奉，信奉
        　　e.g. The Mayas built jungle pyramids to worship their gods.
        　　Phrases and Expressions
        　　drop out
        　　leave ... without finishing what was started 退学;退出
        　　e.g. I ) The boys dropped out of school and went to work.
        　　II) Several students dropped out of the course after three weeks.
        　　follow one's lead
        　　take somebody as the example 以某人为榜样
        　　e.g. There are several people like me who would follow your lead over anything else.
        　　give of oneself
        　　give your time and effort to help others 腾出时间和力量来帮助别人
        　　e.g. You should give of yourself when necessary.
        　　take ... too far, go too far
        　　behave in a way that is beyond reasonable limits 做得过火
        　　e.g. I ) He's taking that joke too far and becoming rude.
        　　II) Sometimes the press went too far and suffered accordingly.
        　　have a fit
        　　be very angry or shocked 大发脾气
        　　e.g. My father would have a fit if he found out about this.
        　　look up to
        　　respect and admire someone 尊敬
        　　e.g. You are a popular girl, Grace, and a lot of the younger ones look up to you.
        　　measure up to
        　　reach the required or expected standard; fulfil expectations 符合，达到
        　　e.g. His performance failed to measure up to his parents' expectations.
        　　put/place somebody on/upon a pedestal
        　　admire someone so much that you treat or talk about him as though he were perfect 把某人当偶像崇拜
        　　e.g. Since childhood, I put my parents on a pedestal and thought they could do nothing wrong.
        　　take the place of somebody
        　　replace 代替
        　　e.g. No one could take the place of her mother.
        　　you name it
        　　(used after or before a list) to indicate that a very wide range of things are being talked 凡你能说得出的
        　　e.g. I ) Clothes, furniture, books-you name it, they sell it!
        　　II) I also enjoy windsurfing, tennis, badminton, swimming, you name it.