Professional Athletes-Good Role Models?

"I AM NOT a role model! I'm a professional basketball player. I am paid to wreak havoc on the basketball court. Parents should be role models!" Carles Barkley uttered these words a few years back. It is not ever day that you see a high school or college student move on to become a professional in the sport they play. But have you ever wondered why? Some may say that students don't want to continue their sport career because they want to become something rather than, for example, a football or basketball player. Others may say it is because of the misconduct and the illegal activity the professional athletes perform today.

In my opinion, I believe that most young athletes do not want to become professionals because they see what the professional athletes go through no and they do not want to end up in the same position. This problem is not only controversial to the high school and college athletes, but also to the fans watching the professional athletes for entertainment. Someday, the professional athletes system will no longer exist because it will lost most of its high school players, college players, and their fans.

It seems as if athletes are signing their professional contracts and giving away more than a commitment to play for a professional team. They are surrendering their astute and common sense by being busted for acting unintelligently. Professional athletes are becoming worse role models over the years to, not only the people watching, but also to the high school and college athletes that want to be in the position of the professional athletes.

Where Do The Football Players Go From Here?

It has been a very long season for all of the football players at Whitmer High School. Even though some went through the season with minor and major injuries, Whitmer still finished the season as champions. Shane Brown, one of the Panther's linebackers, states "It sucks, you know, breaking your leg in the last game before playoffs; but all in all, I'm satisfied with the outcome of how I played this season." Ken Hayes, one of the Panther's defensive ends, and only a Junior, plans to attend Ohio State University in the Fall of 2011.

Each year, the coaches for the Panthers make their players fill out a form with all of their information on it and then they send them to the school that the player prefers. This gives the players, who have not yet been recruited, a chance to put their faces out there and possibly continue their football careers in college.

So far, there is no word on who else has picked a college to attend to play football. Hopefully, by December/January, recruitments will be known and word will be out on which players will be attending which college. Most of the football player say if they do not get recruited to a college, they will try walking onto a team; even if it means just watching for the first couple of years. Not only are all of the coaches proud of their players hard work and effort, but so are all of the fans that were in the stands watching and cheering on the Panthers every move.

Whitmer High School Hangs Up Their Playoff Coat

A playoff run was not in the cards for City League football champions Whitmer. Even though they were eighth-ranked and top seed in Region two, Canton McKinley would not let Whitmer have this game. Whitmer was at a disadvantage when they found out that two of their most valuable performers and team leaders would not be able to play in the playoffs.

Senior quarterback Joe Missler, who suffered a hip-pointer injury, managed to get one play in. Senior linebacker Shane Brown was not that lucky. In last weeks game against Start, Brown suffered from multiple leg fractures, ending his high school football career.

"It took away a big part of our game, but McKinley did what they needed to do to win. Wilder has speed, and he can cut on a dime. They have speed at almost every position, and they can take it the distance every time they touch the ball. For us, it just seemed like we misfired at the most inopportune times. Giving up the big play, or not finishing on offense," says Whitmer's head coach Joe Palka.

Senior Randall Kennedy completed 15 of 30 passes for 176 yards and a touchdown, plus he ran for 28 yards. Whitmer's touchdowns came from receiver Mike Pfaff on a 12 yard pass, 54 seconds before halftime and from running back Teryl Mershon on a 3 yard run with 4:51 left in the game.

Overall, Whitmer played a very good season. Canton McKinley defeated Whitmer 34-13. Whitmer is proud of what they accomplished this season and they are ready to come back and play twice as hard next season.

City Champions

Even though Whitmer went through some rough times this season, they took the city championship with a 9-1 record. In this past weeks game against Start, Whitmer gave Start a chance to take the lead 7-0 in the first half. One of Whitmer's strong linebackers, Shane Brown, was taken out within the first five minutes of the game, with a helment to his left calf. He broke both his tibia and fibia in half. Whitmer will miss their linebacker, but will be in high hopes for playoffs.

Randall Kennedy gained 130 yards in 17 carries and scored two touchdowns for the Panthers. Teryl Mershon contributed to the victory with a 12 yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Mershon gained a 34 yards in 10 carries. After the game, Coach Palka thanked not only his players for a good season, but also the parents, friends, and other fans for their support that helped the boys make it past every game.

This Friday's competition for the first playoff game for the Panthers is Canton McKinley. By winning the city title, Whitmer got the chance on having their first playoff game at their home field; the Whitmer Statium. Whitmer has confidence that their will make it past game one, onto their next competition.