We Are All Role Models

Miguel Cabrera, the first baseman for the Detroit Tigers, has been arrested on a charge of drunk driving. This is the second incident in about a year and half which involves the slugger and alcohol. It also brings forth a myriad of questions.

Is he sick? What kind of help does he need? If he needs help and is willing to accept it, he should of course get it. Yet we must be careful about calling a problem with alcohol a disease. That kind of thinking can very easily be used to assert that he has no personality responsibility with regards to what he drinks. The man may need help, but he cannot be written a blank check on his actions either.

What should the Tigers do about the situation? Well, again, help him if he will take it. Some question whether he should be suspended from the team. That should not be ruled out. Like it or not, a star of Cabrera's caliber more than many other given individual owes something to the organization he represents, and to the fans. He is a role model and must be made aware of that. He is called to act better, and nothing less than that.

The fact is that we are all role models to one degree or another. Athletes, fairly or not (and we are wont to argue fairly) are held to higher standards, are judged by higher values than the majority of the people. They should be, because they are a form of hero, whether they want to be or not. It is difficult to imagine that that hero worship is not in truth sought by the modern athlete. as such, he cannot claim no obligation in return towards the ones who look up to them.

Hopefully Mr. Cabrera will work all that out, for his own good as much as the for the good of people who know and admire him. Perhaps this latest escapade will remind of him of who he really is, and help him to live to that standard more fully and completely.