Unit5Athletes新编大学英语第二版第四册课文翻译.doc

Unit 5 Athletes Athletes Should Be Role Models I love Charles Barkley like a brother, and except for the times when were hanging and pushing each other under the boards in games between my team, the Utah Jazz, and his, the Phoenix Suns, were great friends. We dont 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 whats on our minds without worrying about what other people are going to think—which means we disagree from time to time. Heres 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 dont think its your decision to make. We dont choose to be role models, we are chosen. Our only choice is whether to be a good role model or a bad one. I dont 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. I love being a role model, and I try to be a positive one. That doesnt mean I always succeed. Im no saint. I make mistakes, and sometimes I do childish things. And I dont always wake up in a great, role-model mood. There are days when I dont want to pose for a picture with every fan I run into, when I dont 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. But you dont have to be perfect to be a good role model and people shouldnt expect perfection. If I were deciding whether a basketball player was a positive role model,