Sports fans have likely seen one of the latest Viagra ads already more than once.
An attractive woman in a football jersey gently tosses a ball while lounging in bed and earnestly confiding, “Watching football together is great, but I think women would agree that cuddling with their man after the game is nice too.”
The actress then goes on to discuss in detail what could happen after the huddle and cuddle with the help of Viagra.
Then, there are those Hardee’s commercials.
“There are definitely ads during sporting events that kids don’t need to see. If muting the commercial breaks isn’t enough, you can use DVR or Tivo to fast-forward through them. Obviously it’s more exciting to watch the big game live, so you can start just a few minutes late, which gives you a buffer to skip the commercials,” says Sierra Filucci, executive editor of parenting content for Common Sense Media. “You can also take the opportunity to talk about how companies market their products and what tricks they use to woo customers. Or use the time to get off the couch and toss or kick a ball around, maybe try to reenact the cool play you just saw!”
Even that strategy could backfire, though, if the last play involved one of the seemingly ubiquitous examples of unsportsmanlike conduct. Just this week Cincinnati cornerback Adam 'Pacman' Jones was fined $35,000 for ripping off Amari Cooper's helmet and pushing the Oakland receiver's head into it during one the NFL’s opening weekend games.
“Those heat-of-the-moment outbursts you’re bound to see can be a great opportunity to start a conversation. Explain to your kids why that behavior is not acceptable, and ask them what they would have done differently in the same situation,” Filucci says. “Also, explain that unsportsmanlike behavior isn’t good for the team and often results in penalties or consequences that could end up costing the game.”
And undesirable or illegal behavior off the field has cost some athletes much more, saddling them with a negative reputation or even ending a promising career. In one recent example, former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was convicted in April of murdering semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd. He was sentenced to life in prison for the June 2013 killing without the possibility of parole and is appealing the sentence.
But that’s an extreme example, and parents should keep in mind that sports can offer positive parables, too. For instance, the Seattle Seahawks encourage focus and fatherly advice over foul mouths and employ a trained psychologist to help players minimize distraction and be more in the moment.
“Although these [unsportsmanlike] displays may be somewhat common, there is some hope that change is coming. Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is promoting a new philosophy with his team that encourages a more mindful environment and frowns upon profanity,” Filucci says. “With some of the most popular players on the Seahawks, kids already look up to those athletes and will hopefully see them behaving well as cool.”
Indeed, there are plenty of examples from both the past and present of athletes who were stars on and off the field. Just look at the life of local legend Stan Musial or of Roberto Clemente, who died in a plane crash en route to Nicaragua to assist with earthquake relief. Today, Major League Baseball annually recognizes one player who best represents the game through positive contributions in all aspects of life, including sportsmanship and community involvement, with an award named for the Puerto Rican-born outfielder.
“For every bad example, there are athletes out there who are not only good sports, but use their celebrity in order to do good things,” says Filucci. “Go online together and do some research on those good role models, who are not only great athletes but good people as well.”
