When I was younger, my great uncle would sing me a song that many older generations are quite familiar with. Randy Atcher was a singing cowboy that was on WHAS in Louisville for twenty years between 1951 and 1970. His message was simple and still comes to my mind frequently:

“Brush your teeth each morning, get lots of sleep at night. Mind your mommy and daddy ’cause they know what is right.”

Fast forward 40 years: 1. The best cycling athlete EVER cheated, then lied about it under oath, while simultaneously playing the role of cancer awareness advocate. 2. A Heisman candidate falls victim of an online hoax and the nation is left stunned, wondering what to believe in one of the most bizarre stories in my life-time. 3. A man that has 6 kids with 4 different women and murdered two people, will soak in the limelight as he prepares for his last game as one of the scariest linebackers of all-time. 4. A ‘family’ channel dedicates two hours of prime time programming to shows that explicitly condone lying in their title. 5. A college coach plans on remaining a college coach for one of the nation’s best programs; one week later he bolts for Philly with ZERO media retribution. 6. ZERO players were elected in the Pro Baseball Hall of Fame because the best players on the ballot all cheated. 7. All of this comes not long after one of the nation’s most respected institutions, systematically lied in order to keep their coaches from being prosecuted for child molestation charges.

As a member of society, I am scared for our future. We put these people on a pedestal, only to know their true identities in a media age that allows for zero secrets. I would hate to be the parent that has to answer their child’s question about any one of those seven bullets (I’m probably forgetting some too). It’s hard for me to even grasp what is now deemed ‘acceptable’ and makes me sick to think that these are people we once wished to emulate. I grew up in the midst of Lance’s run; it was cool to wear LiveStrong bands and watch him goof off at the ESPY’s after winning his 300th Tour de France. It was fun to watch and reminded me of Tiger Woods’ dominant run (look what happened to him). I didn’t care about any of Lance’s transgressions, until I watched his interview with Oprah and realized how shitty of a person Lance Armstrong is. We hold these people to a higher standard, something not too many athletes do anymore.

Nasty news stories make me want to give up on our athletes, but this weekend has kept me grounded. Not only were there two great NFL playoff games to watch, along with a UK dominating victory, but Saturday night in Hinkle Fieldhouse there was a little magic in the air. The passion of the fans erupted after Butler hit a shot to win as time expired over the #8 Gonzaga Bulldogs. You realize that not everything in sports is about money and fame; it’s about the athlete’s never-ending dedication to the game they love to play. The more positive we see, the better it is for our entire society.

Happy Inauguration/MLK Day! @RoushKSR