Beyond the World of Sports from Warrick Dunn to Roger Federer

Athletes today are more then just athletes they are professionals in the spot light. How an athlete conducts themselves outside of their respective sports has an effect on how the public looks up to them.

One just has to look at the dog fighting ring that Michael Vick was involved in or the pictures of Michael Phelps smoking from a bong to see how badly ones public image can be stained.

One of the best ways for an athlete to be a true champion is not just defined by their success in their sport, but by what they do with their fame and fortune to make the world a better place.

Not something that is always discussed in the sports world, but is of great importance is the philanthropic efforts made by the great athletes of the world today.

In the past athletes didn’t always have a life of glamour, the money wasn’t great for the amount of time an athlete had to make their mark and as soon as the body broke down, that was it.

Today in most professional sports, athletes are getting tremendous salaries to do what they do best.

Athletes are making enough money in annual salaries and endorsements to the point that even two to three successful seasons in any professional sport could set an athlete up for life.

Athletes today are also being looked up to by the youth and the choices athletes make and the way they conduct themselves has an impact on impressionable minds, no doubt.

Showing a child who looks up to you that helping out in the community on the local, national and international levels has positive effects and can be gratuitous can do a lot for the future and well being of society.

We’ll start by looking at the NFL and United Way joint program.

This is a good starting point because the NFL and United Way have done a tremendous job at promoting the ideas of getting involved and volunteering to help out in the community.

Ask any football fan what they think of when they here the words The United Way and many will think of the commercials featuring NFL players who are helping out in their community.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?