How many of our children look to these thugs for role modeling?
I don't like the NBA for the way they've treated the great game of college basketball. And some of the shoe company marketing that goes with sport is ridiculous such as the Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony campaigns. But I wouldn't paint the whole NBA a league of thugs. There's some fine role models in there like David Robinson and A.C. Green in the recent past to Allan Houston and Dwight Howard right now.
My 12 year old son thinks basketball is THE ultimate sport and he is going to be a pro basketball case when he grows up. Although he will likely be 5'8" and 150 pounds with few skills.
One time I told him he would never be a pro sports player at anything and I saw his heart and mind break. I could see it like he told me straight up but in that split second I recovered and said unless you get good grades and go to college.
Nonetheless to him and his friends basketball players are the coolest people on the planet. The school had a dress code this year but due to lawsuits it will be dropped this week and he is the happiest camper on the face of the earth because he can now wear NBA jerseys to school.