I think Charles Barkely makes a good point parents should be and are the main role models in young childrens lives, but athletes are to and it will always be that way. It's the parents responsibility to act appropriately in front of their children and show them right from wrong. Athletes aren't necessarily looked at the same way. They are more looked at as sports heroes and little kids just idolize them by what they accomplish on the field or court. This is how athletes are looked at as role models of how they play, not what they do outside of that. Parents, the kids get to know them personally, that's why they should be the main role model. If young children were to meet an athlete many of them will try to avoid giving out autographs, so by meeting an athlete it might ruin what the kid thinks about that person showing that they aren't a good role model.