I think the problem with this situation is that athletes don't have a choice if they are a role model or not. They are paid to be a professional athlete and achieve success in whatever sport that may be. But i think the issue Charles Barkley is making is that it shouldn't matter what he does off the court because that's not his job. I think that if you are a good professional athlete a certain amount of kids are going to look up to you regardless of whether you want them to or not and that's why they should act accordingly. So to me its not really a choice whether they should be or shouldn't be looked at as role models because they are going to be viewed that way no matter what. The question should be whether or not that person should take on that responsibility and act like a good role model because he or she is in that situation.