What do elite athletes contribute to society?

When one lives "ONE'S" life...or

When one live "HIS" life...

I would put them in the category of entertainers. In rare cases they can inspire people to get off the couch and exercise. But for the most part they are entertainers.

Some said they contribute more than dishwashers. I say that is pretty elitist thinking---and this from a person who considers himself to be an elitist ass at times.

Watching an elite athlete perform his/her sport can be a break from one's life same as watching "The Office".

Shorter certainly aided a running boom but was his role in larger than someone like Jim Fixx? How do you quantify that? (I was pretty young in those days and did not start running until a few years later).

>>What do individuals think an elite athlete contributes to other people in society? What value does the elite athlete provide others? This is not a put down of elite athletes, as in my view there is tremendous value elite athletes contribute to others. My curiosity is in the thoughts of the “Let’s Run” individuals that make up this community.<<

I agree with PALN. Why are these people not getting the fact that elites, do their sport because, love of the sport, haven't any other skills, see monetary or educational opportunity or are hyper competitive, amongst other reasons.

No elite athlete wrists 1000 pucks a week, drives a 1000 balls a day, runs 100 miles a week or forehand volleys until carpal tunnel syndrome is on the horizon, to effect human change.

Now after monumental success creates fame and along with it responsibility to behave - because the media is irresponsible themselves - THEN the elite may serve a value to society, if he/she wants to.

Which doesn't take away from the fact that many American Football and basketball players cannot speak well enough in their native, bastardized version of English, to be understood outside of their family.

The mumbo can get so jumbled, that I swear the English speaking athlete's ENGLISH is poorer than those who speak it as a second language: Syntax for dummasses. Oh but then you need the will to read a tomb as such...

Or their public behavior reported by the media, includes but not limited to rape, murder, extortion, drug addiction, sodomy, organized crime, violence...on and on...

I take inspiration from the likes of humble and classy personalities, Steve Nash, Wayne Gretzky or say Pele.

Or the actual honest competitor John McEnroe.

James Carney recently spoke to high school kids about "the benefits of athletics, the places running can take you, and the people you meet". His sponsor, New Balance, donated "loads of equipment and miscellaneous product to the campers." Not bad!

http://www.carneyrunning.com/blog/post/show/id/26-Eastern-States-Cross-Country-

The same thing that ancient gladiators contributed to Roman Society.

Entertainment and an outlet for our digressions.

asgjjdf wrote:

Inspiration

Elite athletes do not inspire anybody because most people do not have the kind of freakish talent they have so cannot hope to achieve anything remotely close.

snakes on a plane! wrote:

Pamela Anderson's Left Nipple wrote:

Inspiration is such an esy answer, but it is wrong. The athlete does not inpire you; you are inspired by the athlete.

You just took the same phrase and put it in the passive voice. It means the same thing

Spot on