Tonight, I watched a documentary about Jake Paul with my son, who thinks this dude is oh so cool.  He’s a YouTuber, a rapper, a wildman, a boxer, and one of the few and proud to have been kicked off the Disney Channel.   This evening, I’ll focus on the boxer – who now has a record of 10 – 1, with 6 coming through knockout.  Jake beat former UFC champions, Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley.  These would have been extremely impressive feats…20 to 25 years ago.  He is making millions beating up on geriatrics. 

Amazingly, Mr. Paul is slated to square off against Iron Mike Tyson this July.  Iron Mike has come a long way from his six-year sentence in prison for rape, biting Evander Holyfield’s ear off, talking about eating his children, and domestic violence allegations.  In one interview, he boasted of his favorite arrest, being the time, he drove a Ferrari through a glass window.  Now, as I watch videos of Mike – not looking 57, and listen to interviews that make him out to be something quite different than the Mike Tyson I saw on TV growing up, I think to myself, what the hell is going on?

Here is what is going on. A lot of money is going to be made in this fight and by a lot of people. A staggering number of people will be tuning in—just like when Conor McGregor hopped in the ring with Floyd Mayweather. McGregor didn’t belong in a ring with Floyd—just as Floyd knew better than to wrestle with McGregor. But we sprung for it—just to see if we’d be right.  Even at 57, nobody should want to fight Mike Tyson – particularly not anyone who really knows what’s going on in a boxing ring.  But to see him fight a dude, thirty years his younger – it’s like well...we just gotta watch.

We have two guys with wrists strengthened by handcuffs, both accused of all sorts of stuff.  In the documentary that we watched tonight – Jake Paul filled an empty swimming pool with furniture and lit it on fire.  Apparently, he got a lot of hits on social media for that – and things like this made him the kind of role model for our kids who won’t be making us proud.  It is hard to believe that the promoters found someone who makes one of the most out-of-control figures of our time out to be the good guy.  Will he go for his second ear?

It seems that role models are becoming harder and harder to come by. I mean, even the favorite athletes of the 1950s are now besmirched with stories of their off-the-field behavior. Most people kind of figured it out when Mickey Mantle went in for liver number two.  And in the book The Luckiest Man, there is even a part where Lou Gehrig is pretty upset after he finds his wife leaving Babe Ruth’s hotel room.  Did they really have to tell us that one?

We want our kids to have good role models. We will have to accept that the best role models they are going to get can be found in the modeling we provide them with.  I love that I leave for work while my son leaves for school.  I think his seeing me go off to work is really important.  And then when we go to the gym together.  It doesn’t matter to me what he picks to do when he’s there – but just that he is learning a healthy lifestyle…including our diets, as often as we can.  Our kids are watching us, and what we do and how we live greatly impacts them. 

Being a role model isn't about perfection; it's about demonstrating the values, ethics, and behaviors we hope to see in our children. In a world where influencers and celebrities often blur the lines between fame and infamy, it's crucial for parents to engage in conversations with their children about the difference between entertainment and real-life values. Discussing the actions and consequences of public figures like Jake Paul and Mike Tyson can serve as powerful teachable moments. These discussions can help children understand the complexities of human behavior and the importance of making choices that align with their values, rather than blindly idolizing figures for their fame or sensational actions.

Moreover, in an era where every moment can be broadcast to millions, accountability and personal responsibility become even more critical. By highlighting the consequences of good and bad actions, parents can guide their children to understand the impact of their decisions. This can foster a sense of integrity and character that starkly contrasts the often reckless and transient nature of celebrity culture. It's about instilling a moral compass that guides them not just in easy times but especially in challenging ones, empowering them to stand up for what is right and to learn from mistakes rather than to be defined by them.

Small, everyday actions are the foundation of being a positive influence and role model for our children. If you don’t want your kids to smoke – maybe you shouldn’t either.  If you chug nips all day long, don’t be surprised when you dig them out of your teen’s backpack.  If you are disrespectful to people on social media, don’t be surprised when your kids get tagged as bullies in school.  Things like this happen all the time.  There are so many studies about abused people who later live with abusive partners, too. Go figure.

Remind ourselves that being role models is how we treat others, our commitment to our responsibilities, our resilience in the face of adversity, and our dedication to living a life of purpose and meaning. As parents, teachers, and mentors, our most significant contribution to the next generation is to embody the qualities we wish to instill in them. Through our example, we can inspire our children to pursue their passions, commit to their goals with integrity and hard work, and lead lives that positively impact the world around them. By doing these things, we provide them with a compass that will guide them long after we're gone, ensuring that the legacy of good role models endures through the ages.