Week in and week out, I have the privilege of writing a sports column for Gulf Coast Newspapers. Highlighting sporting events, personalities and just discussing the sporting world for others to read is truly an opportunity that I enjoy.

But from time to time, things happen in the world of sports that make me wonder what in the world is going on?

Often the question has been asked, “are pro athletes truly role models or is it strictly a job?”

Is it true? Do athletes and coaches at the highest level or sports have a responsibility to the youngsters who idolize them so?

Just this week there have been two issues that, in my opinion diminish what sports are supposed to be about.

First, former Williamson High School and LSU start, JaMarcus Russell was arrested in Mobile for possessing prescription codeine used to make a concoction called “purple drank.” According to police, the mixture of codeine syrup, soda and Jolly Ranchers candy, which originated in Houston, has become quite popular among professional athletes.

Other professional athletes have been arrested on charges dealing with codeine cough syrup and a beat writer for the Raiders claimed that Russell has had issues with the substance for quite some time.

Here is a guy who, locally, had many fans, was an icon in the Mobile, South Alabama area, who after a stellar career at LSU, was the No. 1 draft pick in the 2007 NFL draft. While his playing ability took a bit of a dive after moving to California, still, there were young athletes out there who were watching his every move. As it turns out, this could lead to the end of the career of a guy who could have easily led up and coming athletes in a very positive direction.

Then, on Thursday, LeBron James held an hour-long ESPN special for the simple reason of informing us which team he would play for next season.

To me, his selection was not as important as the fact that, for an hour, the whole sports world stopped to see where a guy, who, by the way, has never won an NBA championship, would play next year.

On a side note, there was speculation that during the show, Apple was going to run a commercial for the new iPhone ring tone in LeBron’s honor. Yeah, it always stays on vibrate because IT DOESN’T HAVE A RING!

Seriously though, what kind of message does this send to our young athletes? It often seems that sports, especially college sports, goes to great length to make sure that athletes do not draw attention to themselves, yet ESPN runs a one hour show to simply tell us where one player will be playing. You’ve got to be kidding.

This week, in Baldwin County, 125 teams in age groups of 10, 12 and 14 will play more that 250 games as part of the USSSA World Series.  Former University of Alabama standout Wallace Gilberry will lead a youth football camp Friday and Saturday at Robertsdale High School giving them instructions on how to be better football players.

All of these kids love sports.  All of them want to play. Each of them, somewhere inside, has a desire to make it to the top. And like it or not, all of them have their eyes on the likes of JaMarcus Russell and LeBron James.

We can only hope that somewhere along the way, a parent, maybe a teacher, hopefully a coach, will teach them that there is much more to being an athlete than what happens on the field.

-Hit ‘em straight

Dale Jones is a writer for The Islander and a member of the ASWA. reach him at djones@gulfcoastnewspapers.com