By Anthony Suntay

WHAT happens when athletes, who are sometimes revered as demigods, fall to the ground and their once immaculate records become tainted by their bad decisions or indiscretions?

This is the question being raised, after Alex Rodriguez came forward and admitted he took performance-enhancing drugs; and swimmer Michael Phelps was caught apparently taking marijuana using a bong.

We put these exceptional talents on a pedestal that we sometimes forget that they are also humans, prone to mistakes just like you and me.

Yes, some will argue that they are our role models and we have such high expectations of them since they are more talented than the rest, but that doesn’t protect them from making errors here and there.

Our parents and elders should be better role models because they come into direct contact with the young, but even they are prone to mistakes.

I have always believed that the best role models are those that are real, meaning they make the most of their God-given talents, but are also cognizant of the fact that they are not above everyone else. They will make mistakes here and there and the best they can do is to admit their mistakes and then move forward.

Rodriguez disclosed that he did take drugs during 2001 to 2003, and came clean immediately after that.

Several players before Rodriguez, and Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Mark McGwire come to mind, skirting the topic and denying endlessly about their drug issues.

“When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure, felt all the weight of the world on top of me to perform and perform at a high level every day. Back then, it was a different culture. It was very loose. I was young, I was stupid, I was naive and I wanted to prove to everyone that I was worth, you know, being one of the greatest players of all time. And I did take a banned substance. For that, I’m very sorry and deeply regretful. And although it was the culture back then in Major League Baseball overall, I’m just sorry. I’m sorry for that time, I’m sorry to my fans, I’m sorry to my fans in Texas. It wasn’t until then that I thought about substance of any kind, and since then I’ve proved to myself and to everyone that I don’t need any of that,” Rodriguez soberly said.

Phelps also admitted his mistake and apologized to his supporters.

“It’s something I am going to have to live with and something I’ll have to grow from,” Phelps explained. “I know with all of the mistakes I made, I learned from them and that is what I expect to do from this. By no means is it fun for me, by no means is it easy.”

He was suspended by USA Swimming and he made no complaints whatsoever, accepting the decision and saying he wants to immediately move on.

That is the only way to go, and these two athletes faced the challenge, and are ready to move on.

We are all humans. We all make mistakes. It is what makes people stronger.

These are the examples the youth should pick up and learn from.

Listen to Real Sports later today at 2:15 p.m. on Wave 89.1! Learn more about the plans of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines when their executive director Ed Picson visits the show today, and also get a chance to win a vacation at The Tides in Boracay. All you need to do is tune in!

Have a great weekend! God Bless!

E-mail me at realsports891@yahoo.com