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  In 1993 Charles Barkley made the declaration that sports figures should not be considered role models. He later validated these words by punching out several NBA players along with the occasional photographer. He may even have kicked a puppy or two. Mr. Barkley does have a point though: sports figures are generally not the best sort of people to hold up as somebody the younger generation should emulate. For example, if people held Charles up as somebody who their kids should try to mold themselves after, they would have surly children who bore a remarkable resemblance to Uncle Fester from the "Addams Family."



  Whether they like it or not, people who live in the public eye are role models by default. This is a truth that also applies to the sport of poker. A good example of this is Phil Hellmuth. For years he has treated the set in stone start times of various tournaments as loose suggestions. On his website he openly boasts about showing up at a tourney to play poker a full three hours late. Tanya Peck, who plays online under the name of "MissT74" has taken his actions to heart. On her blog she wrote the following, "Setting up a table image is key, right?? I love showing up late and it's the only thing I give credit to Phil Hellmuth for, although I don't know if I would be comfortable showing up an hour or more late."



  Phil can get away with this because he has the sort of talent most people would need to sell their immortal soul to obtain. The chips he loses in the hours he is not there to defend his blinds are a trivial matter for him. It is unlikely that Ms. Peck is playing the game at the same level as the Poker Brat, so the practice of showing up late will most likely hurt her in the end.



  Phil and his behavior is just one example. We doubt anyone would point at Brandi Hawbaker popping her top for a random camera and explain to their five year old daughter that this who they should try to be like.



  The wonderful part about poker is that anybody can become a star in the sport. The problem is that anybody can become a star in the sport. A lot of people who should not be role models suddenly find themselves in the center of a media driven three ring circus.



  It is not fair that somebody who is good at poker suddenly has to be aware of their public image. This is the burden that comes with success though. Hopefully we will not get to the point where young children are saying that they want to "be like Mike" and pointing at Mike Matusow instead of Michael Jordan. That would be disturbing on a number of levels.