Roger Federer: role model for everyone

Who knows what the world would look like today if there had been cameras everywhere in the time of Jesus of Nazareth, the carpenter's son? The Resurrection filmed, unrelenting and perhaps even revealing it to be a macabre feat, worthy of being presented as a star attraction by Circus Roncalli? We prefer not to imagine this because we need Jesus as the anchor of our lives and also as a model for charity despite betrayal. A person for millions, someone who conveys hope and to whom we look up in this world that is once again completely out of control.

Role models, yes we need them. At any hour. Of course, the role can only be fulfilled by those who are in the public eye, that is, whose actions are repeatedly shown by cameras. The motto then is: maintain control. This means modesty. Self-control. Restraint and discipline too. The description “maintaining composure” also goes hand in hand with accountancy. The word comes from the Latin “continentia” and has long since become a foreign word, especially where not just one, but even a dozen cameras stage every movement. Scenes that make you shake your head The sports business, which could actually be a wonderful platform for generating role models, has become a reflection of our society. “Fair play” is what the English call human interaction with one another, even in a competitive situation. But the majority of us have long been experiencing the stark opposite. Coaches who rage on the sidelines and accompany every decision made by the referees against their team with gestures and verbal slips. They then race up and down like little, poisonous devils and view their coaching zone as a prison for their emotions. This seems disturbing and is anything but exemplary. Rather the opposite is the case. As a father, I would say: Son, look, you don't behave like that. Unfortunately, this influence continues on the pitch and results in brutal fouls that actually amount to intentional bodily harm.

Too rarely do athletes live up to their role as role models. © APA/afp / PAUL ELLIS

The fans in the stadium go wild, drool and drool and are actually happy when a player from the opposing team rolls around on the ground, contorted in pain. The so-called role models are later amazed at the emotional brutality that wafts from the stands onto the field in battle chants and later turns into aggression that can hardly be controlled. Then rueful talks are sought with the fan representatives in order to curb the excesses. A conversation with the players, including the trainers, would also be helpful. Zverev as a negative example Of course, sport thrives on emotions, on feelings that real life, with its often monotonous nature, does not offer. And to a certain extent you can accept a lot of things. But more and more a certain rawness and ruthlessness are becoming apparent. The opposite of Kontoance is today's reality. The German tennis player Alexander Zverev, full of anger and uncontrollably, attacked the referee's workplace after a decision by the referee that he did not agree with. Not once, no, several times.

Colleagues of his regularly destroy tennis rackets in front of millions of spectators by smashing them onto the court in anger, even at themselves. Penalties for this? Hardly worth mentioning for the actors, who all belong to the select circle of millionaires. There is a clear increase in disrespect. I also include Zverev's serve from below in the game against Jannik Sinner. It's only fair that he failed. A good sign that the fans don't put up with everything and sometimes reveal an unmistakable feeling for wrongdoing was the reaction from the stands in Monte Carlo. Zverev was booed even though he won. The sympathies belonged to Sinner, the inferior. The best German tennis player has suffered another setback on his way to becoming a role model. His image has long been seriously damaged. Becker is still an idol In contrast, many tennis fans are keeping their fingers crossed for veteran Boris Becker so that he doesn't have to go to prison despite being found guilty of delaying insolvency in London. The contradiction is easy to explain. Becker was an impeccable sportsman during his active career. He was the nation's darling. His business practices in no way diminish his success on the tennis court. We still look up to him in terms of sport. It is often suggested to us that a certain amount of malice and elbow grease is necessary in order to ultimately achieve great success. Then I refer to the Swiss Roger Federer to stay with tennis. He is a role model in every respect, even for those who should actually be role models.

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Roger Federer: role model for everyone

When looking for role models, our columnist Sigi Heinrich is no longer able to find them so easily. Rather, he recognizes an increasing brutalization of morals in sport and also notes that the misguided emotions emanating from the athletes can have a fatal impact on the fans.

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