There was a time when all professional athletes were stars off the field, too. Those days are long gone.

Breaking the law, initiating fights and lying surround today’s athletes. And you may say, “Who cares, as long as they are performing on the field?” And if that’s all you care about, that’s fine – it’s your opinion.

But it’s not fine with me. And here’s why.

A major amount of sports’ viewership comes from children, who are easily amused and influenced by what they see Odell Beckham, Jr, or LeBron James do on television. When a young person sees a popular athlete do something, they’ll think it’s “hip” to do, and, naturally, they’ll want to emulate it. What 12-year-old doesn’t want to have a the swagger of Kobe Bryant?

Unfortunately, today’s sports are far more than just sports. It’s all the off-the-field drama, and the paraphernalia that it entices. A really good – or bad, for this matter – example is U.S. Olympic swimmer, Ryan Lochte. This summer, while every kid aged 5-to-18 was glued to the television during the Rio Olympics, they were also glued to their phones, tune into the drama surrounding Lochte. As most people know by now, Lochte lied while in Rio of being pulled over by Brazilian police and “robbed at gunpoint.” Lochte, later admitting to being drunk at the time, is serving a suspension from the U.S. swim team for the incident, and has lost out on millions of dollars in endorsement deals.

Think of the example that sets for the children watching! Who knows if a 6-year-old hearing about the incident will do the same when he’s grown-up and had a few drinks, and remember Lochte doing it, and thinking it’s “cool” to do?

I’ve got another, more serious, example for you: Aaron Hernandez. Remember the New England Patriots’ star-turned-convict? Chances are, if you attended a Patriots game in 2011, you saw many children decked out in “Aaron Hernandez #81” jerseys littering the stands of Gillette Stadium. But, sooner rather than later, those same kids were watching Hernandez get sentenced to life for counts of gang-related murder.

Think of all the little Hernandez admirers who, unfortunately, may think that murdering isn’t a bad thing, because star N.F.L. tight-end Aaron Hernandez does it.

Speaking of the N.F.L. …

Football is the country’s most-watched sport by nearly 1-million viewers per-game on average. But it’s also the sport with the most street thugs who are the polar-opposite of a role-model. And there are examples of such that occur on the field – on a daily basis.

What is a kid admirer supposed to think when he sees Odell Beckham, Jr exchange punches with Josh Norman on the field, during play? Does that mean the next time young Jimmy, 12, gets discouraged when playing pick-up football with his friends at the high school field, he will throw punches as his friend? I won’t lie; if I saw a star football player take swings at his competition, I’d probably be tempted to do the same.

Oh wait, I did see that happen – many times. Thank god I have control over my emotions.

Even though football may provide the most glaring examples of athletes setting poor examples for the youngsters who admire them, professional basketball players are more prime culprits.

I’ll give you a great example.

I’m pretty positive the whole country – no, the whole universe – knows who Stephen Curry is. And I’ll admit, he’s nearly model citizen away from the hardwood. But his arrogant, obnoxious attitude and sense of self-entitlement on the court leaves me shaking my head.

I’m one who watches a lot of high school basketball. In doing so, I’m also watching a lot of young men who taunt, act arrogant and ungrateful, and blatantly disrespect their opponents.

Where do you think they got that attitude from?

Want another basketball example? Trust me, there’s many. Oh, how about the time former Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards point-guard Gilbert Arenas brought a gun to the stadium. What exactly was he planning on doing with that weapon? I doubt he was using his second amendment right.

And what kind of message, exactly, does bringing a gun to the stadium set for all the kids admiring you?

Now, the sad thing is that it’s very easy for these athletes to instantly become good role-models. Instead of taunting, try acting like you’ve been there before and act like a professional. Instead of going to the clubs late at night, go to sleep and get ready for your game tomorrow -- it helps a lot, too! How about instead of trying to look cool displaying how you’re “above the law” because you’re an athlete, try speaking out against the actions your peers are doing. Doesn’t seem that hard, does it?

Whether it’s blatantly lying, fighting, taunting, hurting or utilizing weapons, today’s athletes’ actions are not those of role models – they are those of criminals. So I don’t know about you, but I’m appalled by the examples today’s athletes are setting for the children looking up to them.