Kenny Lally didn't get into boxing to be a role model.
Same goes for fellow Pan Am Games athletes Amanda Asay and Alyx Treasure. They didn't start their sports (baseball and high jumping respectively) so they could set good examples for an up-and-coming generation. But through their accomplishments - and more importantly through the way they have conducted themselves inside and outside of competition - all three of these Prince George products have put themselves in positions of positive influence.
Guaranteed, there are kids out there who want to be the next Lally, the next Asay, the next Treasure.
Some of these kids live right here in Prince George and watched the Pan Am Games on their computer or television screens. Or perhaps they read about the exploits of Lally, Asay and Treasure online or in the pages of their daily newspaper.
Other youngsters may have witnessed the Pan Am Games in person and saw the class with which the three P.G. members of Team Canada represented themselves and their country.
When Lally, Asay and Treasure were introduced to their sports as kids, they stuck with them for a simple reason - pure enjoyment. At that point in time, the name of the game was fun. Likely, there were no thoughts of national and international competitions, at least not right away. Those notions would only have popped into their heads as they grew in experience and ability.
It can be argued that becoming a role model is part of the evolution of an elite athlete. But, that's not necessarily the case.
Once at a certain level, a boxer or baseball player or high jumper is bound to attract attention and be thrust into the public eye. Once in the spotlight, things can go one of two ways: actions and behaviours can make the athlete an example of what not to be, or, conversely, they can serve as a model of proper conduct.
Lally, Asay and Treasure fall into the 'proper conduct' category. Through their own personalities and the influences of their mentors, they are having positive impacts on those around them - particularly on the young.
Lally, a Pan Am bronze-medalist, is the personification of sportsmanship and class. When his first opponent at the Games, Ecuador's Padilla Segundo, tried trash-talking him during pre-fight weigh-ins, he refused to be drawn in. Instead, he ignored the verbal jabs and let his physical punches do the talking in the ring. Lally advanced to face highly-skilled Cuban fighter Andy Cruz in the semifinals and was gracious in defeat. When asked about the loss, which came by unanimous decision, Lally praised Cruz and talked about how much he himself had learned from facing such a gifted opponent.
In Lally's case, the credit definitely belongs to him. However, longtime coach Bob Pegues also deserves kudos.
Said Lally: "I train a bunch of the young kids too and what my coach always taught me was, 'Be a champion in the ring and out of the ring.' And that's what I try to show these kids. Like when I lost that fight (to Cruz) I raised the guy's hand and was never disrespectful in interviews. You never stoop to that level."
As for Asay, she helped Canada's women's baseball team to Pan Am silver. Obviously, she was disappointed not to get gold in a final game against the United States but rather than dwell on that, she spoke about her overall experience at the Games and the opportunity she and her teammates had to put women's baseball on display.
"It was pretty incredible," Asay told Citizen sports reporter Andrea Johnson. "The fans at the field were fantastic and we had tons of support on all platforms. We had a great fan base at the field, at every game. I think we were able to put on a good show for women's baseball. At a high-profile event like this one, hopefully it got us out there."
Treasure, who placed seventh in women's high jump at the Games, showed her character before she even got to them. Prior to her departure for Toronto, she spent an evening at Masich Place Stadium - the place where she got her own start in the sport - talking with kids from the Prince George Track and Field Club and giving them bits of hard-earned, inspirational wisdom. Those kids soaked up Treasure's words and will remember them as they move forward in athletics - perhaps, for some of them, to the highest of levels.
And that's the ultimate beauty of Lally, Asay and Treasure making it to the Pan Am Games. Their appearances showed that hard work and the right attitude can carry a person a long way, whether in sports or in life in general.
Indeed, that's the stuff of role models.
