http://are-athletes-obligated.org Do professional athletes have an obligation to give back to the community? Let’s toss that around. Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:44:09 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Posted by Mario Lemieux I agree with Jeff. Obligation probably isn’t the right word to use. I tend to believe that athletes should give back to their communities because their communities have given so much to them. I was blessed to be able to play and now own a franchise in ... http://are-athletes-obligated.org/2009/12/pittsburgh%e2%80%99s-mario-and-big-ben-add-their-thoughts-on-athlete-obligation/ Posted by Steve Nash I agree with Mia that sport and notoriety increase our capacity for impact. I’d take it one step further, though — it’s not that I think athletes are obligated to give back, I think people are obligated to give back. We do this because of personal experiences ... http://are-athletes-obligated.org/2009/12/steve-nash-agrees-with-mia-hamm/ Posted by Jeff Gordon Do professional athletes have an obligation to give back to the community? I think everyone has an obligation to use their gifts, resources and voice to positively impact the world around them and professional athletes are no exception. I do think "obligation" is a tricky word. To me "obligation" ... http://are-athletes-obligated.org/2009/12/jeff-gordon-drives-home-his-point-of-view/ Posted by Damian Buchman As a child growing up my hero was pro beach volleyball player, Sinjin Smith. I can remember watching him on TV and dreaming that one day I too would feel the glory of sand between my toes on a championship court. Little did I know that 3 ... http://are-athletes-obligated.org/2009/12/cancer-survivor-and-inspiration-acknowledges-athlete-hero-for-outreach/ Posted by Warrick Dunn Thanks for the challenge, Mia. I’m always up for a good debate. For me it’s really all about passion. If I can feel it then I can live it. A person doesn’t always have to give a lot of money or aim to have ... http://are-athletes-obligated.org/2009/12/warrick-dunn-responds-to-mia-hamm/ Posted by Mia Hamm When I think about my motivation to "Give Back", it is and has never been dressed in the colors of red, white, and blue. My philanthropic philosophy stems from the understanding that as a part of the human race, giving back is not so much a choice ... http://are-athletes-obligated.org/2009/11/mia-hamm-challenges-misty-may-morgan-pressel-warrick-and-julie-foudy/ Posted by Annika Sorenstam [caption id="attachment_79" align="alignleft" width="250" caption="Annika Sorenstam "][/caption] Growing up in a small town in Sweden I played all kinds of sports. I loved the competition, camaraderie, and travel that came with playing those sports. As I grew older and more focused on golf, I met so many people ... http://are-athletes-obligated.org/2009/11/annika-sorenstam-%e2%80%93-hall-of-fame-lpga-golfer/ Posted by Tony Hawk Not Skating Around The Issue: Pro skateboard legend, Tony Hawk, speaks out on whether or not athletes have an obligation to give back to the community. Your thoughts are welcome, too. Just continue the conversation below. Also check out comments on Twitter by following hashtag #Obligation. UPDATE: Jeritt ... http://are-athletes-obligated.org/2009/11/tony-hawk-drops-in-with-his-perspective/