Leafs' Bell to be reinstated today

[GoDogsGo]

Darren Dreger
10/2/2007 9:29:18 AM
Sources tell TSN Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mark Bell (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/player_bio.asp?player_id=1631) is expected to be reinstated today, ending his indefinite suspension after being placed into stage two of the NHL's substance abuse program last month.

Bell will now begin serving the additional 15 game suspension handed down by the National Hockey League and won't make his Maple Leafs debut until November 6th in Ottawa.

The suspension stems from a drunk driving incident in California last year. Bell will begin serving a six-month jail sentence at the end of the season.
In August, Bell pleaded no contest to drunk driving and hit and run charges and put into stage two of the NHL's substance abuse program.

The former member of the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks has been training with the Maple Leafs during the indefinite suspension.

[GoDogsGo]

what a great role model.... tool....

[WellandDogsFan]

everybody makes mistakes and he is paying for his. I hope he doesnt relapse. I wish him well.

Besides, atheletes shouldnt be role models to kids... we as parents should be. I know, I know, that is seldom the case. Truth be told, atheletes, celebs etc are horrible role models.

[GoDogsGo]

everybody makes mistakes and he is paying for his. I hope he doesnt relapse. I wish him well.

Besides, atheletes shouldnt be role models to kids... we as parents should be. I know, I know, that is seldom the case. Truth be told, atheletes, celebs etc are horrible role models.
good point... how about a role model to the rookies...and up and commers... i wish him well as well...but he knows/should know...better... sure errors in judgement happen... but when your in the spot light like most NHL/pro athletes... use your brain a little... look at Micheal Vick...enough said on that one....

[WellandDogsFan]

good point... how about a role model to the rookies...and up and commers... i wish him well as well...but he knows/should know...better... sure errors in judgement happen... but when your in the spot light like most NHL/pro athletes... use your brain a little... look at Micheal Vick...enough said on that one....
well said... Vick cant go away fast enough.
Atheletes have constantly proven that they are unworthy role models. For every good athelete that could be a good role model, there are dozens that arent.

[AlphaDog]

Yah that gets into a whole new philosophical question... should people who are celebrities (musicians/acters/athletes) be forced to watch their actions off-the-job because they're role models whether the want to be or not. Or should they be allowed to stay the same person they are, and be allowed to keep their privacy and just do the job they do, because they love doing it.

Personally I blame the media for reporting stuff off-the-ice, off-the-court, off the screen, etc... in the first place. But then again, I see both sides, because they wouldn't be reporting it if we didn't find it interesting. They only report the dark details because we all read them.

As far as role models go, if the child is young enough for a celebrity to have an impact on that child's life, then the child is ALSO young enough to be under parental influence. Of which, there isn't enough of anymore. Parents should keep an eye on who their children are idolizing and check out what kind of people they are. Many parents today are just too damn lazy or too busy to do with their kids, what our parents did with us.

So is Bell a role model? If he's a good hockey player, yes. Should he be? No. Does he have a choice? No. Does the media have a choice? Yes - they're the ones that make someone into a role model.

We could go on and on and on about this... but it's not going to change anything. It's just the way things are and we're stuck with it. THat's life.

[WellandDogsFan]

EXACTLY!!
You said it much more eloquently than I could have.

[GoDogsGo]

there are only a select few that are...or that havent been caught yet..LOL...
it's all about instilling simple basic values in kids...if a kid likes and idolizes a player cause he's good... all the power to him...cause the player influences the kid to play hard and be good at what he does...and this could be supported by the parents... however...if that player decides to umm lets say drink and drive and crack up his car against a few people on the road... then he made some poor choices and therefore he no longer is a role model for the kid...or is he...do parents decide who can be a role model for thier kid...hmmm... in a way yes...depends what age they are.

all in all... these guys that play pro...they are all people too... just like you and me and the other guy...they make a hell of alot more money doing what they love...
Can I be someones role model cause I can fix a computer or build a fence etc... sure I can...LOL....

they can role model through the sport...not their personal lives....