Happy New Year and questions

[Progress]

Hello. Happy New Year.
I would like to ask native speakers of English the following things.

What is the role of professional athletes in modern society? Should they be role models for young people to admire, look up to and imitate, as the early Olympic athletes were? Or do they just have to be top athletes and play their sport well? There is a lot of controversy around these questions. Arthur Ashe, the great American tennis player who died in 1993, criticized the behavior of some of his fellow athletes. He said that many of them did not take their responsibilities as sports stars seriously, and, consequently, they were poor models for young people to follow.

…….
However, others believe that sports stars are just people, except for their outstanding skill in their sport.
.....
Children have different oppinions about this matter, just as adults do.

#1 I think that after the word were, “role models for young people to admire, look up to and imitate”[FONT='&#65325]　is omitted. Is it correct?[/font]

#2 I would like to ask the relation between “some of his fellow athletes” and “many of them.” What does them stand for? Is it “some of his fellow athletes” or “his fellow athletes?” I think it is “some of his fellow athletes.”

#3 About their sport, why is it singular? I think it is used to express each sport for each of them to do. Is it correct? And sports, plural, is OK to be used instead. Correct?

#4 Instead of except for, is it OK to use but for.? I have looked them up and both of them have a similar meaning. If but for cannot be applied, why?

#5 I think just as adults do means just as adults have different oppinions about this matter. Is it correct?

Thank you very much.

[Progress]

Please

[Anglika]

Originally Posted by Progress

Hello. Happy New Year.
I would like to ask native speakers of English the following things.

What is the role of professional athletes in modern society? Should they be role models for young people to admire, look up to and imitate, as the early Olympic athletes were? Or do they just have to be top athletes and play their sport well? There is a lot of controversy around these questions. Arthur Ashe, the great American tennis player who died in 1993, criticized the behavior of some of his fellow athletes. He said that many of them did not take their responsibilities as sports stars seriously, and, consequently, they were poor models for young people to follow.

…….
However, others believe that sports stars are just people, except for their outstanding skill in their sport.
.....
Children have different opinions about this matter, just as adults do.

#1 I think that after the word were, “role models for young people to admire, look up to and imitate”[FONT='&#65325]　is omitted. Is it correct?[/font] Yes and no - it is understood that the author means this. It refers back to the start of the sentence.

#2 I would like to ask the relation between “some of his fellow athletes” and “many of them.” What does them stand for? Is it “some of his fellow athletes” or “his fellow athletes?” I think it is “some of his fellow athletes.” Ashe is referring to some of the fellow athletes.

#3 About their sport, why is it singular? I think it is used to express each sport for each of them to do. Is it correct? And sports, plural, is OK to be used instead. Correct? Most sportsmen play/take part in a sport. There are very few who do more than one at a time.

#4 Instead of except for, is it OK to use but for.? I have looked them up and both of them have a similar meaning. If but for cannot be applied, why? "but for" could also be used here.

#5 I think just as adults do means just as adults have different opinions about this matter. Is it correct? Both adults and children have various opinions, which may or may not be the same as other people's opinions.

Thank you very much.

Happy New Year to you too!

[Progress]

THank you vey much Anglika. I admire your preciseness. Please keep teaching me.