Thursday, June 18, 2009

A Positive Role Model

Parents around the country should be thanking their lucky stars for Larry Fitzgerald. Especially parents of kids who play sports. Among the ranks of the NFL's most cantankerous and Prima Donna-esque players, wide receivers, Larry Fitzgerald is like a breath of fresh air. Not only is he a fantastic wideout - anyone in America who watched this years' Super Bowl can recognize this fact - but he is truly a good person. In his years in the league (after being a first round draft pick in 2004), there has rarely been a negative news story about Larry Fitzgerald. He has never had true character or image problems - on the field or off. He got the huge contract he had been playing for early last year - with $30 million in guarantees. He's going to be co-gracing the cover of Madden 2010 this year. He was a hero of the Arizona Cardinals' post-season and has become one of the more recognizable NFL players in the country since.

Yet none of this has caused Larry Fitzgerald to join the likes of Terrell Owens, Randy Moss and Chad Ocho Cinco (yes, it's officially his name now - I'm not kidding). He hosts camps for kids in his home state of Minnesota. He's getting his own ice cream flavor to support breast cancer research.

I know that it's far more sensational to write stories about the negative and outrageous things that public figures do - but I think people who have such a positive influence and set such a gleaming example need to make the news as well.

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