Sports Professionals Who Are Giving Back, Not Shooting Up

Barry. Jose. Vick. Pacman. Marion. Landis. Clemens. Artest. Kobe.

The list of names could go on and on. Professional sports individuals who have tarnished the reputation of their leagues. They have cast a negative shadow on the NFL, MLB. Cycling, Olympics, NBA and other sports leagues.

I used to enjoy watching Sportscenter every evening for the thrills of victory and the agonies of defeat. Now steroids, felonies, assaults, cheating and corruption have muddled up my scores and stats. I'm disgusted.

Is anybody else tired of hearing about all the negativity surrounding sports?

I believe that it is time to start recognizing the professional individuals who are making a difference. Why should we allow several individuals to ruin our heroic fantasies and tarnish our idealistic views of professional sports athletes?

There are good, non-cheating, non-needle pushing, non-felonious athletes out there who are giving back to society while performing their individual skills that thrills sports fans across the board.

For example, in 2007, the Colorado Rockies stunned the baseball world by winning 14 of their final 15 games to advance into the playoffs. But it didn't just end there. They knocked off the Phillies and the Diamondbacks in two playoff sweeps to advance to the World Series. Although they were swept by the Boston Red Sox in the Fall Classic, the Rockies thrilling ride was the talk of the sports world.

Many sports fans heard about the run of the Rockies. But were they aware of the other feat the Rockies accomplished?

On July 22, 2007, Mike Coolbaugh, first base coach for the Tulsa Drillers, was struck in the neck by a line drive while standing in the first base coaching box. He died within an hour leaving behind his pregnant wife, Amanda, and two sons, Jacob and Joseph.

The Drillers are an affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.

On their way into the postseason, the Rockies players decided to donate one playoff share to Coolbaugh's wife. After Colorado ended their run into the World Series, Major League Baseball announced on November 26 that one playoff share was equal to $233, 505.18.

In essence, the Colorado Rockies donated over $200,000 dollars to Coolbaugh's immediate family. A feat that feels just as good, if not better, than making it to the World Series.

Although this saw little media coverage, it was an extraordinary example of athletes doing good. I would rather have my Sportscenter filled with donations like this than with another story of a fallen athlete.

There are so many more stories like this out there.

It is time to see the positive side of sports and the athletes who play them.