Refreshing perspective

On the sanity front, I give you Myron Rolle, Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford.

Rolle is the former Florida State safety who decided accepting a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford, England, was a better move than jumping immediately to the meat-grinder known as the NFL.

Tebow is the quarterback of the national champion Florida Gators, who decided returning for his senior season a better move than jumping immediately to the meat-grinder known as the NFL.

Bradford is the quarterback of the Oklahoma Sooners — the team the Gators beat in the title game — who, too, decided professional smash-mouth could wait a few more months.

Explained Bradford, last season’s Heisman Trophy winner (Tebow won in 2007): "My three years here have probably been the best three years of my life, and I really feel there’s no need to cut this experience short.”

Here's to all three.

An Indian Obama?

I’m all for ethnic pride. And if Native Americans are proud to claim Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford as one of their own, they could do worse, inspiration-wise.

Bradford is accomplished on the field and off, sporting a 3.95 GPA to go along with 48 touchdown passes. He’s also a class act, as you might suspect from the following quote:

"God has blessed me with a great platform. If I can use that in a positive way and be a role model for younger kids, set a good example for them, I think it's a really good thing."

According to USA Today, Bradford is “four generations from the last full-blooded Native American in his family, and his suburban rearing came with little exposure to American Indian culture,” yet he is a registered Cherokee. As a result, he’s brought excitement and hope to Indian tribes of western Oklahoma specifically and to Native Americans generally.

"It opens everything up for us," said one Native American high-school football player. “Like Obama becoming President."

I don’t think I’d go that far — even understanding the importance of college football in America. Now, maybe if Bradford becomes an NFL star …

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/big12/2008-12-09-bradford-cover_N.htm