Professional athletes are often viewed as money hungry leaches who want more than their fair share for doing something fun.

Thursday, June 21, 2001

Professional athletes are often viewed as money hungry leaches who want more than their fair share for doing something fun.

When Alex Rodriguez signed a 10-year, $250-million contract with the Texas Rangers this past winter, many people were baffled. What on earth will he do with all of that money?

One ex-athlete has proved there are still some good guys out there. Former Cincinnati Bengal quarterback Boomer Esiason chose to share some of his good fortune for a good cause. He has pledged $1 million to Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati to help hire a top scientist in pulmonary research.

Esiason’s son, Gunnar, was diagnosed in 1993 with cystic fibrosis, and the hospital has provided care to him in the past. Esiason’s donation will pay for the Gunnar Esiason/Cincinnati Bell Research Chair in the Life Sciences, hiring another scientist to conduct basic research into cystic fibrosis.

Since the discovery of Gunnar’s disease, the Boomer Esiason Foundation has raised money to fight cystic fibrosis. Esiason and his family have also donated a lot of time volunteering for fund-raising events.

We salute Esiason for his unselfishness. Sure, he is doing it for his son, but many others are likely to benefit as well.

If more athletes would get involved in worthy causes such as this one instead of dickering for a contract worth a few million more so they can buy a couple more BMWs, many of the stereotypes they are branded with would disappear.