Too often in our society its easy to characterize people in generalities. Sports stars are pegged as jocks incapable of leading any other lifestyle than as an athlete. Therefore, after they retire, our thoughts go only as far as the highlights will allow. We don’t know how they will survive in the world that everyone else lives in. If they are a celebrated athlete, then they are assured jobs in organizations or memberships in exclusive boards and all that good stuff.
But for those who don’t receive the notoriety of fame and fortune, they are left to accept a meager pension (unless you’re talking football, where they receive an alarmingly small one for such a violent sport that has a history of its players dying much younger than they should).
Then there are those very few who CAN make it in the real world. Those who have showed that they have the necessary skills and intellect to survive. Athletes who never needed a shady “A” in some made up anthropology class to allow them to be eligible for athletics in the fall. There are those who are the true definition of the NCAA commercial of student athletes. Those who master in both the classroom and the stadium/court.
THEN, there is Myron Rolle. Never heard of him? Its ok. Few have. But let me tell you, you’re missing out on quite possibly the best story going in sports, forget about college sports. He’s in Mobile, Alabama this week for the Senior Bowl which is the annual showcase for Seniors hoping to generate some pre-draft buzz and show off their wears because for some reason they didn’t leave school after 2 or 3 years. They decided to take the entire four year tour of college and quite possibly get a degree.
But Myron Rolle is a special case. He’s not a senior. In fact, he needed special permission just to show up. Why? You see, after his junior season, instead of entering the NFL draft which quite possibly would’ve made him a 2nd rounder and guaranteed him millions of dollars, or going to his senior season, Myron decided to accept a Rhodes Scholarship. How difficult is it to get a Rhodes Scholarship? Very. in fact, since 1902 when the trust was established by Cecil Rhodes, there have been over 7,000 Rhodes Scholars. That’s an average of 60 a year. The only reason its been that high, is as the years have went by, they’ve added more and more countries available for inclusion.
The Rhodes scholarship is a completely free education at Oxford University, one of the greatest universities in the entire world. Its in Oxford, England and the prestige of the program allows its scholars to accept virtually any job they want following graduation. Myron got accepted for Medical Anthropology, and completed his graduate studies in just a year although to their credit, most Rhodes scholars do.
But let’s not just peg Myron as some geek. Remember he’s a football player and that’s why he’s in Mobile Alabama. Because in the end, while he wants to be a doctor, he also has a goal of becoming an NFL player which is what he’s pursuing now. He admits in interviews he’s done that it was difficult to train in England but with his renewed focus on doing both, he gave up opportunities to travel during the weekend, so he could do both his coursework and train.
Its not a complete shame that this week’s main storyline will be the legend of Tim Tebow as he tries to fight crime by night, save trees by day, draw everyone to Jesus with his powerful and inspirational life story (that last part was serious by the way, everything else was a joke, at least I think), but let’s not forget that there are some other amazing stories. That not all athletes are mindless goons out there simply with goals that might last them a few years of playing in the NFL. There are athletes who have legitemate NFL dreams that go further than that. They have goals that go beyond the riches and fame of playing on Sundays. That there are players who actually did study hard and did do well and are smart enough to enter our society and be successful there too.
Let’s take a time out to celebrate them too. For more information on Myron Rolle, his achievements, his playing career and other highlights including some of the charity work he’s getting involved in and organizations he’s started for several causes, please visit his personal website http://myronrolle.com/
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The Lazy Eye of Sports 
great stuff, would love to meet him and tebow and just pick their brains, both seem very solid.. and yes, you’re right, somehow, someway, rolle will wind up in new england.