Issue date: 5/14/08 Section: Sports

Cameron Ross [Click to enlarge]

David Green [Click to enlarge]

Steve Nash
Cameron Ross

The best athlete who actually spent four years in college and graduated is NBA point guard Steve Nash.

In college, he became the all-time leader in assists at Santa Clara, where he also made three NCAA Tournament appearances.

His NBA career blossomed in 2000-01 when he became an All-Star and helped lead the Dallas Mavericks to the playoffs.

Nash continued to improve and was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player in 2005 and 2006. He is also a six-time All-Star and has been named to the All-NBA team five times.

The success he's had is genuine because he's been playing at a time when there are several dominant players at his position, yet he manages to come out on top.

In 2006, ESPN named him the ninth-best point guard of all-time and at his current age of 34, he still has a few years left to possibly win one or more NBA Championships, which would be an extra feather in his cap.

His strengths are his passing, three point shooting and free throws. Statistically, he is near the top of many lists in NBA history.

He has a career average of 14.3 points per game in the regular season and 17.3 points per game in the playoffs, showing his elevated play in pressure situations.

The only knock against Nash is that he has yet to win a championship.

Some critics say he doesn't play great defense, however, he has averaged nearly one steal per game throughout his career and can more than compensate with his offense.

He had a career high assists-per-game average of 11.6 during the 2006-07 season and has twice averaged more than 18 points in a season.



Peyton Manning
David Green

Everybody can tell that Peyton Manning graduated college before he entered the draft, in three years at that. His study of football like he is preparing for a test and accuracy on the field proves the case and how he breaks down the defense like a formula.

All nonsense aside Manning is a very smart individual, earning his degree at the University of Tennessee in Speech Communication. I believe that is why he keeps three audible on hand when he goes for the snap, and his players understand him so well.

He commands his team like one of the leaders of tomorrow, and you know what is going to get him their, that's right his degree. Speech Communication is basically public speaking and he probably developed faster in his Gatorade commercials and interviews because he was ready going in because of his degree.

See Manning was ready and mature for the limelight of the NFL, there are some that did not graduate that could have been great, but could not handle the pressure. For example Michael Vick, tremendous player (one of my favorites when playing for Virginia Tech), but did not graduate. Where is he now? Most likely doing a bid with this guy that keeps licking his lips at him named Bubba, but would have made the right decision if he only finished his career out in college and probably earned a couple more awards.

Another athlete was a running back named Laurence Phillips from Nebraska, another good school. Could have been a star, but settled for less, and the difference his, you got it, those degrees. Nobody knows where he is now.

This also makes Manning that much more of a role model for young athletes. I know when I have a kid and they are a star in college, I am going to tell them finish college, and earn your degree like Payton Manning. Not really, but I am going to tell them to finish college.

I truly do believe that for athletes that earn their degree will last longer in their league while they are playing, plus a desk job for the company. If Manning gets hurt, he has something to fall back on, his millions of dollars, and his degree.

The State Hornet Sports Department can be reached at sports@statehornet.com

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