Making Headlines For The Right Reasons

Everyone tip your hat to the Oakland Raider's Nnamdi Asomugha:

With the Raiders' offseason workouts over last week, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha has a month before training camp starts to focus on his other passion: helping people. Whether it's taking disadvantaged students on educational trips cross-country, raising money for orphans in Nigeria, or helping out pal Bill Clinton with his Global Initiative University, Asomugha has everybody covered.

"Since a young age, I have always wanted to help," he said. "Family and friends did it, and it rubbed off on me. It was infectious."

There will not only be some scratching, but clapping tonight. Asomugha, along with Tyrus Thomas of the Charlotte Bobcats in the "professional athlete" category, is among 15 recipients who will be honored in Washington D.C, with a Jefferson Award, known as the "Nobel Prize for public service." Past recipients of the 38-year-old award for community service and volunteerism include Gen. Colin Powell, television personality Oprah Winfrey and former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

In an offseason with several high profile NFL players getting into hot water in one way or another, its nice to see other guys being honored for their off the field service. Now if only we could get ESPN to lead with this instead of the other...