The Collegian should be embarrassed for printing Josh Daeche's column, "Today's athletes are poor models."

Daeche referred to today's athletes as being "far from anyone's heroes." I would like to ask him what he thinks about Alonzo Mourning and the foundation that he started for the disease that keeps Mourning out of basketball? Mourning matches all amounts donated on top of donating millions of dollars himself.

Or how about Shaquille O'Neal when he bought a million dollars' worth of toys and played Santa Claus in the harshest neighborhoods in Los Angeles?

These are only some of the dozens of stories of today's athletes.

Daeche also points out that 16 professional athletes have been arrested since Feb. 1. In that same time period, how many teachers, lawyers, doctors, or people of other professions have been arrested?

I'm sure you will realize it outnumbers the athletes by many.

Yes, Allen Iverson and some of the young stars have made mistakes, but who hasn't?

Do you remember there was a point in time when the greatest athlete had a gambling problem?

It still doesn't stop anyone from wanting their child to desire to have the success of Michael Jordan.

I will be glad for my son to look at Allen Iverson as a hero. He teaches persistence and humility.

Iverson, one of the smallest players in the NBA, came out of the ghetto, made mistakes, realized them, and has since become the most valuable player of the all-star game.

If my children learn that realizing their mistakes and changing their actions makes them stronger people, I will be ecstatic for the day they call Iverson their hero.

Please try to be aware of what you write next time before you accuse today's athletes of being "zeros."