I could not possibly begin to profess my love for sports entertainment, even with Microsoft Word's thesaurus (I've been trying). And, when I watch sports, I want to see the best possible players on the field/ice/pitch/court. It is more entertaining to see something as close to perfection as possible.

Yet, despite these preferences, I think conduct codes are important for professional sports. Naturally, I am referring to recent history in the NFL, when the Cincinnati Bengals resembled a penitentiary team (nine arrested) and a young Adam 'Pacman' Jones has been questioned 10 times by police for his alleged involvement in dubious activities. I would love to name others but, alas, it would take the entire Opinions section.

I am not saying this is new, nor am I saying professional sports players are more likely to commit or be involved in crimes (despite the fact that I once received a forwarded e-mail that claims more U.S. congressmen have been convicted of crimes). It is their public status with which I am concerned.

I also believe that as long as one keeps his or her professional life clean and free of mark, he or she should be allowed to do anything in his or her complete and separate personal life. That lands me square in a predicament.

Yet, as I said, their personal life must be complete and separate. Due to media scrutiny of any person in the public eye, newspaper columnist included, this is impossible for a professional sports player. His or her 'lives' will, and can, never be separated.

A person in the public eye has a responsibility to represent and uphold the reputation, not only of their colleagues, but also of their respective organization. If not, they can and should be fired, fined, suspended and impeached (sorry Bill, I still love you).

As NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell claimed when he handed a suspension to Jones and Cincinnati's Chris Henry earlier this week, "It is a privilege to represent the NFL, not a right." Well played, sir.

I am not even concerned with professional sports players being role models for children, but rather the blight the shady put on their fellow upstanding players (many of whom are very helpful in raising money for charities and awareness for other causes). It isn't the athlete's responsibility to be a role model for children, but rather it is those children's parents who need to be role models and help children make educated decisions about how they perceive these exceptional athletes.

Like I said, I love the game at its best, but at the same time there has always been a special place in my heart for players of high caliber on and off their respective playing surfaces. So I don't want to dwell on the negativities of it. We need someone who can we look up to, and not just athletically. Looking at the greatest sports heroes of the past, I can't think of one that wasn't a stand-up individual (I know someone will tell me different shortly). I believe, though, it was their off-field character that made them determined leaders and people and players who wouldn't accept anything but the best.

I could say the same for all those players who don't take the responsibility they owe their colleagues seriously: It is a selfish individual who believes him or herself to be above the law and lacks respect for others. And that type of player doesn't become the best.

Here are two men who live up to my opinion of real sports heroes.

Steve Yzerman (Detroit Red Wings 1983-2006; captain 1986-2006) was flawless, and I noticed in a big way. He goes down as my greatest hero ever, as a captain, leader and a man with heart. He is also arguably the best all-around hockey player ever. But he is retired now, so I needed a new sports hero.

His name is Roger Federer. Yes, his game is tennis -- the longtime game of the elitist -- but he is simply magnificent. He is the best in his sport, and possibly there is no one better at their own sport. But, he isn't just that. He is a man, albeit five weeks older than I am, who I can look up to. He speaks three languages and gives interviews after every exhilarating performance in each. He even has an arrogance on the court that can't be matched by any team-oriented athlete, yet his demeanor is one of love and respect for his fans and colleagues. It is his entertainment value that attracts new fans.

He isn't the Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods of tennis. They are the Roger Federers of basketball and golf, respectively.

These men are truly great on and off of the ice/court. I already forgot the name of that cornerback from the Titans, and a lot of other people will by the end of next season. Wasn't that the point?

Good decision, Mr. Goodell.