The relevant Raider – on and off the field
OK, so the Oakland Raiders generally do not inspire much positive discussion anywhere – least of all in the blogosphere. But one member of that organization should be much more well known despite the dreary performance of the team over the last 7 seasons.
Nnamdi Asomugha
If you don’t know the name Nnamdi Asomugha, feel free to blame the irrelevance of the organization and not this cornerback who could very well be the best in the game.
Opposing teams just don’t throw at him – period – leaving his stat lines generally lackluster while those in the know disregard the statistics and focus on his genuine impact on the field.
Speaking of genuine impact, Asomugha’s greatest contributions might actually come off the field. His philanthropic concerns and honors are plentiful. Those efforts recently earned him the honor of joining the 2010 Dream Team for Public Service.
And this CNN feature profiles Asomugha’s interest in helping talented and motivated inner-city kids move beyond their surroundings (in the case featured for the story, literally Skid Row) and on to a college education.
In the end, Nnamdi Asomugha may never taste the playoffs or escape the Black Hole that is the Oakland Raiders. But how great is it to see him giving back in ways that ultimately mean so much more?
