Posted on: Thursday, January 9, 2003

EDITORIAL
Agbayani a role model for aspiring athletes

Sports heroes come in many flavors. One of the best, from our perspective, is Boston Red Sox outfielder Benny Agbayani.

Now, Agbayani has done plenty on the field to warrant our admiration: Homegrown player who makes it to the Bigs; solid career batting average; hero of Game 3 for the New York Mets in their 2000 National League championship series against the San Francisco Giants. You get the picture.

But where Agbayani really shines at the moment is in his determination and drive to get his college degree from Hawai'i Pacific University, where he was a star before moving on to his pro career. In the decade since Agbayani began playing baseball for a living, he has found the time and energy to continue taking classes, on-line, by e-mail and in person, when he is home in the Islands.

This week he was awarded his degree. His determination and maturity will be an example to other aspiring young athletes.

Yes, sports are important and — if you're as good as Agbayani — they can be rewarding.

But there is more to life than sports. That education will continue paying back long after the spikes are hung up. Congratulations.