Myron Rolle is a role model for his off-field pursuits.

He boarded a private jet chartered by FSU and cleared by the NCAA and headed to Maryland. He was given a police escort to the stadium and, after warming up, was able to come in on the final defensive set of downs in the first half.

Myron Rolle’s whirlwind day ended with FSU beating Maryland keeping their ACC hopes alive. While the win was important, the star of the game was Myron Rolle. He was even drenched with Power Aid (Noles don’t drink Gatorade) after the game.

On the same day that University of Florida’s head coach, Urban Meyer, said in a pre-game interview that he’d be disappointed if his team didn’t put sixty points up against 4-7 Citadel, it’s good to see a different side of college football. While FSU didn’t put up 70 points against Maryland, they had a story that is even more impressive; they can claim one of only a handful of Rhodes Scholar student athletes in history.

Congratulations to Myron Rolle for all he has been able to do both on and off the field.

It’s been a great two weeks and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I’ve watched more events then I can possibly remember — everything from fencing to track and field to badminton to handball. As evidenced by the number of world records set, the competition has been at the highest caliber of any Olympics in history. It really has been a joy to watch.

I can’t try to recount all the amazing feats that have been accomplished during the games: there was Michael Phelps and his eight golds, the sheer dominance of the Jamaican sprinters, the owning of the diving platform by the Chinese team, and just how awesome US beach volleyball is. It’s been a great Olympics and, while it’s going to be a long wait until the 2010 Winter Games, it’ll give me some time to catch up on all the sleep I’ve lost over the last two weeks.

Four safety pins. Just doesn't seem right.

I mean, they talk almost nightly about how much the technology has advanced since the last Olympic games. Swim suits are streamlined, running suits are designed to be aerodynamic, that crazy tape all the athletes are wearing just looks high tech, and the women’s beach volleyball bathing suits are… well I’m sure they serve a purpose. But for some reason the numbers are still pinned to these suits. In gymnastics it looks funny and in track I’m sure it can’t help the whole wind resistance thing. With all the advancement of technology for the games, there has to be a better solution is available.

What impresses me most, however, are the close victories. Of course there is the relay final where Jason Lezak made up a seemingly impossible distance, swam the fastest 100m relay split in history, and pulled a gold medal out of a hat for the US team. Then, while I was away this weekend, Michael Phelps won the 100m butterfly by a mind boggling .01 of a second. I’m sorry I missed this one live, but have seen it replayed enough to really enjoy it. Then Sports Illustrated posted an awesome frame-by-frame of Phelps’ final meter of the race. He literally won by a finger tip.

It’s pretty cool. Go world!

I happen to love the Olympics and all that they stand for. When they come around I can’t get enough of the various story lines, match ups, and all that awesome track and field. Some of these stories are already being set up: Michael Phelps is going for eight gold medals, the US basketball team is trying to win a gold for the first time since 2000, it’s the last year for baseball and softball competition, etc.

This year NBC is pulling out all the stops with over 3,600 hours of coverage which is more than all the prior Olympic coverage (in the US) combined! Granted, half that will be streaming video on NBC’s Olympic website, but the rest will be on TV split up among NBC’s wide range of networks. Regardless, there will be more than enough Olympic coverage for any sane person to enjoy.

At the time of this posting the Opening Ceremonies are being televised. The games are officially open. Medals are ready to be won. Go world!

Worker tries to jinx Yanks with buried Red Sox shirt via ESPN.

The last I checked perjury is a crime, and a pretty serious one at that. Sure it’s not murder or sexual assault, but lying to a judge or investigators is an illegal action. To ignore it would be a travesty of the legal system. And think about the message it sends. Yeah, don’t worry about telling the truth to the police, or anyone else for that matter because it really doesn’t matter.

Kornheiser tired to justify the athletes lying under oath as a means of protecting their reputation. Ok, that’s ridiculous. If they really care about their reputation they should check their ego at the door and do what Andy Pettitte did — tell the truth. Sure, people might be upset, but for the most part people will respect your honesty and move on with it. Then can lie to the media and say they never did steroids all they want to protect their reputation, but once they lie to investigators, or in front of Congress, well it’s a whole new ball game.

Sure, six months of jail time might seem a little excessive but there needs to be a consequence, even for athletes and celebrities who tend to live life as if they are above the law.

In 1997, just out of high school, the St. Louis Cardinals threw a $2.5 million signing bonus at Ankiel and placed him firmly into their minor league system. Ankiel immediately started turning heads and earned a Carolina League All-Star Game starting spot in 1998. The next year he was named Minor League Player of the Year by both Baseball America and US Today. Late in the 1999 season, Ankiel made his Major League debut against the Montreal Expos.

In Ankiel’s 2000 rookie season he threw 194 strikeouts in 30 games, posting an 11-7 record with a 3.50 ERA. All this as the second youngest player in the league at 20. He came in second in the Rookie of the Year voting. His impressive numbers and 97 MPH fastball landed Ankiel the starting spot in game one of the National League Division Series. Unfortunately the pressures of Ankiel’s short career were about to catch up to him.

Allowing four runs on two hits, walking four, and throwing five wild pitches, Ankiel was taken out of the game in the third inning. After the game Ankiel joked about being the first player since 1890 to throw five wild pitches in a single inning. Little did he know, Ankiel’s control problem wasn’t a joking matter. In game two of the National League Championship Series Ankiel was removed after only throwing 20 pitches, five of which sailed past the catcher nowhere near the plate. Ankiel made a relief appearance in game five where he saw four batters, two of which he walked. He gave up two more wild pitches that inning. The Cardinal’s ultimately lost the NLCS. The reason for Ankiel’s control problem was, and is still, a mystery.

In 2001, after just 24 innings that added 25 walks and five more wild pitches to his growing career number, Ankiel was sent back to the minor leagues. In just 4.1 innings for the Cardinal’s AAA team he walked 17 hitters, threw 12 more wild pitches, and racked up a Hefty 20.77 ERA. These astronomical numbers sent the once star prospect all the way down to the Rookie League where he split the season pitching and acting as a designated hitter.

Ankiel spent the next two seasons, 2002-2003, battling arm injuries which eventually led to Tommy John surgery. In 2004 Ankiel made a short return to the Major League where he only allowed one walk in ten innings of relief work.

In a practice session on March 9th, 2005 Ankiel’s mysterious control issues returned with a vengeance. Out of 20 pitches thrown, only three crossed the plate. After the short practice Ankiel announced he would retire as a pitcher. Though he would refuse to quit as a baseball player and would focus his attention on hitting and become an outfielder.

Critics were merciless. Most people felt the feat would be impossible and that the seemingly mental control issues were now causing Ankiel to have delusions of grander. Despite a slim opportunity of making the team, the Cardinals invited Ankiel to Spring Training in 2006. His ability impressed scouts, but Ankiel injured his knee and missed the season.

Ankiel still refused to quit and continued to condition and, in 2007, was again invited to Cardinals Spring Training. His performance earned him a spot on the AAA team as a starting outfielder. Through August 8th, 2007 Ankiel had racked up 32 home runs, 89 RBIs, a .267 average and a starting spot on the AAA All-Start Game in his first season as a position player. On August 9th Ankiel was called to return to the Major League team, this time as a starting outfielder. All the critics who said it was impossible, that it would never happen, were proved wrong.

In his first at bat, Ankiel received a well earned standing ovation. In the seventh inning Ankeil received another after hitting a three-run home run. The shot put him in the same category as Babe Ruth; both hit their first Major League home run as a pitcher and then hit the second later as a position pitcher. Two days later, in his second game as a Major League outfielder, Ankiel earned three more standing ovations after hitting two home runs and making one impressive catch. After the game, columnist Charles Krauthammer wrote:

His return after seven years — if only three days long — is the stuff of legend. Made even more perfect by the timing: Just two days after Barry Bonds sets a synthetic home run record in San Francisco, the Natural returns to St. Louis.

As of this posting Rick Ankeil is hitting .312 with four home runs — the fourth of which he hit earlier today — and seven RBIs. In his recent “Sunday Conversation” with Peter Gammons on ESPN Ankiel said he wouldn’t change his past were he able. His pitching career, though filled with struggles and injuries, have helped to shape the player and the man he is today. “Without the injury,” he said, “I wouldn’t have met my wife. … I wouldn’t change any of it.” Ankiel couldn’t be happier.

No matter what the future holds, or what may happen in his career, Rick Ankiel has earned the respect of the entire baseball nation for persevering and refusing to give up on a dream career in the Major Leagues. In the day of ridiculous contracts and lazy superstars, Rick Ankiel proved that no mater the odds, no matter what people say, a dream can be realized with a little determination and hard work. His story is one to be remembered for all time.