As Monday Night Football consumes the population and NBA players everywhere are training hard for their upcoming season, the NY Times is reporting on the desire of some professional athletes to return to the classroom.  The report details how some athletes are attempting to finish what they started as college students.  These athletes struggle to complete degrees by taking summer classes sandwiched between the pre-season training, regular season demands, and post-season events.  How admirable!  Finally some good news about professional athletes.  It seems that these men, who are paid an astronomical amount of money, tend to make poor decisions that ultimately lead to financial ruin.  These few who are continuing their education are helping to secure their futures.  And not only that.  They are being a great example to the thousand of young boys and girls who look to them as examples.  It is a noble thing to pursue an education when there are no demands for it in your profession.  The message that is being sent to the impressionable youth of this world is that 'your education is important, just as important as your passion,'  While physical fitness is certainly something to desire and strive for, how much more important is intellectual fitness?