So, I’ve been thinking with all of the garbage you hear about guys in professional sports who are baby-cries, idiots and cheaters, there definitely are some players that you can’t help but root for. No, I am not nominating these guys for sainthood, but I am saying that they have character, a strong work ethic and come to play everyday.

Tim Thomas: I like late bloomers and Boston Bruins’ goalie Tim Thomas certainly fits into that category.  Thomas, who is 34 years old, is in his fifth NHL season after spending much of his pro career in the minors or in Europe. In 2002- 2003, he played in four games for the Bruins. The next two years, the guy was in Europe. At 30 years old, he had all but given up on the idea that he might be a NHL goalie. It was right at that time that the Bruins offered him a contract. In 2006- 2007, his second year away from Europe, he played in 66 games for Boston and had a 3.13 GAA, .905 SV% and a season mark of 12 wins and 13 loses. This year, he is one of the top performers in the league, garnering a 2.10 GAA, 2.10 SV% and a record of 24- 5. Thomas displays guts, heart and tenacity every moment in every game.

Larry Fitzgerald: The Arizona Cardinals’ wide receiver just finished his fifth NFL season. Fitzgerald has been an amazing performer. This season, he played in 16 regular season games, averaging a career-best 14.9 yards per catch. He caught the ball 96 times for a total of 1,431 yards and 12 touchdowns. All of these marks are the best grades of his career. Along with being an ultimate talent, Fitzgerald is the ultimate team player, offering to forego some of his pay if it will keep Arizona’s wideout Anquan Boldin in the fold. How many star players are willing to take a monetary hit for the team? By the way, Fitzgerald won the Pro Bowl MVP Award this year catching two touchdown passes, including the game winner.

Ichiro Suzuki: Ichiro is one of the most consistent hitters and finest right fielders in Major League Baseball. He comes to play every day and you can’t help but admire his drive and ability. In each season, he’s had 200-plus hits and batted over .300. He’s also stolen 30-plus bases every season. In that time, he has missed just a total of 16 games. That’s an average of two games per year. Although the statistics are impressive, I admire Ichiro’s love of the game. He’s an old-time baseball player—a Yaz, Mays, Mantle or Aaron. Ichiro lives to compete and not to complain. In a time when it seems like ball players want more time off, more perks and more money to do less, he’s constantly giving fans their money’s worth.

Paul Pierce: In a decade with the Boston Celtics, small forward Paul Pierce has seen the good, the bad and the ugly. Despite going through many dismal seasons and some rough playoff series, he’s shown an ability to persevere, learn and grow. He’s had some on-court moments where he’s let his emotions get the best of him. But unlike many other players, Pierce has been willing to admit that he was wrong and use those times as object lessons to further his growth. Since the 1998-99 season, he’s averaged 22.9 points, 3.9 assists and 6.3 rebounds per game. He has hit 44,2% from the floor, 36.5% from downtown and 79.9% from the charity stripe. More times than not, he’s been willing to step up and take the money shot, step up and lead the charge and step up and play with energy and drive that electrifies the entire team. He’s hardnosed and never afraid of a challenge. It was great to see him finally get a NBA championship this past year with the team he has stuck with through thick and thin—the Boston Celtics.

Now, after reviewing these guys consider the likes of Sean Avery, Terrell Owens, and Barry Bonds. Those three, and others like them, are tough to root for and the reason is that they come off as being ill-tempered and egotistical with a penchant for forgetting about the team. Let’s hear it for some of the good guys in professional sports.