You root for them with a special bias every time you watch them play.
There are probably better players on their team, but you still buy their jersey anyway.
In fact, PSC would like to countdown the best current professional athletes who attended ASU.
10. Jake Plummer, quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
While Plummer is considered retired, he never actually handed in his retirement papers. Therefore, Plummer sneaks into the top ten by the hairs of his Tom Selleck-like mustache.
9. Mike Karney, fullback for the New Orleans Saints.
Underrated, unknown, but certainly not underappreciated, the lead blocker for Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush played a major role in the Saints' run to the NFC Championship game last season.
8. Eddie House, guard for the Boston Celtics.
House has played for seven teams in seven NBA seasons while averaging 7.5 points per game.
7. Todd Heap, tight end for the Baltimore Ravens.
He went to ASU, and since then he's been to the Pro Bowl twice and the end zone 26 times.
6. Paul Lo Duca, catcher for the New York Mets.
Lo Duca has been to the All-Star game four times, with three different teams.
5. Paul Casey, professional golfer on the European tour.
He finished in the top ten in two of four major tournaments this year, and he is in another top ten this week.
4. Dustin Pedroia, second baseman for the Boston Red Sox.
Pedroia is batting .324 with 78 runs scored and 49 runs batted in.
3. Terrell Suggs, outside linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens.
While the 40 sacks he's totaled in five pro seasons with the Ravens might not look as impressive, Suggs is widely known to be one of the best outside linebackers in the business.
2. Phil Mickelson, golfer on the PGA Tour.
Phil spiked his collar when he played golf at ASU, and won a PGA tournament as well. (It was in Tucson, but it still counts.)
As a pro, he went from the best player to not win a major to the best player in the world not named Tiger.
1. Barry Bonds, left fielder for the San Francisco Giants.
He's third on ASU's all-time list with 45 home-runs.
And maybe you've heard that he's Major League Baseball's all-time home-run king with 762 for his career.
The only "s-word" that should be associated with Bonds should be Sun Devil.
Agree to disagree with me at: edward.price@asu.edu.
