One of the Good Guys

Too often professional athletes are lumped together and thought of as whiny, spoiled brats - or worse. Undoubtedly some of them are, but lost in the negative headlines are a lot of genuine people, like former Orioles pitcher Kris Benson.

Benson's on-the-field career in Baltimore didn't work out. Injuries and ineffectiveness conspired against him when he was here, and although he's moved on to the Texas Rangers, he hasn't forgotten about his time in Baltimore.

Before the Rangers win over the O's on Saturday, Benson and his wife, the often-controversial Anna, presented $125,000 to be divided between a number of Baltimore groups they pledged to support while they were here:

• Baltimore Fire and Police departments
• The Nephcure Foundation
• Johns Hopkins Bipolar Center at Bayview
• St. Vincents Center
• Shannon's Fund at the University of Maryland Medical Center
• Casey Cares Foundation

Before Sunday's game, the couple gave another $125,000 to the city's police department. The Rangers took three of four from the O's, but the Bensons' generosity ensured that this weekend, Baltimore came away a winner.

Kris and Anna Benson donated $250,000 to Baltimore organizations this weekend, fulfilling a pledge they made when he played for the Orioles. Photo by Jeremy Harmon/WireImage/Getty Images.