There must be some pro athletes - playing or retired, living or dead - who have shown both brains and/or courage by supporting causes that are not popular among their colleages, or by publicly showing emotion in ways that most athletes will not.

Here is an obvious one, John Amaechi



who is an example of the first (along with several out gay ex-pros).

For the second, Roger Federer



who was almost universally knocked among fans and secretly envied by athletes I'll bet.

Interestingly I could find no picture of him crying in the presence of a tennis ball. When he sees one, it seems he is always clear-eyed and all business.

Any others?