Too many times in sports do we see the dumb/stupid/idiotic/unreasonable side of athletes. We witness these guys do something on TV or in person and we catch ourselves saying, "Are these guys for real?" or "Did he really just do that?" or "Get down, he’s got a gun!!"

Usually athletes fall under the stereotype that an OJ Simpson puts forth which, to some, is completely unfair. Where along the line did OJ convince himself that it was ok to go into a hotel room — with guns blazing — to scare the bejesus out of some sports collectible stiffs just to get his property back? If he was thinking that he could turn around and sell the stolen merchandise to pay back the Goldman family the $33 million he owes them, then he was sorely mistaken. With the $500k his Heisman netted at auction, he would’ve needed to win 66 of those statues to do that. But I digress.

Very rarely do we see someone do something publicly that is so outlandish that it’s actually reasonable, funny, intellectual, and looks like it took more than 4.7 seconds of thought (read: the complete antithesis of Adam "Pacman" Jones). In an age where athletes are more accessible than ever through websites, blogs, and live chats, they have been able to build their legacies through technology.

Bosh put his celebrity, his smarts, and his sense of humor on display this week. Four days ago, he posted a video on his own website — and on YouTube (where else?) — urging fans to vote him into the 2008 All-Star Game in New Orleans. Today, it received a ton of airtime nationally, including on some news networks without the acronym ESPN. In the video, Bosh imitates the ever-popular local cable TV commercial by assuming the role of a used car salesman somewhere deep in the heart of Texas. Cowboy hat and all, Bosh adopts a southern drawl, stands beside his luxury pickup with his trusty sidekick Bubba, and tries to get fans to vote for him to be apart of the 2008 Eastern Conference All-Star team.

He’s stuck in a TV market in Canada that’s almost non-existent to most of the continental US. The people in Toronto know what they’ve got with Bosh and no one else does. That’s why Raptors’ fans are so fiercely loyal. So, what does Bosh do? He produces a gem. In one minute and seventeen seconds, Bosh manages to make a complete mockery of the ridiculous tradition we call fan voting for All-Star games, makes sure he appeals to a part of the country that has no idea who he is, vaults himself into viral video immortality, and makes himself a household name.

Commissioner Stern must be elated right now. A bright young star in his league is putting his free time to good, innocent use? Stern’s underwear must need changing right now.

For that, Bosh deserves a lot of credit. We need a lot more of these types of guys. I know I’ll be voting for him to be in New Orleans in February.

(Bosh’s acting brilliance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv7IZP7u9FE)