Keller @ Large: Ray Allen – A Real Role Model

BOSTON (CBS) - In all likelihood, sometime later tonight in Charlotte, Ray Allen of the Celtics will break Reggie Miller's longstanding record for the most three-pointers by an NBA player, cementing his stature as the greatest long-distance shooter in basketball history.

And it's a good opportunity for us to reflect a bit – not only on what an extraordinary athlete Allen is, but what an extraordinary role model he is as a person as well.

Listen to Jon's commentary:

You can't always say that about sports stars, although we've been lucky to have our share of pro athletes here who model exemplary behavior in their civic and personal lives.

Bobby Orr and Cam Neely from the Bruins, Celtics John Havlicek and Bill Russell, the late Ron Burton of the Patriots and Tim Wakefield from the Red Sox come to mind, just to name a few.

But Ray Allen is getting it done at a level that's hard to match in a number of different ways.

For starters, if there's anyone in the league who matches Allen's work ethic, I'm not aware of them. Perhaps it has something to do with being one of five children in a military family, but Allen is notorious for his self-discipline, keeping a strict practice and fitness regimen that allows him to perform at the highest level at an age, 35, when other players are deteriorating.

This discipline is manifest in his play during games, where he never tries to do too much or shirk the burden of pressure shots.

His commitment to team play and responsibility showed in one of his few moments of controversy back in 2004, when he called out Kobe Bryant for being a whiney ball hog, an understatement to say the least.

But his conduct on the court is mostly impeccable. And we also have come to know Allen as a tireless supporter of charitable causes and a devoted son, husband and father.

All in all, while I normally warn kids off of using jocks as role models, Ray Allen is one notably classy exception. And that's a record every bit as important as the one he'll probably set tonight.

You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.