As a female citizen of American society, I am well aware that Tom Brady is just about as great as it gets. If you have ever seen him, or heard him speak, or stalked his adorable little family on Instagram... you would agree that he is the epitome of husband/father/everything goals. However, and ESPN seems to agree with me on this one, Tom's name hasn't left the mouths of sports analyst for more than ten minutes at a time. Ever heard of Deflategate? Yeah, I thought so.

For someone who has been accused to aiding in cheating to win a football game that took place more than seven months ago, Brady is getting an awful lot of news and media attention. It may not be good attention, but it certainly has Americans glued to their televisions like zombies. Sorry New England, but I think your boy is going to sit out four games. Shall we move on?

There are other athletes out there that deserve the recognition and attention that Tom seems to be getting most of. Shouldn't we be directing our focus towards those who are making meaningful strides for our country and for our society? Here are a few people who should not be swept under the rug while we over obsess about football air pressure:

1. Ronda Rousey

For real though.. This girl is a beast. And although she has been getting an awful lot of recognition recently after her defeat over Bethe Correia, she deserves more of it. Rousey is the most dominant fighter in the world at the moment, regardless of gender, and she fights for what she believes in. She is sending the message that women can be both strong and beautiful, and shouldn't be bothered by the words of others. Want to trash talk her in Portuguese? Go right ahead, but Ronda will knock you out in 30 seconds or less. So, good luck.

2. Serena Williams

Yet another dominant woman on and off the court in the sports world, Serena just recently won her sixth Wimbledon championship. Yes, sixth. She has also been ranked No. 1 Singles player in the world six times over the course of her career, and she doesn't seem to be showing any signs of slowing down. I guess six is just Serena's lucky number. If there is anyone who young female athletes should look up to in life, it's Williams. No one gets to be as good as she is without the willingness, determination, and dedication to make it to the top. Serena also makes great strides to educate about positive body image and acceptance among women in the American society. She also does incredible work in the fight against breast cancer. When I grow up, I want to be just like Serena... and wear all of her cute little tennis clothes.

3. Connor Barwin

For those who are unfamiliar with his name, Connor Barwin is an outside linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles. Furthermore, he is one of the kindest souls that one will ever meet. They simply do not come any better than him. This past June, Barwin held a fundraising concert of local artists in Philadelphia that raised nearly $85,000 for his Make The World A Better Place foundation. As he had formerly promised, Barwin matched that amount and donated $170,000 to help fund the rebuilding of a run-down children's park on 20th Street. He played an intricate role in the rebuilding of the park and was adamant about sending the message to preserving peace and tranquility in the city of Philadelphia. It's people like Connor Barwin who make the world a much happier place.

4. Nnamdi Asomugha

Although having retired in 2013, Nnamdi Asomugha was most recently an outstanding and rather dangerous cornerback for the San Fransisco 49ers. Nnamdi is responsible for the Asomugha Foundation, which continues to do work for its two major causes even after his retirement. The foundation provides relief for women and children in need living in Nigeria, and also provides underprivileged students, who exemplify academic promise, university experience through college visits. Asomugha has taken kids from both California and Philadelphia on college visits in order to give them a sense of confidence and pride in themselves, making them believe that they are capable of attending college despite their underprivileged backgrounds.

5. Megan Rapinoe

Best known for her role on the United States National Women's Soccer Team, who just recently won their third World Cup this past June, Megan Rapinoe is a class act. She is witty, hilarious, and an inspiration to those who wish to make our world more accepting of others. Openly gay since 2012, Rapine is an advocate for Athlete Ally, GLSEN, and multiple other LGBTQ organizations, which strive to reach those who live in fear in our society. Megan is a firm believer in educating others on tolerance, stressing the importance of all people being able to live comfortably in their own skin, regardless of sexual orientation. Additionally, Rapinoe is also an activist for the children in Darfur. And she has adopted a baby rhino. It doesn't get much cooler than her.

Long story short, pay more attention to those who do good than those who do bad. What does it say of our society that we are more interested in those who are willing to cheat than we are in those who are willing to sacrifice for others' peace and happiness? Open your eyes to those who are not necessarily in the media spotlight, but who certainly deserve to be.