Oftentimes people are asked to play a role, a character, to help sell or promote a brand or product.

    When I was younger, one of the DJs on the FM rock station I listened to was a great talent named Jackie. For years I paid attention as she went about her nightly business of talking rock and metal music. It was obvious she lived a somewhat care-free lifestyle and was open to many, many ideas and activities.

    To be honest, I kind of had a crush on the girl I perceived her to be.

    What I’m trying to say, without ever seeing her, is that I was sure she had black hair, black eyeliner and dressed like your typical “rocker chick.” I just knew her personal life indeed revolved around living that lifestyle.

    I pictured her going crazy at a Rob Zombie concert and then joining the band backstage to party even harder.

    Boy, was I wrong.

    While I was attending college (I studied video and audio production), one of my professors brought in a guest — Jacqueline — to help explain the world of radio music. After listening to her back story, she mentioned how she DJed for my favorite rock station for years. My eyes shot wide open.

    It was Jackie. And she looked nothing like I had imagined.

    In fact, she was the exact opposite of the person and character she had played on the radio. After talking to her, she told me she ultimately left that particular station because she was tired of acting like someone else on air. At that time she was working for another station — one that played 90s soft pop. You know, artists like Savage Garden and Alanis Morissette.

    Here is where we bring up Seattle Seahawks defensive back Richard Sherman, specifically the rant he went on during a postgame interview with a bewildered Erin Andrews of Fox after Seattle had beaten the San Francisco 49ers for a spot in the Super Bowl.

    The Internet exploded with differing opinions of Sherman and his words. Many were horribly racist, others were either condemning or condoning.

    In my opinion, no opinions of Sherman matter, nor do they affect him in the slightest. What I’m more concerned with is who is Richard Sherman?

    What if he’s simply playing a character, just like Jacqueline was with the rock station. Who is he?

    Sherman is from Dominguez High School in Compton, Calif., an area labeled as harsh and unforgiving. His demeanor on the field is cruel, relentless and devastating. He has been called a “thug” numerous times by people who know nothing about him, perhaps labeling him so based on the stereotype of his hometown and the hairstyle he wears with pride.

    To those who are stuck on these notions, grow up and educate yourselves. Sherman is deeper and more complicated. Allow me to explain.

    Sherman graduated from high school with a 4.2 GPA and finished at Stanford (not an easy school to get into) with a 3.9 GPA. He has a bachelor’s degree in communications and has one year of graduate school under his belt. He has a charity called “Blanket Coverage” that gives school supplies and clothes to kids.

    I don’t know it it’s true, but I read a story Sunday night that explained how Sherman ran into a couple of Seahawks fan in the airport. One of them was deaf, and Sherman began communicating with her in fluent sign language.

    What a thug.

    There’s no doubt Sherman is a brash, bold and sometimes overbearing superstar in the National Football League. He’s also a thoughtful and extremely intelligent human being.

    Which one is the true Richard Sherman? Is he the man who ripped into a 49ers receiver on national television, or is he the humanitarian who carried out a conversation in sign language with a fan?

    Are the two mutually exclusive?

    I believe Sherman is an amazing human being who does plenty of good, but gets caught up in the emotions of a game that requires its best players to be incredibly emotional.

    Is he a thug? Absolutely not. That’s the mask ignorant people try to force on him.

    Does he need a crash course in public speaking? Maybe.

    Who is Richard Sherman? What character does he play, and who does he see in the mirror? Is he both, a conglomeration unique to us?

    That’s for you to decide and form your own opinion. I’ve obviously formed mine.

    I imagine, however, he won’t care what we think.