Reggie White 1961-2004
This morning Reggie White, former Eagle, Panther, and Packer defensive end, passed away due to what sounds like a heart attack. For those of you who don't know, Reggie White was on the two most recent Packer Super Bowl teams (SB 31 & 32), so it's safe to say that he and I go way back. I think Reggie's importance to those Packer Super Bowl teams cannot be under-stated... his impact on those teams was enormous. He came to the Green Bay Packers as a free agent in 1993, already a Pro Bowl caliber player with the Eagles. And, actual game play aside, just him going to Green Bay was a huge step for the franchise. He was the first 'major' black player to come to Green Bay as a free agent... in team history. I'm not making this up... think about it. Why would a black athlete want to come to the lily-white Wisconsin bay, where the entire city is so small that you and your family can't help but stand out. But White signing changed that image for the rest of the league... and Reggie even started recruiting black players (like Sean Jones) to come to Green Bay.
But that's not the only way he impacted the Packers. He was, easily, the greatest pass-rushing defensive end I have ever seen, holding the record for sacks--198--when he retired (Bruce Smith has since broken this record). I will always remember his strength in the pass rush... and his signature "club" move, where he would use one arm to club a lineman (any sized lineman, it didn't matter), knocking him off-balance on Reggie's way to the quarterback. I don't know how many times Reggie did that. The linemen knew it was coming... and couldn't stop him from using that move. Reggie was an incredible player.
But we all know he was more than a player. All of the commentators who have been talking about him today have been saying that he was an even better person than he was a player. While I hate to diminish his greatness, he did say some very derogatory and ignorant things about homosexuals after he retired. Being a minister, he had a very "Christian" few of homosexuality... and said some things to the Wisconsin senate that he later said he regretted. I find it difficult to understand the Christian views of caring for and loving all man, but seemingly hating homosexuals.
Regardless of what he said, it seemed as though he was trying to find the "Truth". He had stopped going to Christian church services and was studying Hebrew to be able to read and understand the Bible in the language in which it was written. He felt remorse for his comments... and wanted to figure out what he believed about the world and it's people. I commend him for that.
I will always remember Reggie White for bringing another Super Bowl to my beloved Packers. Rest in peace, Reggie.