The Death of a True Hero

I woke uo this morning to the very sad news that Steve McNair was shot to death in Nashville. Apparently a murder suicide, in which his young mistress shot him, then herself.

I actually met Mr McNair long ago while he was still the Titians QB. It so happened that we pulled up bar stools next to each other one evening in a downtown Nashville eatery. He was on his phone mostly, but in between calls, we chatted about this and that. He was extremely polite and very nice.

I was not always the biggest fan of his on the field. I thew my bad call brick at the TV countless times during the seasons. But I always respected the man, and his sheer determination to try to win at any cost.

When the Titians dropped him, I thought they did it in a very unprofessional way. Since they did not tell him, and simply locked him out of their practice facilities. He had done much for the team, and deserved a much better exit.

He also did much for the city of Nashville. He will truly be missed, not because of his NFL days, but for what he did for charities and local organizations. When the Houston Oilers moved to Tennessee and became the Titians, Steve McNair, Eddie George, and the other stars of the team went out of their way to get involved with local charity groups. And in doing so, endeared themselves to the people of the state.

The world was a slightly better place two days ago. A true hero is now gone.