By John D. McKinnon, Jr.
On April 1st 1983, a legend was brought into this world. At the time no one could have known that Sean Michael Maurice Taylor would become arguably one of the greatest football players of all time some twenty years later. Let’s be honest, who’d have thought before the April 2004 draft there could ever be a player standing nearly 6’3 and weighing nearly 230 lbs that possessed the speed of a world class sprinter and hitting ability only comparable to Hall of Famer, Ronnie Lott? Who’d of thought this same player could actually cover the field from sideline to sideline in a blur and intercept passes even from the savviest Quarterbacks? Who would have imagined in only four years he’d be taken away from us?
It’s been three difficult months since the untimely, senseless death of the man we knew as Sean Taylor. Many Redskin’s fans, players and non-football fans alike have been affected by his death. How could this seemingly indestructible man that was nicknamed, “Meast” (part man, part beast), voted the most feared player in the NFL and the strongest player at his position suddenly perish? As a Christian, I strongly believe we are all born with a purpose and everything that happens to us is in God’s plan. God had a plan for Mr. Taylor as well. Though we may never be sure what that plan may have been, I believe Sean’s life went according to script and he wasn’t taken away, “before his time.”
Admittedly, Sean Taylor was my favorite new era Redskin and my fiancés as well. It’s hard to come to grips with the fact we will never see him again in his physical form and that can be expected. It’s difficult not to imagine the “what ifs”. Many football purists even before Sean’s death believed he would have been the greatest safety ever to play the game. Some even believed he could have been the greatest player regardless of position if he had lived. Mr. Taylor however didn’t die in vain. Maybe Sean was put on this Earth to capture our hearts as a person and a player to only be taken away from us. Why? Possibly to remind us we are human and none of us are indestructible.
Sean's relationship with his young daughter was well documented after his death. By many accounts Sean’s daughter brought him happiness, joy and stability in his life. Sean’s “transition” was well documented and affirmed by many players and colleagues. The consensus was his daughter was a major influence for Sean that allowed him to move beyond his “troubled” past.
The “troubled” label is actually what’s so troubling here. Sean Taylor, despite subjective rambling from biased columnists after his death was not the troublemaker that he was made out to be. He was a young man that was pulled over after a party and charged with a DWI which was dropped due to lack of evidence. He was also charged for threatening an individual for stealing his truck. Sean was also fined for spitting on another player and consequently labeled a “thug” even posthumously. Well John if he did all that that makes him a thug right? I’ll answer that with a question of my own. If that makes him a thug that would mean Tanya Harding (former figure skater) and Bill Romanowski (former NFL linebacker) are thugs as well doesn’t it? Tanya Harding, the former Olympic skater’s rap-sheet is reminiscent of the Dead Sea scroll as well as Romanoski. However, I’ve never seen an article characterizing either one as a “thug” or a menace. Sean grew up in a good home with both parents in an upper-middle class environment. Now was Sean a good person that made some mistakes or was he just an evil barbaric thug? If Harding or Romanowski were senselessly killed the way Sean was, would their past transgressions even be factors? Exactly. The fact that I even have to make this point substantiates how far we need to go as a race of people.
Despite these disparities however, many Redskin fans and others abroad banned together in support of Sean. This strong bond caused some of the judgmental media hounds to change their stances, especially following an undeniably heart-felt funeral service. Which brings us back to the original point, why was Mr. Taylor taken from us? The fact is he wasn’t, he was never ours to begin with. Sean grew up in a Christian home and he belonged to the Lord above. We were just allowed to witness his greatness for the short while he passed through. The things that can’t be taken away are the memories and footage of his superhuman abilities. Also, the legacy he left behind and the many people’s lives he has affected even through his death. His earthly demise translates into eternal life spiritually. And for that reason his legend lives on.
Hail To The Redskins!
On April 1st 1983, a legend was brought into this world. At the time no one could have known that Sean Michael Maurice Taylor would become arguably one of the greatest football players of all time some twenty years later. Let’s be honest, who’d have thought before the April 2004 draft there could ever be a player standing nearly 6’3 and weighing nearly 230 lbs that possessed the speed of a world class sprinter and hitting ability only comparable to Hall of Famer, Ronnie Lott? Who’d of thought this same player could actually cover the field from sideline to sideline in a blur and intercept passes even from the savviest Quarterbacks? Who would have imagined in only four years he’d be taken away from us?
It’s been three difficult months since the untimely, senseless death of the man we knew as Sean Taylor. Many Redskin’s fans, players and non-football fans alike have been affected by his death. How could this seemingly indestructible man that was nicknamed, “Meast” (part man, part beast), voted the most feared player in the NFL and the strongest player at his position suddenly perish? As a Christian, I strongly believe we are all born with a purpose and everything that happens to us is in God’s plan. God had a plan for Mr. Taylor as well. Though we may never be sure what that plan may have been, I believe Sean’s life went according to script and he wasn’t taken away, “before his time.”
Admittedly, Sean Taylor was my favorite new era Redskin and my fiancés as well. It’s hard to come to grips with the fact we will never see him again in his physical form and that can be expected. It’s difficult not to imagine the “what ifs”. Many football purists even before Sean’s death believed he would have been the greatest safety ever to play the game. Some even believed he could have been the greatest player regardless of position if he had lived. Mr. Taylor however didn’t die in vain. Maybe Sean was put on this Earth to capture our hearts as a person and a player to only be taken away from us. Why? Possibly to remind us we are human and none of us are indestructible.
Sean's relationship with his young daughter was well documented after his death. By many accounts Sean’s daughter brought him happiness, joy and stability in his life. Sean’s “transition” was well documented and affirmed by many players and colleagues. The consensus was his daughter was a major influence for Sean that allowed him to move beyond his “troubled” past.
The “troubled” label is actually what’s so troubling here. Sean Taylor, despite subjective rambling from biased columnists after his death was not the troublemaker that he was made out to be. He was a young man that was pulled over after a party and charged with a DWI which was dropped due to lack of evidence. He was also charged for threatening an individual for stealing his truck. Sean was also fined for spitting on another player and consequently labeled a “thug” even posthumously. Well John if he did all that that makes him a thug right? I’ll answer that with a question of my own. If that makes him a thug that would mean Tanya Harding (former figure skater) and Bill Romanowski (former NFL linebacker) are thugs as well doesn’t it? Tanya Harding, the former Olympic skater’s rap-sheet is reminiscent of the Dead Sea scroll as well as Romanoski. However, I’ve never seen an article characterizing either one as a “thug” or a menace. Sean grew up in a good home with both parents in an upper-middle class environment. Now was Sean a good person that made some mistakes or was he just an evil barbaric thug? If Harding or Romanowski were senselessly killed the way Sean was, would their past transgressions even be factors? Exactly. The fact that I even have to make this point substantiates how far we need to go as a race of people.
Despite these disparities however, many Redskin fans and others abroad banned together in support of Sean. This strong bond caused some of the judgmental media hounds to change their stances, especially following an undeniably heart-felt funeral service. Which brings us back to the original point, why was Mr. Taylor taken from us? The fact is he wasn’t, he was never ours to begin with. Sean grew up in a Christian home and he belonged to the Lord above. We were just allowed to witness his greatness for the short while he passed through. The things that can’t be taken away are the memories and footage of his superhuman abilities. Also, the legacy he left behind and the many people’s lives he has affected even through his death. His earthly demise translates into eternal life spiritually. And for that reason his legend lives on.
Hail To The Redskins!
1 comments:
This was a tremendous article on Sean. I think we need more insight like this in the sports world.
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