Steve McNair shot and killed

While the NFL contemplates the future for players such as Donte Stallworth and Plaxico Burress, both of whom have drawn criticism from many sports writers as the problem with the modern athlete, it's troubling to see a story about Steve McNair. The former Titans quarterback was gunned down in Nashville today, leaving behind a strong work ethic that teammates cherished and an attitude towards winning.

It seems as this sad incident might escalate in it's dourness as he was killed with a woman who was not his wife. While I'm not trying to say it would have been better if he was killed with his wife, I hope it doesn't bring up a more sketchy situation. At the time of this posting the police have not found any solid evidence explaining the whole situation.

This incident brings up the point of how in sports, athletes live two lives. The first life is the glory and the story of their play on the field. It is the winning drives, the highlight reel plays and the appearance of the championship athlete they are. The second life is sometimes filled with a dark secret and intrigue and things most fans never want to see.

Plaxico Burress was one of the Giants most important play makers on their Super Bowl winning team. Off the field, we saw a man who shows up to night clubs with a loaded gun hanging from his sweatpants.

Pete Rose, as one of the most famous cases, was known as the greatest competitor and one of baseballs greatest players. Rose played nearly every position, played like it was his last game and played to win. Rose however, is a very dark and noted by people in the book, Hustle, as a very slimy and untrustworthy man. He insulted his daughter for not being beautiful, he hung out with gamblers and people who sold steroids and worst thing was he bet on sports, including baseball. As many hoped the "rumors" weren't true, they were and people finally got to see the true Peter Edward Rose. Granted while people still think he is worthy of induction into Cooperstown, the baseball fans can feel betrayed by his years of denying what was the truth.

It brings us back to the main point of the story and what police are going to look into on the case of Steve McNair. Why was he killed?

The man was idolized by an entire community and by teammates.

"If you were going to draw a football player, the physical part, the mental part, everything about being a professional, he is your guy," former Ravens and Titans teammate Samari Rolle said. "I can't even wrap my arms around it. It is a sad, sad day. The world lost a great man today."

For a man who still owns the record for most passing yards and total offense for a I-AA school, the man named Air McNair had gained everything since then. He was a four time Pro Bowl player, not to mention coming within a yard of sending the Super Bowl to overtime. He did all of this while playing through tremendous pain from injuries scattered throughout his career.

"On the field, there isn't player that was as tough as him, especially at the quarterback position," the Ravens' Derrick Mason said. "What I have seen him play through on the field, and what he dealt with during the week to get ready for a game, I have never known a better teammate."

You hate to see that happen to anyone, especially for people my age, since we grew up watching guys like McNair play. I remember watching that Super Bowl, just willing Dyson had the extra yard. Then I remember the Titans lost to the eventual champions, the Ravens the next season.

Hopefully, time will tell a stronger ending, one of a man who was killed in a more elegant light, though that seems like a tall order given that no person ever wants to be murdered as their dream death. Baseball tells us of legendary myths such as a child questioning Joe Jackson after the 1919 World Series, "say it ain't so Joe?" In this situation, I hope that the murder with this woman is taken and proven in a better context, but as of now all I can say is... "say it ain't so Steve?"




ROC SPORTS NET 2009