AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 27 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTaylor tragedy: Sorrow and the NFL’s image issues
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The news of Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor’s death is another tragedy of a young man and pro athlete. Taylor is the second NFL player to be killed in a violent manner this calendar year. Denver defensive back Darrent Williams was killed in a drive-by shooting in Denver New Year’s Day.
While doing a radio show with Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall and Joe Horn Monday night, both expressed concern for Taylor and his family, not knowing Taylor would die hours later. Each was saddened by the violent and potentially criminal element of the situation, which, at the time, came well before some of the details of the shooting became public.
The image of the NFL likely could take another negative hit in a year in which bad news has tilted the scales for all of the positive things that have been accomplished on and off the field. Heck, even mention of the Patriots’ incredible run so far is frequently has their Spygate incident attached.
As Horn, Hall, host David Archer and I were talking about the Taylor incident, I thought about the company I was in to bring me back to some of the good things about the NFL and its players.
Here was Hall, who, for all of his talking and bravado, has spent numerous hours with leaders at Virginia Tech to figure out ways to prevent another violent outburst like the mass murder that took place on the Blacksburg campus this year. Hall had a brother who was shot to death, prompting him to establish a foundation aimed at violence prevention.
It is well documented what Horn did for the people of New Orleans before and after Hurricane Katrina, with his time, money and the use of his popularity to help bring change to the region.
There are so many other guys in the NFL and with the Falcons, like Warrick Dunn, Keith Brooking, Jamaal Anderson, Lawyer Milloy … the list is too long, who simply are good guys.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By errin
November 27, 2007 5:29 PM | Link to this
sean taylor was also a good guy. his life was only just really starting out. this has nothing to do with the image of the nfl, it has to do with gun crime, crime in cities, the inability for many of these athletes to really leave their past behind no matter how hard they try, and with the trend in professional athletes being a target for violent robberies. sean was a good guy too. you just never got to find that out about him. he died too soon.
By Peter Darryl Slaughter
November 27, 2007 5:50 PM | Link to this
I think this death show’s that black on black crime, murder, robbery and whatever else is completely out of control. More than likely whoever shot this player was somebody black and somebody who knew him. I say it’s time for black people to address all this glorification of uneducated so-called rap star’s and other uneducated black people in the media. It’s way out of control and we are seeing the bad effect’s of this social madness in these shootings.
By D-Cider
November 27, 2007 5:52 PM | Link to this
It is shame another young man has lost his life. Screw the NFL and its image.
By A Falcons fan walks into a bar. . . .
November 27, 2007 6:11 PM | Link to this
Peter,
What are the first 3 letters of Assume? Lord knows there is plenty of white on white crime to go around. Scott Peterson, Jeffrey Dahmer, Phil Spector, Chris Benoit, Andrea Yates, Kid Rock, Rhett Forrester, Charles Manson, Dick Cheney, The Unibomber, etc. The list goes on and on and on. STFU and open your tiny eyes. There are good and bad people of all kinds. I don’t think that it’s a black man who is running the country into the ground as we speak is it? The most sick and twisted murderers and serial killers are almost always white. This is a sad day. Let his family mourn. Keep your ignorance to yourself. No, I’m not black.
By Kitty Kay Conejo
November 27, 2007 6:44 PM | Link to this
AMEN Falcons fan! I just hope & pray that his loved ones can find some kind of comfort in this most horrible time. God bless them & everyone.
By The Ultimate Choptimist
November 27, 2007 7:00 PM | Link to this
Wow! It took exactly two posts for this thing to deteriorate into idiotic racial babble. I’m SOOOOOOO glad I left Atlanta.
By poem
November 27, 2007 7:54 PM | Link to this
who ever killed him I want him to die the painfulest death EVER
By michaelgee
November 27, 2007 8:04 PM | Link to this
Kid Rock? Who killed Kid Rock?
The saddest TRUTH in ATL this year was Michael Vick killing the Falcons. ‘cept Vick lived to watch it go down.
By lc
November 27, 2007 8:18 PM | Link to this
HOPE THEY FIND THE SICK, SELFISH, GREEDY B******* WHO COMMITED THIS CRIME,,,,PUT THEM IN JAIL FOR LIFE OR THE DEATH PENALTY,,,,,,,,YOU CROOKS NOT ONLY TOOK A SON FROM A PARENT , YOU TOOK A PARENT FROM A DAUGHTER….IDIOTS…..
YOU CAN RUN, BUT YOU CANT HIDE,,,THE CHIEF OF POLICE WILL FIND YOU,,,,JERKS…
By Terrell
November 27, 2007 8:18 PM | Link to this
I heard about the young man situation yesterday and found out he pass this morning.I don’t know the man and felt sorry for his child and his family.We only have one life to live and there going to be a time in your life when we make mistakes and we learn from some of them.Sean Taylor was on his way to make a change in his life.He was only 24 years old.This is not the time to make negative comments on this blog because it can be any one of us in that situation.I hope the family and friends they strong and God bless us all.
By brandon
November 27, 2007 8:56 PM | Link to this
who would kill a guy like sean taylor he is a great player the sick person who killed him i hope the police find your a** and put you in jail for life you stupid punk you should not have took sean taylors life away from him
By Harris
November 27, 2007 9:37 PM | Link to this
Rest in peace Sean Taylor. You will always be remembered. I know you will be playing up in heaven with other legends like yourself. God bless you and your family!
By 3FL
November 27, 2007 9:50 PM | Link to this
ALL people need to be aware of the negative influence of the hip-hop culture. It is not a racial situation because culture is fluid. What starts in one community will ultimately migrate to other communities. That is why we ALL need to be aware. I am so sick of male pro athletes wearing ear=rings and all of the jewelry. Of course, not all do, but those who do de-humanize themselves and symbolically send the message that their value is more about their material possessions than about their character.
Wasn’t one of the tenants of Dr. Kings dream that we all be judged by the content of our character and not some material element.
3FL = Falcon Fan For Life