"An Ode to Sean Taylor"

[presidentclintonP]

I thought this was a nice blog if it hasnt been posted already...

http://www.postgameheroes.com/?p=1789

An Ode to Sean Taylor

By Biggie, Resident Stat Boy | November 27, 2007

God bless you, Sean Taylor.

God bless you, not for every bone-jarring hit that got us out of our seats, for every interception that gave us something to cheer for, for the touchdown that helped the Redskins their only playoff game of the current century. No, those were all great things you did, but that’s not why the fans of the Washington Redskins loved you. We loved you for being a player that all could call their favorite, who brought excitement to the game and gave us hope that we still had a chance, no matter how badly things were going. Many a time I’d hear someone say “Watch, Sean Taylor pick six right here”, or “#21’s going to take a fumble back for a score, just wait”, and with you, we always knew that we might just be right.

God bless you, because in the eyes of the world, you had started out an immature troublemaker, but you had become a man, and a role model to a baby daughter that is now without a father. You were no arrogant superstar or spoiled celebrity, at least not anymore; you had turned your life around, and you had a family to care for. Every coach sung your praises, every fan screamed your name, every opponent feared your presence. Sean Taylor, for oh so many of us, you were the ferocious face of the Washington Redskins, but under that mask of terror, everyone who had met you saw you as a good human being, bright, soft-spoken, determined to succeed.

God bless you, for you were part of the wave that brought back respect to what was once the laughingstock of the NFL. Your bright career had yet to reach its peak but had already begun to shine. In a four-year career, you already had 299 tackles, two sacks, 34 passes defended, eight forced fumbles, and 12 interceptions. You returned a fumble for a touchdown in a game where the team was desperate for points and continued life in the playoffs was on the line. You were compared to Ronnie Lott, Ed Reed, Brian Dawkins, and every other great safety to play the game. Now the world will never know the great feats you would have accomplished, and it will be the lesser for it.

God bless you, and God bless the mother of your child, who tried to save your life when you were mortally wounded. God bless your 18-month-old daughter, Jackie, who will never know not only what a great athlete you were, but what kind of father you would have been as well. God bless your parents, who have lost a fine son, and your relatives, who have lost one of their kin. Your death is a loss for all of us, whether we knew you or not, for after watching you and cheering for you every Sunday, watching the Redskins play will never be the same again. There will always be something missing.

Rest in peace, Sean.