Reggie White

Certainly by now most have heard about the death of former football player Reggie White Sunday, at least in America.Bring it up in part because there was a time in my old church that there was some association, we had a couple of Raiders and 49ers that also attended there.Certainly he caused some controversy and instead of getting into all the minutiae of all that thought I would share these little tidbits from an article. The first and lasting memory I had of this man and always brought a smile was this:White was nationally known for his strong Christian advocacy in his playing days. "Jesus coming I hope you're ready," he was known to yell at offensive linemen during a game. :-PThough I am suspect of the twist put on some of this, guessing that like many others this was true;In a program put together by NFL Films recently about players and religion, White was shown studying the Bible in Hebrew. He reportedly adopted some Jewish rituals in his life in recent years, although he said he was not becoming Jewish. He said in a 2002 television report that he didn't want anything to do with institutional Christianity any longer but wanted to be involved with "the Jewish Messiah who died for my sins."The rest of the article...http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/10503328.htm

our lives truly are but a vapor. my prayers go out to his family andfriends. may the peace of the LORD Jesus comfort them in this time ofsadness. may we all realize the frailty of our lives, that tomorrowisn't promised to us and lead us to humbly come to repentance beforeGod and accept the gift of eternal life - while escaping the Wrath tocome and the fact that "after death comes the judgment" - by trustingsolely in Christ for our salvation. God bless the White family andfriends.bless the LORD,ricky earleNFL defensive great Reggie White dies at 43By PAUL NOWELL, Associated Press WriterDecember 26, 2004AP - Dec 26, 7:28 pm ESTMore PhotosCORNELIUS, N.C. (AP) -- Reggie White, a fearsome defensive end for thePhiladelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers and one of the NFL'sgreatest players, died Sunday, his wife said. He was 43.The cause of death was not immediately known, however White had arespiratory ailment for several years that affected his sleep,according to Keith Johnson, a pastor serving as family spokesman. Anautopsy was scheduled.``Today our beloved husband, father and friend passed away,'' White'swife, Sara, said in a statement. ``His family appreciates yourthoughts and prayers as we mourn the loss of Reggie White. We want tothank you in advance for honoring our privacy.''White died at Presbyterian Hospital, where he was taken after his wifecalled 911. A police officer was outside White's Tudor-style home in agated community, and would not let a reporter approach the house.A two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and ordained minister whowas known as the ``Minister of Defense,'' White played a total of 15years with Philadelphia, Green Bay and Carolina. He retired after the2000 season as the NFL's all-time leader in sacks with 198. The markhas since been passed by Bruce Smith.``Reggie White was a gentle warrior who will be remembered as one ofthe greatest defensive players in NFL history,'' NFL commissioner PaulTagliabue said. ``Equally as impressive as his achievements on thefield was the positive impact he made off the field and the way heserved as a positive influence on so many young people.''A member of the NFL's 75th anniversary team, White was elected to thePro Bowl a record 13 straight times from 1986-98. He was the NFL'sDefensive Player of the Year in 1987 and 1998.ADVERTISEMENT``A 43-year-old is not supposed to die in his sleep,'' Johnson said.``It was not only unexpected, but it was also a complete surprise.Reggie wasn't a sick man ... he was vibrant. He had lots and lots ofenergy, lots of passion.''Johnson is the head of Christian Athletes United for SpiritualEmpowerment, a ministry that White helped found. He said White hadgone to see the movie ``Fat Albert'' on Christmas night with familyand friends.``He was a family person, a person who liked to have fun. Obviously,we're all going to really miss him,'' Johnson said.White and his wife had a son and a daughter: Jeremy, a freshman atElon University, and Jecolia, a junior in high school.After an All-American senior season at Tennessee, White began his procareer with the Memphis Showboats of the USFL in 1984. He joined thePhiladelphia Eagles, who held his NFL rights, after the USFL folded in1985. For eight years, he was as an integral piece in Philadelphia's``Gang Green Defense.''Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie called White ``one of the greatest men everto play the game of football'' and said his ``legacy on and off thefootball field will never be forgotten.''White played a key role in free agency -- he was one of the plaintiffsin the lawsuit that led to the current system.White signed as a free agent with Green Bay in 1993 for $17 millionover four years. His signing, along with a trade for Brett Favre,helped make the Packers champions again. He was the first major blackplayer to sign with the Packers as a free agent.``He meant as much to us off the field as much as on it,'' said GeneUpshaw, executive director of the NFL Players Association. ``He hadhis name on the lawsuit and he didn't get one penny. That's just thetype of guy he was. His character, his integrity was everything anyNFL player should aspire to be.''His decision to choose the Packers was a surprise. While visitingvarious teams, he suggested he would prefer a major city, where hecould minister to black youth.``That's what changed the football fortunes of this franchise. It washuge,'' Packers president Bob Harlan said Sunday. ``Everyone thoughtthe last place he would sign was Green Bay and it was monumentalbecause not only did he sign but he recruited for Green Bay and gotguys like Sean Jones to come here. He sent a message to the rest ofthe NFL that Green Bay was a great place to play.''The Packers made consecutive Super Bowl appearances, including a winover New England in 1997, when White set a Super Bowl record withthree sacks.``He was just a wonderful player, first of all,'' said Seattle coachMike Holmgren, who coached White at Green Bay. ``Then as a person, hewas just the best. He was one of the leaders, along with Brett Favre,of our football team in Green Bay. I'm a better person for having beenaround Reggie White.''White worked tirelessly in the offseason with inner-city youths. Buthis image was tarnished when he gave a speech in which he denouncedhomosexuality and used ethnic stereotypes. White later apologized.White was 39 when he finished his NFL career with Carolina -- histhird retirement. He retired for one day before the 1998 season, butthen said God had told him he needed to play again, and he returned tothe Packers.White retired again after the 1998 season and took a year off fromfootball. After the Packers allowed him out of his contract, Whitereturned to play for the Panthers. His last season was disappointing.He recorded a career-low 5 1/2 sacks with only 27 tackles, and didn'tshow the same pass-rushing skills that made him such a force.``I will always miss the locker room and the guys, but I know God'swill for me to move on to other challenges because it's not in me likeit used to be,'' White said at the time.White spent eight years with the Eagles and six with the Packersbefore a final one with the Panthers.``I had the utmost respect for Reggie White as a player,'' Favre said.``He may have been best player I've ever seen and certainly was thebest I've ever played with or against.''Remarkably durable, White missed only one game in his last 12 seasonsand started all but three games during that span.``Reggie's records and accomplishments say it all,'' George Seifert,who coached him on the Panthers, once said. ``He is a Hall of Fameplayer and possibly the best defensive lineman ever to play thegame.''The A.L. Jinwright Funeral Service in Charlotte is handling arrangements.Associated Press Writer Martha Waggoner in Raleigh and AP SportsWriters Dave Goldberg in New York, Arnie Stapleton in Wisconsin andTim Korte in Seattle contributed to this report.picture of reggie:http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/photo?slug=ap-greenbaypackersdefensiveendre&prov=ap