Sean Taylor’s death & my dreams
Sean Taylor, all-pro safety for the Washington Redskins, died a few minutes ago. A man broke into his home yesterday and shot him. He was 24 and leaves behind a fiancé, a baby daughter, and a lot of broken-hearted fans, myself included.
I’ve been a Redskins fan for about two decades now, since the era when they were Super Bowl champions. It’s been hard to be a fan lately, but Taylor was one reason to cheer. Considered by many to be the hardest hitter in football, he was unnaturally talented.
Taylor came from a troubled background, narrowly avoiding a prison sentence for a court case a year ago. But he bounced back and was leading the league in interceptions this year. The Washington coaches believed in him even when others didn’t. The defensive coach, Greg Williams, treated him like a son.
I haven’t figured out what needs to be said here. It’s just so appalling to me – so senseless that this should happen that I felt something should be said.
I want to say something about my dreams. I don’t have many hobbies, but my passion for the Redskins is one. During the off-season, I follow their player acquisitions. I memorize their stats and strategies. It gets a little obsessive.
Taylor’s death forces perspective. For too many of us, especially those of us who are guys, sports takes on too high a priority. Life is fragile. For example, I just learned that the number of orphans in Swaziland just jumped by nearly 50% this past year.
Every day, tragedies like Taylor’s are happening over there without any attendant newspaper stories. It’s a crazy world, made crazier when we get our priorities out of whack. I’m going to take a fresh look at mine.
I write about taking revenge in this blog a week later…
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Seth, great stuff here and I commend you my friend!
“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That He cannot save; Nor is is ear heavy that He cannot hear!” (Isaiah 59)
Well said! I am not a Redskin fan, but my heart goes out to you all and the family and friends of Sean Taylor. He was a great athlete and so he had a few problems (dont we all). This is a senseless act and I hope whomever is responsible comes to justice!!!!
Senseless tragedy.
You are right in trying to maintain perspective (after all, nothing is truer than the the inherent dignity of all people, famous or not), but I also think, in its proper order, its o.k. for you to enjoy the talent God has given some of us to entertain (in this case, on the athletic field) and to grieve an entertainer’s passing that seems premature to us. May God show mercy on Sean’s soul and comfort his family and friends!
It really sucks. Quite a shock to me. It’s hard not to look at it objectively. I find myself thinking, “Well, it’s a good thing they drafted the top safety this year.”
ouch, man…
We will all miss sean talor alot my thoughts and prayers go to his family
I to would like to say that I share in the lost of Sean Taylor he was a very talented young man my heart is truly saddened by this senseless crime but God has promised that he would heal all broken hearts my hope is that his family ,his friends and true fans like you Seth stay strong God bless you all ‘ Angela Carroll