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<p>Precisely why professional athletes should not be as glorified as they are in our society.</p>
<p>I would just like to note that if it had simply come out that McNair had a young girlfriend, and that his marriage either was or wasn’t breaking up as a result, this wouldn’t be big news, and there wouldn’t be a big discussion of whether he’s a good role model or not. It would have been routine. Happens all the time. Too bad. It’s only the sensational aspect of this that raises these questions, and that’s really not fair.</p>
<p>I’d modify Billys comments to say they were excellent role models if we limit it to their profession. MJ an exceptional singer, dancer, (and more, professionally) a very questionable individual otherwise. McNair much the same- exceptional skills and a leader on-field; a wonderful contributor to the community, but we now see in his private life was low class.
That Steve was married, and with a girlfriend has not been disputed. That is enough for me to decide he was low in character. That doesn’t change for me that he was an exceptional player, and a giver of his time and money makes him an outstanding contributor to the community. These for me are separate issues.
As for Fisher’s remarks, I take that with a grain of salt in light of recent findings. What would I expect Jeff to say?- “Steve was a stinker; I hated every minute I coached him, but he sure could throw a football.” Of course Jeff isn’t going to say such a thing whether he believes it or not.
To those who think those of us that think infidelity is wrong, and are therfore “holier than thou”, I’d ask when is infidelity ok? Is it ok if one partner is unhappy? Is it ok if one comes from a poor family? Is it dependent on race? Finances? The glory of one’s career? Is it ok if the married one and the other are the same age? Is it ok if the married one gives to the community? Some here think it’s wrong. Others think <em>it’s not so bad, because…</em> Please fill in the blank for me. Why is it not low character to screw around on one’s partner? Is everyone here sure they know what character means?</p>
<p>If he had not been murdered, we probably would have never known about it. My guess is that he would have left this girl behind and moved on - either back to his wife or to another girl or string of girls. Her recognition of this is probably what motivated the murder. The chances of his being faithful to his wife were pretty slim but if his kids never knew, then the damage is limited. However, it did come out and it is no one’s fault but McNair’s. </p>
<p>He failed his family - he failed his sons. Unless he was in the condo because he was helping unload her groceries, he has failed at his most important job - being a role model to his kids. Married or not, being a role model to an 18 year old boy does not entail dating a 19 year old girl. I can’t separate the two as easily. I’ll judge him as harshly as I judge someone like John Edwards and he’s dead to me. When McNair played here in Baltimore, I thought it was great how he stood out in comparison to our local thug - Ray Lewis. McNair and his brothers were raised by his mother. He knew, better than most, how important it was to be a role model or he wouldn’t have spent so much time trying to be one. Now he has abandoned his sons - and no matter how heroic he was on the football, it is likely they will feel abandoned. He had one duty - one job - and it wasn’t to play a game, write checks to charity, organize other kids’ lives - it was to stop that cycle of abandoned, fatherless kids. He failed.</p>
<p>If you think Fisher was putting a spin on what he truly believes, you are wrong. Unless you know Jeff Fisher, perhaps you best shut up. I realize it is quite the thing on CC to disparage anyone connected with professional (or college) sports, but Jeff Fisher is one of the good guys.</p>
<p>My husband, a Baltimore Ravens employee, knew McNair when he was on the team. H finds the evidence of an extra-marital affair shocking. Absolutely shocking based on the man he knew. He keeps hoping some extenuating circumstances will emerge to salvage McNair’s reputation. But, that doesn’t appear to be happening. :(</p>
<p>What a shame. Isn’t there any public figure we can truly admire? (rhetorical)</p>
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<p>Right, no one was killed while McNair was DUI</p>
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<p>And your point is? They’ll be lining up in LA to earnestly sing the praises of Michael Jackson also.</p>
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<p>The people to admire are the private individuals who lead upstanding lives by doing honest work, being faithful to their spouses, and supporting their children financially and emotionally.</p>
<p>^re: Fisher–Good guy or not, he is schooled on what to say to the public. The image and the words projected are centered around what the public wants to see and hear and what will keep the money coming in. It’s a business–nothing more, nothing less.</p>
<p>Again, not here to cast stones. His children will pay for this for the rest of their lives. This is an opportunity for parents to teach their children that celebrities are mere images of what we want to see. It is the every day people in our lives that help to mold and shape who we will become.</p>
<p>has anyone heard…where there drugs involved?</p>
<p>From post #15 : “One has to wonder what the heck a 36 year old married father of four is doing with a 20 year old girlfriend.”</p>
<p>I hate to be Captain Obvious here, but the answer to your question is *&%$#?& like there is no tomorrow.</p>
<p>NYSmile. Yes, I do believe you are here to cast stones.<br>
You don’t know Jeff Fisher. Why is it such a huge stretch to believe someone is sincere? </p>
<p>[COLOR=DimGray]Sent from my iPhone using [Tapatalk](<a href=“http://www.tapatalk.com%5DTapatalk%5B/URL%5D%5B/COLOR”>http://www.tapatalk.com)[/COLOR</a>]</p>
<p>I’m going to take a wild guess but I’d assume his kids are going to have a harder time dealing with the fact that their dad is dead than the idea that he is not perfect.
The media has publicized that the McNair’s marriage may have been falling apart, and it is clear he was not spending very much time with his family if he was with his girlfriend as much as it has been said. As a person who has been through a similar situation (albeit one that ended in divorce, not murder) I can tell you that it is very hard to ignore the clear signs of a wandering family member.</p>
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<p>Why limit it to private individuals? I’d be willing to admire a public figure with those qualities. Being “public” doesn’t make someone automatically bad. And being “private” doesn’t make someone automatically good.</p>
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<p>Not sure what you mean by this Billy Pilgram. McNair was not DUI, his girlfriend was, and if you are referring to Ray Lewis, he was not driving during his escapade here in Atlanta. He was in the back of a limo.</p>
<p>I’m sure he was sincere in his thoughts. But, one must be realistic and understand that he leads an organization that is a business and one must censure what is said to the public for many reasons.</p>
<p>My hope is that young people will learn that it is important to separate the image from the man (or woman). Advise them to stop looking to strangers/celebrities/athletes as their role models. Don’t be blinded by an image, but rather be inspired by the every day people in your life that find positive ways to overcome adversity and live a life of character and integrity.</p>
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<p>* McNair was arrested for DUI and illegal gun possession in May 2003. His blood alcohol was above 0.10, and a 9-mm handgun had been sitting in the front of the car *</p>
<p>On May 9, 2007 McNair was a passenger in a car that was pulled over for suspicion of drunk driving. Both the driver of the vehicle, which was his brother-in-law, and McNair were arrested for driving under the influence. Under Tennessee law, one can still be arrested for DUI even if you are a passenger in your own car and the driver is found to be under the influence. McNair owned the pick-up truck involved and was charged with DUI by consent</p>
<p>Two days before their deaths, Kazemi was pulled over in a black 2007 Cadillac Escalade in Nashville with McNair in the passenger seat</p>
<p>Those are just the times he was caught</p>
<p>^^^^^</p>
<p>I did not know about his prior actions.</p>
<p>Jeff isn’t putting out a spin? Nysmile has it right(post 69) and again in 76. He is very likely sincere on what portion he says. I’ll add that Jeff is schooled on what to say AND on what not to say. I didn’t hear or read Jeff’s comments in their entireity as apparently Momofwc did. I’ll say that unless Jeff came forward with the whole truth, then yes it is his spin. That’s what spin is- hitting the high points avoiding the low points to present a beautiful but purposefully providing an inaccurate or incomplete picture. I don’t mean every fact of McNair’s life- (he stole gum at 7, to make up an example) should be stated, but married man McNair and his girlfriend getting killed in the wee hours of the morning in a condo he rents for a “love nest” is very germain to his life story. If telling the whole truth, that should be included. Is that what Jeff did, Momowc? Did he tell the whole truth?
Similarly, If McNair had died trying to rescue a widow from a burning car you can bet that would be mentioned. And so it should.
The public image was leader on the field, tough competitor, skilled player, and a giver to the community(that phrase always makes me snicker now), but in addition to those well earned accolades he was also lacking in moral character. There’s an old expression- “I’m not going to let the facts get in the way of my opinion.”</p>
<p>Read an article that said that the police would have signed off long ago on the murder-suicide scenario if there had been some prior knowledge by ANYBODY of physical abuse, threats, knock down drag out fights, anything like that between this couple or a history of instability in the young lady. When this sort of thing (murder suicide) usually occurs, people often say, “We should have seen it coming.” But no one did.</p>
<p>It just seemed like she snapped in less than a week. </p>
<p>Her buying a gun (have the police decided whether it was her gun that was used?) should give the cops something to think about.</p>