Sunday, May 13, 2012

Saying Goodbye to Seau

"Seau’s apparent suicide stuns Patriots, league; Follows deaths of other athletes with brain trauma" by Greg A. Bedard Globe Staff / May 3, 2012

Junior Seau, one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history and an emotional leader on four Patriots teams, including the 2007 squad that went 16-0 in the regular season, was found shot to death at his home in Oceanside, Calif., on Wednesday in what police said was an apparent suicide.

Seau was 43 years old and less than three years removed from his final NFL game - at Gillette Stadium in the Patriots’ playoff loss to the Ravens on Jan. 10, 2010.

“This is a sad day for the entire Patriots organization, our coaches and his many Patriots teammates,’’ the Patriots organization said in a statement. “Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to his family and his many friends who will mourn this loss.’’

“All of us are deeply saddened about Junior Seau, a great player loved by teammates who also worked hard to serve his community,’’ said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

Seau’s post-career life previously came under some scrutiny in October 2010, when Seau’s car plunged 100 feet off a cliff in Carlsbad, Calif., shortly after he was released from jail following an arrest on a felony charge of spousal assault without injury. Seau said he fell asleep at the wheel. He sustained a concussion and some minor injuries.

Seau’s body was found Wednesday by his girlfriend in a bedroom with a gunshot wound to his chest, and a handgun was near his body, police said. Seau apparently did not leave a note.

Seau’s mother, Luisa Seau, sobbed as she talked to reporters outside her son’s home, where hundreds had arrived to mourn the loss of one of San Diego’s favored sons....

--more--"    

Not that I'm spitting on the man's grave, and one can never discount mother's grief (I saw the heartbreaking stuff); however, how many people -- how many military veterans -- committed suicide yesterday and were not accorded such attention? They had mothers, too. 

The self-serving, agenda-pushing, war-promoting, sports-loving media is part of the problem.

RelatedJunior Seau's suicide raises vital questions about football 

Like should it be banned. 

I'll tell you, you wanna get a reaction from the Amerikan people, propose banning football and beer. They'll put Occupy to shame.