Is it possible that Mechelle McNair had no idea about her husband’s affair with 20-year-old beauty Sahel Kazemi, learning about it only when the grisly crime scene was discovered at a Nashville condo? The NEW YORK DAILY NEWS this morning is quoting a source saying that Steve McNair’s wife was “blindsided” by the relationship, a surprising contention considering how openly Kazemi was discussing her belief that the couple was getting a divorce.
(Sahel Kazemi)
Just another wrinkle in the story that has more twists and turns than a Hitchcock film. All the elements of a classic crime thriller are in place: The crime scene that leaves more questions than answers; one victim who is a famous ex-athlete, the other who came to this country after her parents were killed in Iran; a jealous ex-boyfriend; a mystery man lurking in the shadows. And the wife who claims she was totally in the dark. But was she?
Although Kazemi apparently told relatives that McNair was in the process of divorcing his wife, the DAILY NEWS source said that Mechelle had no idea that her husband had a girlfriend.
“She’s blindsided by this,” one source said of Mechelle McNair, who was holed up in her family’s home just 6 miles from the condo her husband used to bed his mistress. “She’s crushed. Her whole world is shattered.”
Kazemi, apparently, believed that a divorce was imminent. One reason is that McNair would take trips with his children without his wife, Kazemi said. Kazemi had told relatives that she and McNair would “take a break” when McNair would go away on his own with his children. Kazemi’s cousin Farzin Abdi said that McNair and the children recently returned from Mexico:
“I was under the impression that his family knew about her,” Abdi said. “That he took the children alone with him on vacation is a sign that they were separated.”
Kazemi told her sister, Sepideh Salmani, that McNair was in the process of divorcing.
Kazemi, though younger than Abdi and Salmani, was actually their aunt but they were raised as siblings.
Salmani talked to her sister every day and said she was very happy in her relationship with McNair.
“That’s why she was like, ‘OK, now you’re divorcing. We can date,’ ” Salmani said. “He told her, it was going to be finished, the whole divorce was going to be done, two weeks from yesterday.”
Abdi said that the family was leery of Kazemi’s relationship with McNair. Earlier, when Kazemi had expressed nervousness about living alone, Abdi had suggested that she get a permit to carry a gun. Her reply did not put the family at ease.
“She told me she didn’t have to because Steve had lots of guns,” Abdi said.
11:07 am on July 6th, 2009
Just can’t believe McNair played this poor woman like this. No idea what happened, but it’s pretty clear what he was up to in the relationship.
I know he didn’t deserve to die, but hopefully this is a wakeup call for people (not just athletes) who do this to people. Talk about fantasy land.
12:30 pm on July 6th, 2009
I believe in my opinion Mechelle McNair’s wife knew of this affair. She only lived six miles from the condo. Also, what about her saying she had not spoken to her husband for a couple of days. That is odd. At least ladies in my home it is anyways. Wow! This is crazy. If the Kazemis thought that the McNair family knew about their aunt/sister then why didn’t she not meet the kids? I thought they were going to marry after the divorce which was taking place in two weeks?? How crazy. THis is a motion picture in the making.
12:47 pm on July 6th, 2009
I agree. McNair was playing with this girl. A 38yr-old married man messing with a 20-yr girl! There is nothing but sex & booze in such relationships. Sad story for everybody involved.
1:03 pm on July 6th, 2009
I feel bad for the woman but come on… Did she miss the news last week when McNair’s (cough) “friend” was pulled over for DUI with him in the car? The girl was driving an Escalade that McNair bought for her and which was registered under both their names. Not too hard to connect the dots there. Someone has to say it: Does Mechelle McNair have an alibi?
1:36 pm on July 6th, 2009
Im not saying McNair deserved to die.. but being a married 38 yr old man and messing with a 20 year old girl… always ends bad. Usually its her calling your house nonstop drunk or showing up at your house and making a scene infront of your wife/kids. Unfortunately for Steve it didnt even end that well.
2:26 pm on July 6th, 2009
Brooks, you’ve seen too many TV shows. You’re so wrong on this it’s laughable … Maybe you’ll realize that when you’re done patting yourself on the back for all your “scoops.” This is open and shut, a murder-suicide. Police ALWAYS say “apparent” first, then finalize things before saying it definitely was a murder-suicide. They’re not holding out because they think someone else did it. As someone in law enforcement, that’s simply how it works. It sometimes takes months to make a final determination. That is done because the police can’t just throw shit out there like you can. It’s also amusing that you say more stuff will come out. Thanks for the f***ing tip Sherlock. My God, dude, get off your soapbox. You know far less than the police, and the guess here is, far less than the local media you keep ripping. You see, they have better sources than you do. Also, I see the Tennessean has 15 photos up of the girl. When you rip those off, please give them credit. By the way, all the other stuff you do is FANTASTIC. In fairness I had to say that. You do a great job. Your blog is the best in sports. But this time, you’re acting like an ass.
2:27 pm on July 6th, 2009
Maybe she did do this after finding out there wasn’t going to be a divorce and decided “if I can’t have you, nobody will!” Scary stuff, was there any mention of a boiling pot of rabbit stew?
2:41 pm on July 6th, 2009
This is a murder suicide. No forced entry and they found the gun under the dead girls body. They are just waiting to confirm it. This is what happens when you screw around on your wife with a headcase girl nearly 20 years younger then you.
3:19 pm on July 6th, 2009
What the hell did Steve see in this busted hoochie? He was a decent lookin guy with millions and this is who you chose to cheat on your wife with? I mean i know ugly poor (alive) guys with better lookin girls then this. O well, atleast his wife wont have to go threw a long divorce and fight for child support… she’ll just get everything. His kids are the ones that will have to grow up without a father, but something tells me they were already doing that.
7:33 pm on July 6th, 2009
Living in Nashville and being a huge Titans fan, this is just crazy to comprehend. To be honest, I’ve waffled on this whole case. The moment I heard the news, I was holding out to give McNair the benefit of the doubt. But the next day when news began to leak out, it became very apparent that McNair’s rep lost some of it’s shine.
With the details of the gun purchase..how he left the scene in a taxi while she’s hauled off to the clink, unfortunately the scene is being painted as that of a jilted lover. Steve was a kind guy to meet and chat with, but unfortunately alot of people are letting him skate on the whole adultery deal. The guy had 4 kids and a wife - 36 yr old man, 20 yr old head case. Unbelievable.
8:23 pm on July 6th, 2009
Folks., plain and simple., he wanted something young and hot on the side., she probably killed him when he finally said to her, that he isnt getting divorced., she flipped out., end of story.., pretty sad, but accurate.
10:03 pm on July 6th, 2009
No one wins here more than McNair’s wife. Instead of fighting for half - she gets it all, plus insurance, plus a NFL pension without an embarrassing divorce procedure. Any tears she will cry at the funeral will be million dollar tears of joy since she knew that she was being kicked to the curb anyway.
10:24 pm on July 7th, 2009
You know folks Steve was wrong but I think it was a robbery gone bad. It’s funny a scared little 20 year old take 4 shots and all 4 r deadly two in the head and two in the chest, it’s funny none In the arm or In the wall, look like a hit 2 me. How can the gun be under her if she shoots herself in the head. Why is she knocking on her ex door saying we need 2 talk. They were going 2 rob him she changed her mind she had 2, make it look like she did it.
9:31 pm on July 12th, 2009
This is really a terrible incident, he leaves to suffer 4 young children if no one else. His kids now have to live with the fact that their dad was a low life scum bag and did their mother wrong. He could have had the decency to at least get a legal separation from his wife if he wanted to go out picking up tramps that just because he was Steve McNair thought she would live on easy street. They did not even care enough for his kids to take that mess somewhere else beside 6 miles from where his family lived. The article said he even took the tramp to Mississippi which was his home with him. What kind of Mother let her Son bring another woman to her house knowing he is married with 4 young kids, and then at the funeral she acted like she was having a hissy fit, while holding her youngest Grandson’s hand where is the decency MOM? You know I hate to say it but God does not like ugly and so He found a way to end that mess even if it meant hurting the wife and kids.They may lose in some way but now they will be taken care of for life. The wife can take the for sale sign down off the house she lives in. She will live debt free for the rest of her life all because her dumb husband decided to pick up sluts and tramps and make them promises he knew he was not going to keep. I feel sorry for the wife but she is a very pretty classy lady and she is still young and she still has a full life ahead of her. I just pray that the Boys be abe to get pass this and live a fulfilling life and not worry about what their Dad did or how he paid for it. RIP Steve.
10:57 am on July 13th, 2009
the whole thing is pretty shitty…from the moment that the “scum” and the “bitch” exchanged phone#s!!! I am not judging him for cheating, but couldn’t he have done it…maybe in another city? with an older woman? How about doing what every other athelete or one who has walth does: CALL A FLIPPIN ESCORT!!!!! what a dumb ass ( both of them )… I think that he maybe should’ve manned up and told his wife if he was unhappy… then it would’ve have been such a big deal that she was only 20…. and for her to assume (not sure if he told her he was leaving his wife) they were going to be together… she might have asked herself… ( what have I done in my lifetime, that would have a football great, want me and not his wife of 12 years )…. but you cannot rationalize correctly when you are one of such young years and experience…. And his GOOD friends…. FUCKERS!!! ALL FUCKERS!!!! I cannot believe that they would have the BALLS to even show up @ the funeral offering a shoulder for his wife and kids.If I were the wife I would have hired bodyguards to BAN their ASSES from the ceremony citing ” if you knew he was having an affair and you didn’t talk em outta of it…then you don’t have me and my familiy’s best interest at heart…. … Go on “Mechele” hold your head up high….collect that insurance and pension money…. live in your big beautiful house… try to raise your kids w/out a complex ( from their fathers filandering )…. and grieve for your husband……IF YOU SHOULD CHOOSE….
12:39 pm on October 21st, 2009
Steve Mcnair was not divorcing his wife, they weren’t separated and she had no idea he was seeing THAT woman. She might have known he was doing something but no, she didn’t know the specifics. If she did, she would have confronted the girl.
I don’t understand why men find the sweetest, smartest, prettiest young girl they know, marry her and then make her into a monster. As soon as the girl becomes a woman with stretchmarks, babies to worry about feeding, clothing, schooling and keeping healthy, the wife becomes a bitch, a burden, a nag, a warden, everything horrible in the world. And the “poor young man” who gave her the responsibilities in the first place needs someone young and fun on the side to get away from it all with.
I hope it was Steve McNairs other girlfriend that killed both of them, so they could both be dead and she be in prison while the wife laughs all the way to the bank.