The Tennessee Titans take on the Buffalo Bills in the Hall of Fame Game to kick off the NFL preseason on Sunday, and aside from the always delightful antics of Terrell Owens, viewers will also be greeted by this: A decal on the Titans’ helmets honoring the late Steve McNair.
The Titans, in fact, wanted to honor their former quarterback with a uniform patch, but the league had already committed to patch honoring the 50th anniversary of the American Football League, and they can’t have two. But now comes the question that the Titans probably never thought they’d have to answer: Does McNair deserve such an honor? Many, even including some Titans fans, are saying no.
From THE TENNESSEAN:
McNair, shot and killed July 4, wore No. 9 while playing from 1995-2005 with the organization. He threw for 27,141 yards and 156 touchdowns as a Titan and was the league’s co-MVP in 2003.
The Titans are also working on other ways to honor McNair this season. Last season he was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor at LP Field.
One would think that even the more unforgiving and churlish denizens of message board land would give this one a pass. McNair wasn’t much of a role model in some aspects of his life, but he did mean a lot to many people, and the tragedy of his passing shouldn’t really be ignored; at least that’s what Titans officials are thinking. Many, however, are not sympathetic.
From the NBCSPORTS.COM message board:
- You mean: “McNair, who was married at the time, was shot and killed by his girlfriend. The Titans nonetheless will honor the passing of this lothario, who reneged on his wedding vows and ruined his children’s life by hooking up with a 20-year-old, whacked-out floozie.” — reality12
- I agree w/ realityonetwo. The Titans are glorifying a man who wasn’t exactly a hero. What kind of example is this guy to kids? Why not put a Mike Vick logo on Titans uniforms while you’re at it? His death was completely avoidable - all he had to do was NOT CHEAT ON HIS WIFE! — givensr2
- Perfect example of why kids should NOT look at professional athletes as role models. What kind of message is this sending to kids? — gameday
And from THE TENNESSEAN message board:
- Why are they honoring someone who cheated on his wife and kids? — sw9ve
- Why don’t the Titans just put adulterer on the back of all the jerseys, and create an admirer of adulterers section in the stadium for those who salute men who died in disgrace. McNair died an adulterous drunken man. That will be his legacy. Those who promote it set a bad example for young men to follow. — HotTub
- I have every respect for the dead, but none for so-called “men” who cheat on their families. — sw9ve
Of course, McNair has plenty of defenders mixed in there as well. But the number and volume of the naysayers surprised me. That’s harsh, you guys.
4:30 pm on August 6th, 2009
Who cares what bible freaks think. McNair did so much for the Titans organization. He is a humanitarian who deserves to be honored by the league, players, and fans.
4:44 pm on August 6th, 2009
They should leave it up to the team members if you support him, then wear the number on your helmet, if not then dont.
I wear #9 as a reminder not to drink, fall asleep and get killed at a crazy bitches house.
4:46 pm on August 6th, 2009
Seriously, you might as well say why honor Sean Taylor? He’d still be alive if he wasn’t rich!
While we’re at it, let’s never honor Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, or Mickey Mantle because they were not very good role models either. That type of thinking is stupid. They are honoring him because of his worth to the Oilers/Titans franchise and the other good things he has done which I think outweigh the fact that he was cheating on his wife and got shot by his crazy girlfriend.
5:16 pm on August 6th, 2009
I was honored to have had sex with this stud! Then he let me do him. woo hoo!!!
7:53 pm on August 6th, 2009
Yes it’s unfortunate he was shot and killed but really NO sports figure is a “hero” in any way shape or form. What have they tought us.. that it’s ok to drink and drive, or smoke pot, or owmanize as long as you make over a million bucks a year for playing a stupid kids game?
Thus I don’t care either way myself.
8:46 pm on August 6th, 2009
This is silly. Everyone posting “Why honor an adulterer”
Do you people really not understand that wouldn’t be what they are honoring about him?!
Every single person who has ever had respect paid to them in sports has made stupid mistakes.
We don’t honor them for their mistakes people. This isn’t complicated. Why would you attempt to make it so?
12:56 am on August 7th, 2009
mcnair was an idiot…but what he did on the field should be kept seperate from what he did off of it…..good football player…lousy role model
9:04 am on August 7th, 2009
Not everyone who disagrees with cheating is a “bible freak”. Some of us are perfectly decent atheists who simply don’t believe in being a cheating jackass.
10:28 am on August 7th, 2009
You have to be kidding me for downing this man’s career. Hello people! This is honoring the man on the field not his off the field antics(despite the fact that he was absolutely great to the city of Nashville). He was an incredible player and it was truly an honor to watch him on the field. And an FYI to all the people criticizing him about cheating, guess what, this is quite common in the NFL and all pro sports
12:20 pm on August 7th, 2009
Jen,
> Some of us are perfectly decent atheists who simply
> don’t believe in being a cheating jackass.
Perfectly said.
Ward,
> We don’t honor them for their mistakes people
True. But it’s his mistake that is still very fresh in everybody’s heads. McNair seemed a very nice guy, but cheating with a young unstable armed girl, with some light drugs added to the mix, does not seem like a good idea, and since the No Fun League is about perception and not truth, what would be in most of the audience’s members if they saw a uniform patch celebrating a guy who recently died in the above mentioned circumstances? His self-sacrificing attitude on the field would fade away and be replaced by thoughts about his death. I believe the way McNair’s life ended will make it difficult for people to look at his career objectively. it will take time.
Mcnair lives,
> an honor to watch him on the field
You can consider this an honor. To me, the opportunity to watch great athletes after paying an expensive ticket is:
- The service I paid for, unless one pays to watch the Lions: that’s a religious experience, since they expect to see a miracle;
- Luck, if I see an amazing performance, e.g. Erik Kramer leading the Lions to a 38-6 victory on the ‘Boys in 1991’s playoffs;
Mcnair lives, again:
> FYI to all the people criticizing him about cheating,
> guess what, this is quite common in the NFL and all pro sports
Guess what: the fact that many sportsmen cheat does not make cheating more acceptable.
If you are married, tell your spouse “Hey, cheating is ok, it is quite common in all pro sports”. Let us know what she says… if you are still capable of writing, afterwards!
12:57 pm on August 7th, 2009
I agree that although it is common that it should not be acceptable. However, a player should still be respected for his on the field achievements and his humanitarian efforts like the Steve McNair Foundation. All should not be lost due to his extramarital affairs.
2:23 pm on August 7th, 2009
I have a great idea. Why not put a picture of his widow and kids on the back of the helmets. They are the ones that had to “explain” what this animal was doing behind thier backs.
12:51 am on August 8th, 2009
A decal or a number on a helmet or a sleeve is fine; even a moment’s silence before the first home game….but please don’t do some on field ceremony in his honor. That requires family members to be present on the field and how awkward would that be for McNair’s wife and four children!?
2:17 am on August 8th, 2009
Grow up. All your favorite athletes, politicians, actors all cheat. Fact of life. People with opportunity and temptation tend to give in. That’s why it’s called temptation. The flaw is in all of us. Your soap-boxing of McNair has as even less to do with hurting his family as your soap-boxing of Mike Vick had to do with protecting animals. It’s the fan mentality. You own an athlete, and you think your role is to cheer and boo every moment of his life. And I completely agree with the Sean Taylor reference. Taylor’d be alive if he were not rich, McNair’d be alive if he didn’t cheat on his wife… or maybe if he were gay. Either way, getting murdered is NOT a natural consequence of either, so linking the two rings extremely hollow.