Junior Seau – Rest in Peace

I wonder what it’s like to be “the Man”. It’s an experience that most of us never experienced. It begins in high school when cliques begin to form and popularity is the difference between heaven and hell. For the Man it was nothing but heaven. Everyone adored you and tried to get near you in the hopes that your popularity will somehow rub off onto them. It continues on in college. Everyone knows your name and expects great achievement from you. It must be a heady feeling as you leave college for the NFL and take the league by storm, carving out a hall of fame career. It must be amazing to be surrounded by the most talented athletes in the world and for them to honor you as being even a step above them.

RIP – Junior Seau

Is it so heady that a person can’t live without it? That’s what I find myself wondering as I contemplate the death of Junior Seau. Seau committed suicide earlier this week. He chose to end his life after 43 years with shot from a revolver to the chest. I find myself compelled to make sense out of a senseless situation. Seau was a 12-time pro bowler for the San Diego Chargers before spending time later in his career with the Dolphins and Patriots. People forget just how good Seau was. Before Ray Lewis came along Seau was the best middle linebacker that many of us had ever seen. He was one of the top 5 defensive players to put on a uniform in the 90’s and will almost certainly be inducted into the hall of fame on the first ballot when he becomes eligible in 2015.