Taylor's Life Deserves To Be Honored
Harold Wilson
Being in the wrong place at the wrong time can be costly, as can doing a disservice to one's memory.
For safeties in the NFL, being in the wrong place at the wrong time often leads to big touchdowns for the opposition team.
Out in the real world, it sometimes means your life.
As a Pro Bowl safety for the Washington Redskins, Sean Taylor managed to patrol the secondary like few others.
The son of a police chief, life outside the football field proved beyond Taylor's control.
His death Tuesday at the young age of 24, following what appears to have stemmed from a surprise break-in at his Florida residence and subsequent shooting, showed once again how challenging the game of life can be.
But where you bounce back from losses in the NFL, death offers no chance of coming back. Still, Taylor's life left much good to be remembered.
So why the negative energy many, including some members of the National Association of Black Journalists, felt the press unleashed not long after Taylor's untimely passing? Instead of focusing on his brave act, or his accomplishments on the football field, each story seemed to include off-the-field situations he incurred, although Taylor never served jail time.
Regardless what type of 'so-called' trouble Taylor encountered, no one deserves to be killed - especially in their own bedroom at their own home with their child watching.
With the regular reports on professional athletes and their brushes with the law, Taylor's killing raises questions - some valid, others off-based. The coverage - and outrage - surrounding Taylor's death pales in comparison to Michael Vick's far-less damaging dog-fighting ring.
Many assume Taylor hailed from the streets and continued to live by the code. But why not assume he used his newfound wealth to help family and friends?
And what about the two lives it looks like he possibly saved - his girlfriend and infant daughter, both reportedly at the home when the murders occurred - by bravely taking a stand to confront the intruders? Not with a gun, but with a knife.
Injury caused Taylor to be home instead of with his Redskin teammates at the time. Not even that stopped him from doing another job, protecting those around him. In that duty of patrol, he performed just like he did for the Redskins when he amassed 299 tackles and 12 interceptions in 55 games played over a brief, 3 1/2-year professional career.
He lost his life, but by saving others, Taylor scored a victory which should be remembered - one better than a touchdown-saving tackle ever could.
For safeties in the NFL, being in the wrong place at the wrong time often leads to big touchdowns for the opposition team.
Out in the real world, it sometimes means your life.
As a Pro Bowl safety for the Washington Redskins, Sean Taylor managed to patrol the secondary like few others.
The son of a police chief, life outside the football field proved beyond Taylor's control.
His death Tuesday at the young age of 24, following what appears to have stemmed from a surprise break-in at his Florida residence and subsequent shooting, showed once again how challenging the game of life can be.
But where you bounce back from losses in the NFL, death offers no chance of coming back. Still, Taylor's life left much good to be remembered.
So why the negative energy many, including some members of the National Association of Black Journalists, felt the press unleashed not long after Taylor's untimely passing? Instead of focusing on his brave act, or his accomplishments on the football field, each story seemed to include off-the-field situations he incurred, although Taylor never served jail time.
Regardless what type of 'so-called' trouble Taylor encountered, no one deserves to be killed - especially in their own bedroom at their own home with their child watching.
With the regular reports on professional athletes and their brushes with the law, Taylor's killing raises questions - some valid, others off-based. The coverage - and outrage - surrounding Taylor's death pales in comparison to Michael Vick's far-less damaging dog-fighting ring.
Many assume Taylor hailed from the streets and continued to live by the code. But why not assume he used his newfound wealth to help family and friends?
And what about the two lives it looks like he possibly saved - his girlfriend and infant daughter, both reportedly at the home when the murders occurred - by bravely taking a stand to confront the intruders? Not with a gun, but with a knife.
Injury caused Taylor to be home instead of with his Redskin teammates at the time. Not even that stopped him from doing another job, protecting those around him. In that duty of patrol, he performed just like he did for the Redskins when he amassed 299 tackles and 12 interceptions in 55 games played over a brief, 3 1/2-year professional career.
He lost his life, but by saving others, Taylor scored a victory which should be remembered - one better than a touchdown-saving tackle ever could.
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