Remembering Junior Seau

There are some images you see in sports so often when you are growing up that they become almost commonplace.  You expect them to always see those images there, and occasionally may take them for granted because a player can make these extraordinary plays a regular occurrence.  It can be something as simple as like seeing Cal Ripken Jr run out of the dugout every game, to expecting Michael Jordon to always make that buzzer beater.  One of those things for me was watching Junior Seau play football.  He made so many great defensive plays that for him to do anything else was unexpected.  I can't remember ever seeing him miss a tackle, have a running back juke him out of his shoes, or see an offensive lineman pancake him.  It was a joy to watch him play.  And that might be why it is equally as sad to hear that he passed away today at age 43, apparently from a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the chest.

Seau was a member of the 1990s All-Decade team, and will undoubtedly be a first ballot Hall of Fame selection in 2015.  It is tragic that he will not be there to celebrate with his children, teammates, and all of the football fans, from San Diego, Miami, New England and around the league, that loved his passion and mastery of his position.

His death, it seems, will always be linked to the new concern for player safety, the penalties for the New Orleans Saints' Bounty scandal (also released today), and a paradigm shift for the way football intensity is viewed.  I think it is more than just speculation that he shot himself in the chest so that his brain could be examined postmortem.  The fire with which Seau played the game led to strong, vicious tackles.  These hits may have lead to debilitating brain trauma, which has been seen in others who have committed suicide or, in the case of former wrestler Chris Benoit, to murder his family and then himself.

This is a terrible tragedy and unfortunate occurrence.  It may not help the sadness go away, but having a chance to watch some of Seau's highlights and reform that appreciation for his ability is a good way to remember him.  He was a consummate pro, a true Hall of Famer, and one of the greatest defensive players of all time.



RIP Junior Seau.  You will be missed.