Posted on 12/28/2004 8:26:17 PM PST by MrArbitrage
I was shocked like millions of others on Sunday as the breaking news unfolded on NFL Countdown. Reggie White had died of a heart attack..
Much has been said about his formidable talent on the football field and equally as much about the beauty of this shortened life off the field. What a life well lived. This was a man and Reverend who worked and ministered with inner-city children and many others wherever God placed him. He gave of himself not for accolades or personal adulation, but to fulfill the great commission.
Despite the wonderful things he did, despite the good fruits that this tree did indeed bare, despite the collective “testimony” to honor his memory over the last couple of days by those who knew him and worked with him - the National Football League, tastelessly have slipped in subtle but inappropriate comments (to those with a sense of good taste) before the man has even been buried.
http://nfl.com/news/story/8040641
…White worked tirelessly in the offseason with inner-city youths. But his image was tarnished when he gave a speech in which he denounced homosexuality and used ethnic stereotypes. White later apologized.
That “incident” was so irrelevant and had no place in any article that would attempt to tell who this man was, especially the day after his death. The word tarnished in describing his image is about as odious as the apparent agenda by the NFL in releasing such a statement of idiocy and disrespect to this man of God.
Now that they have surreptitiously cast aspersions on Mr. Whites name, why not visit the reality of the incident to which they refer.
Reggie White knows how to compete, how to stand strong when the situation requires it. Today, he needs that fortitude and courage to stand against the forces of political correctness and moral decline in our culture—and the false accusations being made against him.
His latest test comes as a result of a speech before the Wisconsin state legislature in March 1998. During the talk, Reggie forthrightly presented the biblical position on many problems facing our world, including greed, sexual immorality, race relations, and obscene movies and music. In comparing the gay rights movement to the civil rights movement, he said, “Homosexuality is a decision. It’s not a race.” His comments created an uproar.
Not at first, mind you. Members of the legislature flocked around him after the speech, eager to have their photo taken with the sports hero. But once Reggie’s words were reported in the national press, particularly his comments on homosexuality, and once homosexual activists started branding him an “extremist” and “bigot,” some of these same legislators changed their tune and publicly said they were “appalled” or “shocked” at the speech. Worth noting is that the few homosexuals in the legislature were not among those expressing shock, and Reggie says one even defended his right to say what he believed.
The entire article can be read at:
http://www.family.org/fofmag/pp/a0024026.cfm
This slanderous and specious comment made by the NFL has appeared not only on the NFL web site, it has also been picked up and used throughout the national media.
This is the same NFL that has no problem with allowing their games, which are viewed by millions of children with their fathers and mothers to be bombarded every ten or 15 minutes with commercials propounding the promise of long lasting, 4 hour erections through the use of drugs if they just “ask their Doctor” about it and all kinds sexual innuendo through alcoholic beverage adds. I even see adds for the many local strip bars and “adult bookstores” on the games carried on ESPN through the local cable provider. This is the same NFL that allowed ABC to ingeniously hire MTV to produce its halftime show and claimed to disapprove when Janet Jackson’s breast was unveiled for half the nation, not to mention the recent Monday night fiasco that was produced also by ABC. Where are the sanctions against ABC from the NFL?
Reggie’s honesty cost him... Several corporate sponsors dropped him, notably Campbell’s Soup. And CBS Sports, about to sign a five-year, $6 million deal with Reggie to be a football commentator, backed out.. I guess the notion of sin, the belief that God’s laws were just too much for CBS, despite the fact that he was not making his statements on a football commentary show, but rather before a legislature that invited him.
Where was the ACLU? How could they allow CBS to terminate him for his religious beliefs that were expressed on his own time in a forum that had nothing to do with them? Why didn’t the NFL stand up for his rights?
The purpose for bringing up this topic is to say to the NFL shame on you. Dredging up these false accusations was extremely insensitive - especially the day after this wonderful mans death.
Just possibly, it's neither.
But putting that crap in the league's official obit is insulting and offensive.
12.28.04 reporting regwhite obit doubleplusungood refs gaypersons rewrite fullwise upsub antefiling
Rotten Bastards. I heard the same crap on ABC radio news.
God's team had an injury and had to call Reggie in early. I will never buy another campbell's product. I don't watch msm now. I will only watch the nfl because the Steelers are playing and only backwards in a barroom mirror. Godspeed to Reggie.
Its really disgusting how media types always bend over backwards to kiss gay butt. Its obviously where their mind is.
Also many corporate types!! It sure IS disgaceful!
disgraceful
MrArbitrage,Prayers for the soul of Reggie White .He said it as he saw it.,fatima
How else is the NFL to try and get its "puritan" image back but to use a Christian as a scapegoat? There image went into the toilet with the Janet Jackson and Terell Owens shows and now they find a way to attempt to reestablish their image. Sorry, but they have lost all credibility with me, especially after this episode. Flush!
When you are black and you walk outside everyone knows you are black, no one knows your gay unless you share with the world. Being Gay is not the same as being black.
ThisLittleLightofMine,Your right about that.
Agreed.
What does Campbells have to do with it?
This from a league that permits a murderer to not only play, but gives him honors such as pro bowl recognition
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