FReepmail me to get on or off
Posted on 05/31/2005 3:46:26 PM PDT by Asphalt
GREEN BAY, Wis. (May 31, 2005) -- The Green Bay Packers will retire Reggie White's number at halftime ceremonies of their home opener against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 18.
Team president Bob Harlan said he had told White before his death last December that he wanted to add his No. 92 to the retired numbers listed in the north end zone at Lambeau Field. "He was thrilled. He kept saying what an honor that would be," Harlan said.
White, who suffered from a respiratory ailment, died Dec. 26 at age 43.
He joined the Packers in 1993 in one of the biggest free agent signings in sports history and during a six-year stay helped restore respectability to a faded franchise. He helped lead the Packers to a Super Bowl triumph over New England following the 1996 season.
The Packers only four retired numbers: fullback Tony Canadeo (3), wide receiver Don Hutson (14), quarterback Bart Starr (15) and linebacker Ray Nitschke (66).
The NFL prefers teams honor players by retiring their jerseys, not their numbers, but Harlan said White deserves a special honor.
"We're going to have to do it with No. 4 someday, too," Harlan said, referring to quarterback Brett Favre.
"I always look at Ron Wolf, Mike Holmgren, Reggie White and Brett Favre, these guys revived this franchise when I think a lot of our fans had given up hope that it was ever going to happen. I just think we have to honor these men."
Thanks for the ping, this is good news. Reggie was one of the best. A great American would of been a great freeper.
So glad they are doing this. Best to his widow.....
Lando 
If anyone deserves it, it's him.
I was so surprised when I heard he died. Guess it's, not common, but fairly frequent for heave former football players to die at a young age, not long ago some former steelers linebacker died in his fiftys or something.
Don't forget Lyle Alzado.
True, Alzado died relatively young. But his death was rather self-inflicted, unlike Reggie White. Lyle abused steroids.
He was a Kardiac Kid when he played for my beloved Browns.
yes
Was his autopsy released?
Lyle Alzado was born in 1949 and died in 1992. A very short lifespan of 53 years. The PA Steeler that you mentioned was maybe Mike Webster, another sad case. Born in 1952 and died in 2002. I believe that his family said that Mike "Iron Mike" died destitude. I hope not. There are some tragic stories coming out of professional sports. These stories will multiply exponentially as the "Steroid Generation" of athletes ages.
The numbers will shake out as the superstar athletes go the way of drug user and abuser Lyle Alzado. Maybe Marc Gastineau, maybe Reggie White and maybe all of the other monster athletes, no longer with us, who bulked up on steroids will be a lesson to today's athletes.
In my opinion the jury is still out on retiring Reggie White's number in Green Bay (although it is a fait accompli). I would vote against it. Willie Davis is much more deserving to have his number retired than Reggie White.
Also, when Reggie White claimed that his church was burned in Tennesee, the people of Wisconsin donated heavily to have his church rebuilt. The church was never rebuilt and the donations from Wisconsin were lost and never accounted for.
# 92, so what. I am not impressed.
Difference noted.
Reggie was cool -- and I was realy upset when he died so young. He seemed so full of life. And he was a natural and charismatic preacher.
Also, IIRC, Reggie was a charter member of the Memphis Showboats of the USFL?
Lando 
I have no idea
Strong allegations. You disreguard the fact that it took Bruce Smith far longer to beat his sack record than it took White to set it. White was also a strong Christian, you'll have a heck of a time convincing me otherwise
yeah
I dont know if the autopsy was released, but I believe that he died of some type of acute asthma or breathing disorder....
It WAS NOT steroid related, as has been insinuated on this thread.....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.