Former NFL Player Reggie White Dies Of Heart Attack

[THUNDER HANDS]

just breaking on ESPN...


at age of 41. All-time NFL sack leader. Played for Philadelphia and Green Bay.

[blueknight]

1. only 41 years old

how sad, god bless and be with his family

[0007]

4. How much did he weigh?

The last photo showed a very heavy Reggie!

My condolence, a was good football he was.

[Bertha Venation]

2. My god.

:cry:

[October]

3. No!

How sad. What a decent and beloved guy. Even when he left Philly, the fans cheered him upon his return with other teams.

I remember I was so happy when he won that super bowl "ring" -- even though it wasn't with the Eagles. Everyone was happy for him.

[kaitykaity]

5. I'm sure they'll tell us all about it on the pregame shows

this morning.

Can't wait to see how long it takes Bradshaw and Long
to make it about them somehow.

:gaack:

[THUNDER HANDS]

6. Mike Golic is crying on espn

He was breaking down talking about him. Sad. :(

[DS1]

10. haha, what a complete asshole

Good, fuck Mike Golic, and I don't even know who Mike Golic is, but if he's crying on tv, then fuck him

[LSdemocrat]

11. For mourning the death of a friend?

How cold can you be?

[DS1]

12. ice

just think, what will happen when an entire team goes down in a fireball of 707 parts and helmets?

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

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[Renew Deal]

19. You can dish it, but you can't take it.

Don't say things about people that you wouldn't want said about you. That said, I don't want to go down in a 707 or anything else. ;)

[WI_DEM]

74. you must have been drunk or something when you wrote this

at least that is one explanation.

[Renew Deal]

14. This is a little unreasonable.

Any reason for the venom?

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

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[DS1]

26. Hey, Merry Christmas!

:hi:

And to all a happy new year, except the cold slab of flesh that used to play football :-)

[Harry S Truman]

7. No tears

Sorry to break the news to you all, but this guyswas a flaming Christo-fascist right-wing asshole. At last, Reggie White will shut up!

[Bertha Venation]

9. for sweet christ's sake

I don't know Reggie White but I'm upset about his death because he was 41 and I am 41. 41 is too fucking young to die.

Don't you imagine that someone wishes for your death with a similar benediction you've just given for a man you didn't know? For a guy who probably left family, maybe young children? Are you honestly so fucking disgustingly partisan that you've lost any sense of humanity?

[Malikshah]

13. "sense of humanity?"

I feel for his family that mourns him.

Beyond that-- his views (and I should add his wife's views) showed no sense of compassion or humanity for others that were not like them in terms of their christo-fascist viewpoints on society.

I will have kind thoughts for his family and their loss, but at the same time will not make him out to be any sort of hero. Quite the contrary, he and his wife were the most insidious and odious of bigots.

[DS1]

16. His DEATH-AH is a gift from the LORD-AH, and we should be

happy when he BLESSES us with his TOUCH-AH!

[Renew Deal]

18. This reminds me of when Reagan died.

Reagan was an idiot. White was also an idiot. But he's dead. This will be dragged on for a week and life will go on.

[Zomby Woof]

23. he was horribly racist and homophobic

His views on Mexicans for example, and gays... no wonder he died young, all that hate kills a heart.

[Bertha Venation]

54. Bigots are still human. Including the ones who want me dead.

And I never claimed he was a hero. That's others' doing.

[arwalden]

24. Bertha, You Do Know He Was A Virulently ANTI GAY Extremist... Right?

GOOD RIDDANCE TO HIS SORRY ASS! You go ahead and feel sorry for him. Not I.

If there was anyone who DESERVED to die, it's him. He was scum. He fed and encouraged and fanned sparks of anti-gay sentiment until it was a conflegration.

>> Are you honestly so fucking disgustingly partisan that you've lost any sense of humanity? <<

:eyes: YES! You may add me into those people you consider to be "fucking disgusting" and "partisan" with no "sense of humanity".

You're just going to have a field day in standing in sanctimonious judgement, and scolding, and looking down your nose at others when we celebrate the death of Fred Phelps, aren't you? :eyes:

-- Allen

PS: He was 43.

[DS1]

27. fucking disgusting" and "partisan" with no "sense of humanity

wow, I've just been called a boil on the ass of humanity, or words to the effect.

Either there's more Packer fans here than I anticipated, or everyone's suddenly feeling all Holy and shit for the holidays.

Fuck em

[OldLeftieLawyer]

57. Don't stop

You're doing just fine.

:yourock:

[Bertha Venation]

55. Allen.

Yes. I know he was a 'phobe. I refuse to hate like he did. Okay?

FTR Mrs. V. shares your opinion: good riddance to bad rubbish. Would you please note that I've never said anything about him being a good man? Nor have I said it's a shame his mouth is gone.

Maybe there's something wrong with me in that I refuse, to the extent that I can, to hold as much hatred for the likes of Reggie Smith as they hold for me. I'm not perfect, I'm not Gandhi, I'm not Christ, and no, AAMOF, I don't hold this standard for everyone else. If that's a flaw, then fuck the world. I have to live with my flaws. Not you.

I do get angry and express my opinion, though, and that's what I did in response to Harry S Truman. You expect me to stay quiet? How is that different from being told to go back into the closet?

"You're just going to have a field day in standing in sanctimonious judgment, and scolding, and looking down your nose at others when we celebrate the death of Fred Phelps, aren't you?"

Bullshit, Allen. IMO that was too much, but you're entitled to yours, too. Having encountered Phelps in person three times, I have a harder time not hating him. But if I want to try, what's it to anyone else? How is my refusal to hate hurting you?

[arwalden]

67. You're Free *Not* To Hate Whomever You Please, Kim.

And Harry and I will just be "fucking disgusting" partisans by hating the enemy and celebrating their demise.

>> I don't hold this standard for everyone else. <<

Oh, yeah, right. Uh... okay... I guess that explains why you said what you said. :eyes:

>> I refuse to hate like he did. <<

Good for you, Kim! I don't think you should "hate like he did" because the way he hated was based on irrational faith-based bigotry. He was a racist and a homophobic jerk. If you were to do that, it would be wrong. You would be just as bad as he is.

You're making a false comparison to try and equate my hatred of the bigot enemy as being the same as their irrational bigoted faith-based hatred of me. It's not the same.

They are the enemy. They are in control. They have power and influence. By all means... free to smile passively at the enemy and *not* hate them. Feel free to let them walk all over you while you set a good example for them of how NOT to hate.

Feel free to stand in judgement over those who do have strong reactions and who do speak out. I can't stop you... so I'll just smile at you.

-- Allen

[arwalden]

76. :-?

Feel free to rebut or add any comments HERE (where they belong).

[Bertha Venation]

77. Why do I even reply in these threads?

I wind up stirring shit that I can't then handle.

"You're making a false comparison to try and equate my hatred of the bigot enemy as being the same as their irrational bigoted faith-based hatred of me. It's not the same."

No, I'm not. That I have led you to believe this is what I'm doing is obviously my error, and I'm sorry.

That it seems like I judge you because you hate -- well, I can't help it if that's how it seems. I don't know what else to say about that. Do I wish people wouldn't hate? Absolutely. Would I impose my will on you if I could? Not a chance.

FTR, to me, the partisanship of the current political climate -- as reflected here on DU, even in the lounge -- is disgusting. Stark, angry divisions between "us" and "them" are disgusting. Would that we could all march to the same drummer, but we can't; I understand the kind of political division that makes our system work. But as it is today? Polarized to the extreme? Hell yes, it disgusts me.

The expression of abject hatred and rage in reaction to the immediate news of the death of a young man disgusted me yesterday. Dancing on fresh graves disgusts me! I'll be damned if I'm going to keep that opinion (or any other) to myself when all others are expressing their opinions.

"Feel free to let them walk all over you while you set a good example for them of how NOT to hate."

No one is walking all over me. That I try not to hate these homophobes does not mean that I don't fight for our equality, Allen. I'm not sure how you got that impression. I don't have to hate to fight what's wrong in the world.

[Bertha Venation]

58. another question, Allen

I'm not the only one who expressed an opinion like this. MrsGrumpy said she too refuses to dance on a grave. Why reserve this kind of post for me? Because I'm gay? Or is it just because you can't handle the thought that someone who is as maligned as you chooses instead to react with kindness, even though it might not seem warranted?

Can we discuss this, or is there too much hatred?

[arwalden]

66. If Anyone Else Around Here Were To Says Things Like...

>> Are you honestly so fucking disgustingly partisan that you've lost any sense of humanity? <<

... then I'll speak out against that too. Honestly now, Kim... could you say anything that was MORE over the top?

I've taken issue with his defenders and those who scold others for publicly breathing a sigh of relief and gladness that we now have one LESS celebrity homophobic racist bigot in our midst.

I have no problem with those who simply don't feel the same intensity that I do. Nor do I hold any ill feelings towards anyone who says that they don't want to dance on his grave. I've "reserved" nothing for you.

That's fine. Grave dancing is not a requirement.

But isn't it odd that for someone who prides themselves as being "kind" that you would write such "fucking disgustingly" harsh words about someone else?

The "shower the enemy with kindness" tactic doesn't seem to be working too well at affecting any real change. I think it just makes us look weak and malleable and, well... like doormats. But if that's your thing, then feel free to continue trying to win the battle with kindness.

I see his untimely departure as a victory. I celebrate victories. I guess I'm just "fucking disgusting".


edit: typo

[Bertha Venation]

78. I'd like to offer an apology, but I don't know if I can do it honestly.

I wrote "fucking disgustingly partisan." The point was partisanship, and that's what I find disgusting, as I wrote a short time ago upthread.

I won't be one of those people who say "I'm sorry if you took offense." It's obvious you took offense. Besides, that's like saying "I'm sorry your face got in the way as my fist flew toward it." I will say that offense, as you took it, wasn't my intent.

My emotions come out in every word I write. If I had worded post # 9 differently, what I said would've been the same. But nowhere did I call you or Truman or anyone "fucking disgusting," Allen.

Again: not hating does not equal showering the enemy with kindness. Hatred is not a requirement for fighting back. ANGER -- that would be a requirement, and I have plenty enough for ten people. COMMITTMENT to what is right -- I have that too. DETERMINATION -- plenty. I'll never quit. But HATRED? Not required. In my opinion.

[arwalden]

80. I would like to graciously accept an apology, but I don't know if

there was actually an apology there for me to accept. Oh well.

>> But nowhere did I call you or Truman or anyone "fucking disgusting," Allen. <<

No, you're much too clever to make a mistake like that, Kim. But your words leave little doubt as to your feelings about the sense of humanity of those who hate their enemy and oppressors.

I'm sure the fact that you managed to keep *your* sense of humanity will be of great comfort to you as our rights are continually eroded away and while scum like Reggie White spread their bigotry and advocate for public policy and laws that deny equal rights.

You can take a great sense of pride in your ability to be less partisan while the enemy cheats and lies and bullies their way to victory. At least you'll know that you played fair, eh? At least you weren't *partisan*, and you always always always treated them with the respect that they "deserve".

After all, they are human beings too. Right? :eyes:

I don't know about you... but it sure seems that this "play-by-the-rules" and "treat-them-with-respect" bullshit AIN'T WORKING TOO WELL. --- That's why I'm a bit confused why ANY rational person on our side would want to CONTINUE with a response (tactic?) that's NOT working.

Now... if we look at our ENEMY we see that their HATRED and CHEATING and LIES and PARTISAN behavior *does* work. Looks like the hate and fear mongering works GREAT for them... it's been damned successful.

Hmmm. Think about that. Their tactics are successful, and we are failing. Hmmm. What does that say to you?

The hateful enemy is cheating, the playing field is tilted to their advantage... the smart players would change their tactic to match that of the enemy. Yet we have a loud segment on our side that CONTINUES to urge us to play by the rules and be "respectful" for what??

So that in our defeat we'll have the honor of being able to say "well at least we weren't hateful-partisans" and "at least we kept our sense of humanity"?

I'm sorry to tell you Kim, but I think that showing respect for respect's sake and turning the other cheek and being polite as an exercise in "humanity" is a sign of weakness and just INVITES even MORE of the very worst from our enemy.

Fuck being polite. Fuck "nice". Fuck "sense of humanity". Fuck being non-partisan. Fuck giving them respect. I hate their sorry asses.

THEY are the ones who are pathetic excuses for human beings. THEY are the monsters. THEY are the enemy.

Why would anyone want to give this vile enemy something that they don't deserve?

I dance-on and piss-on the fresh grave of Reggie White. Good riddance to that sorry son of a bitch. I hate him, and I hate everyone like him. Fuck em all! They deserve EVERY bad thing that happens to them.

>> My emotions come out in every word I write. <<

Yes, I see that. I guess mine do too.

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

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[ScreamingMeemie]

49. There are some of us who cannot stand people for their politics, but also

refuse to dance on graves. I'm one of them.

[Bertha Venation]

56. So, I'm not alone after all.

:shrug:

:hi: happy new year, Laura

[ScreamingMeemie]

61. Happy New Year Bertha.

Good to see you.

:hug:

[RetroLounge]

30. He was actually 43.

So at 41 you can feel better now.

I on the other hand am 43. Sigh...

RL

[auntAgonist]

68. He was someone's family !

What happened in your life to make you so cold hearted.

I feel sorry for you.

[CO Liberal]

71. Obviously a Hate-Filled Family

His wife made the same homophobic statements Reggie did.

No sympathy from me - for Reggie or anyone he left behind.

[DS1]

8. oh fucking wah

cry me a river

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

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[CO Liberal]

28. Based on the Reggie White Quotations Arwalden Posted ....

...I'm surprised Reggie had a heart to attack.

[arwalden]

34. LOL... I Get It.

[CO Liberal]

40. Unfortunately, Reggie Didn't Get It

Hate-filled homophobes rarely do.

Personally, though it may sound terrible, I think the world is a better place without Reggie White.

[Zenlitened]

42. I don't think that sounds terrible at all.

I honestly don't think anyone should feel apologetic, for feeling a sense of relief when something sick and evil is removed from the world.

[rasputin1952]

31. Speaking as simply a member of DU...

I wonder if we haven't sunk as low as those we condemn?

There is good and bad in every one...if we look at only that which we consider "bad", we can never get a realistic picture. While White had his faults, he also did a lot for the communities he was a part of.

There are more sides to this situation than are being shown here.

Just my 2 cents....:)

[Zomby Woof]

32. no we haven't

If I start spouting Nazi hate rhetoric about the gay community and other races, then maybe you will have a point.

There is nothing wrong with being relieved a force for hate in the world is gone. Death is inevitable, so you might as well roll with what nature gives us.

I would have cheered Hitler's death had I been around in 1945. Sometimes, death just needs to be ACCEPTED, and the death of this asshole is no reason to mourn.

As far as the community crap, I don't buy that as redemptive. He probably made bowing before his deity a condition of receiving help. I know the type. No mercy from me.

He is dead, and his piehole is silent at last.

[arwalden]

36. Horse Shit...

His bigotry and hatred influenced and justified and motivate MORE people on a bigger scale than any "community" good he may have done by lending his name or support or money to local causes.

What's with all the apologists around her making excuses for this racist bigoted homophobic scumbag? Rumor has it that old Adolph Hitler did a lot of good things for his country as well. Did those good deeds make him any less of a monster and any less despicable?

>> I wonder if we haven't sunk as low as those we condemn? <<

LOL.

[Liberal Veteran]

39. When someone doesn't acknowledge there "faults"...

...in this case extreme bigotry and hatefulness cowardly hiding behind veil of religion as a justification and a ward against criticism, one cannot expect his presumed good deeds to overshadow that.

[gollygee]

41. "Had his faults" ???

He isn't someone who talked too quickly or didn't have good hygeine habits. He was a bad person, and *chose* to be that way. That's beyond a little fault.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

59. Oh, please, please, please

A vile human being bought the farm. I'm glad he's gone. One more slot on this earth for a decent human being.

The operative phrase there being "human being." Yeah, some of us are outspoken here in our refusal to lament, however prudishly and sanctimoniously, the death of a bigot. We're human. We go both ways on the ends of the emotions scale, just like we're supposed to.

I'm sure he did plenty for the communities of which he was a part - especially if those communities contained only the kinds of people of which he approved.

There is only one side to hate. And it's that side that affects people's lives. White took it upon himself to leave that as his personal legacy. No one asked him his views or about his prejudices - he just exploited an opportunity given to him for other reasons. He might have done something positive with it, but he decided to preach discrimination and hate.

Who wouldn't be glad someone like that croaked?

[RetroLounge]

33. Here's the local Milwaukee newspaper link

to leave comments about Reggie White.

http://www.jsonline.com/packer/news/dec04/reggiewhite-forum.asp?action=post

Good or bad.

RL

[CO Liberal]

43. I Wonder If They'll Post Mine

Here's what I submitted:

The world is always better off when a hate-filled homophobe dies. May Reggie White rot in hell.

[Lenape85]

47. It didn't get posted

Unless of course, you are Jeremy from Denver, CO, who said

"Reggie's accomplishments on and off the field are admired by many. Thank you Reggie, for being the man you were, are, and will forever be.

I don't blame God for taking him..God probably held out as long as he could.

Rest in peace Reggie."

[RetroLounge]

50. OMG! What a bunch of crap people are posting

on this Milwaukee Journal forum.

Another bigot dies, and people start rewriting history.

RL

[HEyHEY]

35. Did he die on Xmas?

Sounds like jesus had enough of him

[leftofthedial]

37. wasn't he a reactionary wack job?

who expounded religiously insane bigotry and hate?

[Tafiti]

72. For the record....

...NFL network aired a special called "Football & Religion" on Friday or Saturday, and I watched it. They had a segment on Reggie White, and it talked about his "history", and then an "update" (which is kinda weird, considering he would die a day or two later.) Apparently, he hadn't been to church in 4 years, and was studying the actual Hebrew biblical scriptures. It indicated that he was rejecting/rethinking some of his beliefs, and decided he would seek out his own "truth" - not what he was being fed and swallowing whole from the fundamentalist persuasion.

But yes, into the late '90's, he was exactly as you described him. But in the last few years, perhaps not...I'd be interested to find any comments from him recently.

[gollygee]

38. I can't be too sad about that

He was pretty darn hateful. Too bad for his kids, but then he was raising them with the same hate.

[Archae]

45. White also helped his buddy, a preacher, screw over the congregation.

Their church in SC burned down, White helped raise tons of cash to rebuild it, the preacher is in jail for burning down the church and dealing dope, and White refused to say where the money went.

White also welched on a deal where kids do good in school, he'd finance their college.

White gave a speech in front of the WI state legislature that brought up just about every ethnic stereotype (except black of course,) and was rabidly anti-gay.

[matcom]

44. this really IS the season of giving!!

:bounce:

fucking fascist

[SeanQuinn]

46. I may get flamed for this..but let him RIP

He was an outstanding football player and like all of us may be at times, he was a little misguised on his stance with GLBT people.

You can't hold that small little thing against one person. Sure, he may've been conservative in that extent, but unless we talked, drank, and ate with him we'd never know what he was truely like.

It's sad that he'd die so close to the holidays and with the holidays remember why you were here. It's quite sacreligious to have been praising Christ's birth yesterday, but condemning Reggie White's death, when we do not know him except through the media.

[Bluebear]

51. I only flame you for saying his GLBT stance was a "little, small thing"

[RevCheesehead]

52. Thank you, Sean.

I'm very sad about this news. I called my brother to talk about it, and his son answered the phone. He (my nephew) didn't know about it, and he was really upset (he's 11). Now I feel terrible for telling him that he died.

My nephew doesn't know about Reggie's comments off the field. But he was one of his heroes. He was a Green Bay Packer, and one of the best to ever play the game.

I am really upset, too. I came here to feel better, but have already been jumped on for expressing my love for Reggie.

But thank you for your comments. It means a lot to me.

[48pan]

53. My Mother Taught Me...

not to speak ill of the dead.

RIP Reggie White

[OldLeftieLawyer]

60. My Mother taught me

to tell the truth, at all costs.

So long, Reggie. You stayed a bit too long.

[vikegirl]

63. Thank you. I agree.

Even as a Vikings fan. Even though he made despicable comments and held contrary viewpoints than what I believe are righteous. I mourn him as a football fan, not for his beliefs.

Name-calling after death is, IMO, far worse than *anything* he could ever conceive.

[Mrs. Venation]

69. What?

"...he was a little misguised on his stance with GLBT people."

That's like saying George Wallace was a little misguided on his stance with black people. People who hate others aren't a little misguided; they are bigots and bullies and they are to be shunned.

When Kim told me about Reggie White's death yesterday, my comment was, "one less homophobe in the world." She got royally pissed off at me, but I neither retracted my statement nor did I feel bad about saying it.

I don't give a rat's behind about Reggie White. I do have sympathy for the children he left behind; losing a parent is a terrible thing for kids to endure.

[arwalden]

70. Yep... There Was A Lot Of Anger Around Here Over This

some of us were even referred to as being fucking disgustingly partisan and that we had lost our sense of humanity (or some similar personally insulting nonsense along those lines.)

-- Allen

Excellent analogy with George Wallace.

[ScreamingMeemie]

48. He also played for the Carolina Panthers at the end of his career.

Actually, he came out of retirement to play for the Panthers.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

62. Did he really..........

.........weight 500 lbs at the time of his death? I read somewhere that his weight contributed to his sleep apnea and his death.

If that's true, it suggests a deeply troubled man. I hope the hate he spread came back to haunt him. But, mostly, I hope his legacy to his kids will be one of personal accomplishment and positive regard for other people, even if they're different from them.

I ain't that optimistic, though.

[ScreamingMeemie]

64. I don't know. I do know that MrG has sleep apnea and is not overweight

at all. It is a silent killer, and a very sad way to go for the family anyway. :hi: I do hope that many learn from his passing...from both the positives and the negatives of his life.

[Zuni]

79. my father had sleep apnea for years

It is a truly debilitating condition. Mr Grumpy needs to get medical help. My dad wrecked more than one car dozing behind the wheel

[fnottr]

65. Come on people

Let's leave the hate to the Fundies and other Freepers. Yes White was a bigot, but he was still a person, and a person's death is always sad. Though I hope the media doesn't turn him into the hero in death that he was not in life, I think we should at least spare some of the vitriol when he has so recently died.

[CO Liberal]

73. But When a Person Is a Hate-Filled Homophobe....

...the world is a better place when they finally go to hell.

Hope your're getting crispy by now, Reggie!!!

[sniffa]

75. good riddance

the man wished death/heLL on peopLe Like me.

great footbaLL pLayer - Lousy Leader.

[paula777]

81. Wow, this is one angry thread. I've never heard of the guy

[ekhunter]

82. what a sad day for the nfl.

reggie white was such an awesome person on and off the field. he was such a role model for our youth. he truly will be missed.

[Moderator]

83. This thread has degenerated into a flamefest...

therefore I am locking it.

[mvd]

84. As an Eagles fan..

I have some good memories. I will remember Reggie the football player more than Reggie the person.