R.I.P. Reggie White

[Loose Cannon]

God dam. :(

http://channels.netscape.com/ns/sports/story.jsp?idq=/ff/story/0001/20041226/1248608234.htm&floc=SP_1-L1

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Wow thats fucked up. RIP Reggie

[el fregadero]

Damn. RIP

[Rain Man]

Crazy... R.I.P.

[BabyHugger]

Wow terrible. :(

[SuperSlim]

ah man that totally sucks.

may he rest in peace

[BCWWF]

Damn, those linemen don't have a chance once they retire. Thats really too bad, rip

[The Outlaw]

:(

RIP

[BCWWF]

What do you think the cause of death was? I know those guys get pounded day in and day out and are likely to get brain damage or whatnot, but do you think theres any chance that steroids could have played a part?

[The Outlaw]

Heart attack is being reported.

[DaveWadding]

R.I.P. to my 1st football hero and one of the greatest DEnds to ever play. :'(

[BCWWF]

Heart attack is being reported.

I am not an expert, but don't steroids cause heart problems? I know plenty of other things do too, but I wonder if this will come up at all.

[road doggy dogg]

WOW wtf, that's terrible. Reggie White was the man. Remember when he became like a minister and somebody like burned down his church or something? One of my favourite players ever, and the rightful holder of the all-time sack record :'(

RIP

[The Outlaw]

Well the record was broken but he is still the man :(:(:(

[road doggy dogg]

Yeah but the other guy is a dick and stayed around just to break the record, then retired like right after

[VonErich Lives]

Been wearing my reggie white jersey all day.

WOW wtf, that's terrible. Reggie White was the man. Remember when he became like a minister and somebody like burned down his church or something? One of my favourite players ever, and the rightful holder of the all-time sack record :'(

RIP


Yeah, he was a Minister, they said that the last 6months or so he hadn't talked to any of his old football friends, he has been learning to read hebrew and visited Isreal a few times.

He also got a ton of bad press from repeated speaches/statements he made against Gays. I think the stuff he said was stupid, but I respect his right to an opinon and that he didn't back down, apologize or hide from what he said.

[VonErich Lives]

Yeah but the other guy is a dick and stayed around just to break the record, then retired like right after


yeah, took Bruce Smith 18yrs and the final year when he broke it he had actually been a backup at the time and kept bitching about not getting enough playing time.

[Loose Cannon]

I am not an expert, but don't steroids cause heart problems? I know plenty of other things do too, but I wonder if this will come up at all.

How do you think all the wrestlers have died so young? Now I'm not an expert or anything, but usually when an athlete, as big as Reggie was, dies this young, steroids are a big cause. Not saying he died cause of steroids or any other enhancer, but it has happened to a lot before.

[slextremely]

Ah man that's a shame, greatest DE ever. RIP

[Crimson]

RIP Reggie.

Me being a Cowboy fan hated his guts everytime he played against us, but he was that great of a player who could turn a game around.

[BCWWF]

How do you think all the wrestlers have died so young? Now I'm not an expert or anything, but usually when an athlete, as big as Reggie was, dies this young, steroids are a big cause. Not saying he died cause of steroids or any other enhancer, but it has happened to a lot before.

So you're agreeing with me right?

[Loose Cannon]

yes

[BCWWF]

Aight, just the way it was worded I thought you misunderstood what I was implying

[VonErich Lives]

His wife said he died of respiratory failure related to his sleep apnea.

I wouldn't assume he was on roids, but anything is possible.

They're going to do an autopsy.

[MVP]

Holy shit, RIP

[el fregadero]

Doesn't seem like the kind of guy to take steroids, but like VEL said, anything's possible.

[The Outlaw]

Seriously doubt it had to do with any kind of drug.

[The Icon of Elisim]

I find it pretty disrespectful to be making a blind accusation like steriods right after someones death

RIP

[BCWWF]

First off, I never accused him of anything. When somebody dies at a young age like that its not normal, and with all of the drugs in sports right now it is not an out of context thing to ask.

[Gonzo]

I came downstairs today and had NFL Countdown playing on TV and saw that they were doing a little segment on Reggie. Then at the end it said 1961-2004. I hadn't realized he had passed away and was shocked.

Certainly a great player and from all accounts an even better human being.

On the issue of whether or not he took steroids: it is entirely possible, not saying that he definitely did. I don't believe you can say for sure that he didn't either, you really can't say that about anyone in today's sports. Hopefully with autopsy results they find him clean because it would be a shame to think a player such as Reggie would be looked upon differently in the event he is proven guilty of steroid usage.

[DaveWadding]

I just feel the need to post my new sig in this topic....

[Rob]

There are no steroids in wrestling or pro sports.

[Loose Cannon]

lol

[BCWWF]

Well it looks like drugs aren't an issue at all from what they are saying, apparantly he had a sleeping disorder where he would stop breathing in his sleep and he has had it even when he was playing

[Loose Cannon]

Yeah, Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder a lot of people suffer from. It basically causes you to stop breathing in your sleep like BCWWF said, but usually carbon dioxide in the blood rises and causes the person to be aroused again. This happens almost a hundred times a night. But in Reggie's case, he probably had a severe form of Apnea and his heart finally couldn't take it anymore.

[Nervous Ferret]

:'( :'( :'(

[asphyXy]

I actually knew who he was. That sucks.

[The Outlaw]

I find it pretty disrespectful to be making a blind accusation like steriods right after someones death

RIP
Agreed.

Again, RIP

[VonErich Lives]

Well it looks like drugs aren't an issue at all from what they are saying, apparantly he had a sleeping disorder where he would stop breathing in his sleep and he has had it even when he was playing

Really? Where did you hear that?

His wife said he died of respiratory failure related to his sleep apnea.



;)

[Rain Man]

Wow watching some highlights of him.. He was awesome

[Rob]

Yeah, Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder a lot of people suffer from. It basically causes you to stop breathing in your sleep like BCWWF said, but usually carbon dioxide in the blood rises and causes the person to be aroused again. This happens almost a hundred times a night. But in Reggie's case, he probably had a severe form of Apnea and his heart finally couldn't take it anymore.

I think about 15 wrestlers had "sleeping disorders" too.

[The Outlaw]

Wow watching some highlights of him.. He was awesome
You are a newcomer to football, yes?

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

I think about 15 wrestlers had "sleeping disorders" too.
WOW bringing up Steriod talk is pretty stupid here, so isn't bringing up pro wrestling too.

[Moonax]

Why is it stupid to talk about steriods?

Seemingly healthy athletic young man dies suddenly. You should be asking questions.

It seems to me that you are being somewhat stupid to bury your head in the sand.

[Buzzkill]

Sleep apnea is a serious condition and it is quite possible to die from it at that age. I seriously doubt he was on roids

[The Icon of Elisim]

Why is it stupid to talk about steriods?

Seemingly healthy athletic young man dies suddenly. You should be asking questions.

It seems to me that you are being somewhat stupid to bury your head in the sand.
Its a respect thing. From what I understand he was a standup guy who doesn't deserve to have his name attached to something like drugs.

When a guy like Ken Caminiti dies at 40 its different to talk like that but I just find it disrespectful to talk that way about someone that showed no indication of doing drugs.

[Rob]

WOW bringing up Steriod talk is pretty stupid here, so isn't bringing up pro wrestling too.

Moonax already made the point. Believe that young fit athlete die early in life for no real reasons if you like though.

It's nothing to do with being a stand up guy. I don't recall anyone other than Bret Hart (when he was super pissed) saying a bad word about Davey Boy Smith but his death was related to steroids whether people want to admit it or not. Do you think it's common for professional athletes to have enlarged hearts?

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Ok so every athlete that dies young is now going to be associated with 'roids? To me it would make sense that a guy that big would have heart problems.

[Rob]

Of course they will. Because young healthy athletes just don't drop dead. They just don't. One or two is a long shot but this many? No, sorry but no.

Drug testing in U.S sports is the sh</>its and we all know it. It ain't much better in Europe but it's better. The IAAF have it as well as anyone in pro sports. They pretty find out what athletes use to hide steroid use or what they use instead. Hence why the likes of Marion Jones, Kelli White, Dwain Chambers and Tim Montgomery are in deep sh</>it now.

[BCWWF]

Also note that I didn't accuse anybody, I asked if they played a part well before they released the cause of death to the public

[VonErich Lives]

Who said reggie white was "Healthy" most DL and OL are over weight and not just muscle and after they retire they have trouble dropping the non-muscle weight and work out less. Every interview I've seen he's looked just as big or bigger then he did when he played, so let's not assume how "healthy" he was.

but, anything is possible, I still remember the "shock" in Boston when Reggie Lewies died and it came out his heart had damage from Coccaine.

[Rob]

Because you are overweight, that doesn't mean you aren't healthy.

[VonErich Lives]

Because you are overweight, that doesn't mean you aren't healthy.

Yes and no.

Depends on what you define as health.

Does it always mean heart disease no.

But carrying extra weight, no muscle has many effects on the body, not just heart possibilties.

But when it all comes down to it, everyone is making assumptions about something they know nothing about.

No one knows how bad his sleep apnea was. No on knows if he did roids, or had high blood pressure, etc... etc...

Just seems to me when someone dies, to bring up accusations is disrespectful. Especially when there was no history to back it up.

There could be many reasons why he died, maybe he did coke? maybe he used needles? maybe he... and maybe he didn't.

[Rob]

You are within your rights to think it's disrespectful just as others are to think there was more to it. If there isn't then ok but if there is, things can be and should be done to prevent stuff like this happening to athletes in the future. However, just like some ignorant people here, people don't want to believe it's a possibility or that it's just confinde to pro wrestling and since that's the bastard son of sports, it doesn't count.

[Kid Robb]

RIP Reggie White

[VonErich Lives]

You are within your rights to think it's disrespectful just as others are to think there was more to it. If there isn't then ok but if there is, things can be and should be done to prevent stuff like this happening to athletes in the future. However, just like some ignorant people here, people don't want to believe it's a possibility or that it's just confinde to pro wrestling and since that's the bastard son of sports, it doesn't count.

What should be done to prevent?

If a person knows the risks but still wants the benefits shouldn't they still be allowed?

I mean, a woman can have an abortion, people can risk lung cancer w/ smoking, liver disease w/ drinking, all these things we have choices over our own body...

But then you reach a point "oh no, you can't do that".

Sometimes I think the gov't should just legalise and tax all drugs and make suicide legal while your at it... that's one I never got... it's against the law to take your own life... :roll:

[Rob]

More money pumped into drug testing in sports. There ain't anyway anyone will ever convince me that any athelte is worth a $130 million salary. Instead of over paying these big kids, invest some of that money into the futrue of the sport and the well being off the athletes involved. Problem is that it doesn't matter if it's the NFL, MLB or Vince McMahon, they are all of the opinion that if he doesn't affect you personally, don't worry about it.

[BCWWF]

Watching the Sports Center highlights today something came to mind, how come it was possible for Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth to hit that many home runs but Barry Bonds can't possibly do it without performance inhancers?

[Loose Cannon]

yeah, I brought that up before and yeah, they might have used some drugs. You have to remember though, it probably wasn't illegal when Ruth played.

[Rob]

Well some ex footballers here in England have mentioned foolishly that they did drugs back in the day before games so it's definately possible. Still need to be caught to be punished. Obviously it's getting to the point where next to no drug testing is leading to deaths though (not saying this example for sure but there are others).

Also remember sports have evolved hugely over the years and the quality that Ruth played against is probably well below what Bonds played against.

[The Icon of Elisim]

Watching the Sports Center highlights today something came to mind, how come it was possible for Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth to hit that many home runs but Barry Bonds can't possibly do it without performance inhancers?
The game is much different now, thats the easy answer.

[BCWWF]

But I would have to assume that it is easier to hit a home run now then back in the day because the athletes are a lot stronger and there are some parks that barely have an outfield...but then again maybe the walls were closer then I think back then and the pitching was probably much easier to hit. Hmm, I need some sleep.

[Moonax]

Its a respect thing. From what I understand he was a standup guy who doesn't deserve to have his name attached to something like drugs.

When a guy like Ken Caminiti dies at 40 its different to talk like that but I just find it disrespectful to talk that way about someone that showed no indication of doing drugs.

Fair enough. However, I do have a problem with people glibbly 'showing respect' by intoning R.I.P because it is the expected thing to do.

Tell me why is it that so many athletes seem to die relatively young? As with wrestling at what point are people going to sit up and take notice and start to do something about it.

To me it is far more disrespectful to carry on turning a blind eye to drug abuse by sportsmen and women (irresepctive of whether or not Reggie White used drugs) and allowing them to die young because of our worshipping of the home run or the sack.

What's it going to take? Lance Armstrong dying? HHH dying? Hogan dying? Barry Bonds dying? Don't you think Giambi getting cancer was enough of a warning sign?

I remember when there was the topic about whether or not the home run record should have an asterix and how many people said that it was because of better conditioning that Bonds could hit so many HRs. Funny how this season there was almost a 33% drop off in the number of HRs hit in the same season as testing began.

Maybe Reggie White never touched a drug in his life. That isn't the point. The point is that former athletes are dying prematurely and to not ask why, and to not try as fans to change our attitudes towards what we expect of athletes is frankly far more disrepectful than highlighting the fact that ANOTHER athlete has died seemingly before their time.