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COPYRIGHT 2005 Century Publishing
REGGIE WHITE'S PLACE IN FOOTBALL history would have been cemented on the numbers and accomplishments alone. Yes, in between sobs of sorrow at University Park Baptist Church in Charlotte in December, there were tales of sacked quarterbacks and running backs thrown for losses and great triumphs on the gridiron.
But the services for White, whose sudden death at age 43 stunned the football world, were mostly filled with tales of his life of charity and faith. It became clear that his legacy encompasses far more than what he did on the field.
About 100 of his former teammates and opponents, as well as hundreds of friends and family members, were there, and what they took away from the services was that White had the unique gift to touch everyone he came in contact with, that he radiated love and friendship and carried himself with dignity and grace. Former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Erik Williams' words were typical of what was spoken that day: "I love Reggie White. He was a great person, not only a great football player. I want to raise my kids to be like Reggie White."
It was testament to White that his football career took a back seat that day, even though the former defensive end is universally regarded as one of the greatest players in NFL history. White, who played two seasons in the USFL before jumping to the NFL and playing with the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers, was named to the NFL's 75th anniversary all-time team in 1994 and was named the NFL's defensive player of the year twice. He finished his 15-year NFL career with 198 sacks and a record 13 straight...
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