Ramblings' Journal

Anything to slam a conservative -- even if he has just died

With their obituaries, the Associated Press and The New York Times (among others) took the opportunity to insist that the late NFL great Reggie White somehow diminished himself when he took to the podium in the Wisconsin General Assembly and denounced homosexuality.

White created a stir in March 1998 with a speech to the Wisconsin State Assembly. In it, he referred to homosexuality as "one of the biggest sins in the Bible" and used ethnic stereotypes for blacks and whites.

At the time, White, considering retirement, was on a list of candidates for CBS's N.F.L. studio show, but he did not get the job.

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White worked tirelessly with disadvantaged youths. But his image was tarnished when he gave a speech in which he denounced homosexuality and used ethnic stereotypes. White later apologized.

You may or may not agree with his words, but those words did not by any means diminish White's greatness.

White was a great man; and he certainly was not the kind of thug that has dominiated the sports pages of late, from football to basketball to baseball.

And even though his words weren't politically correct, I applauded him then, and continue to applaud him now for having the courage to speak his own mind over something he truly and strongly believed.

Fare thee well, Reggie. God bless you.

Posted by mhking at December 28, 2004 11:53 AM