After just hearing about the world losing Michael Jackson, all I could say about the news of Steve McNair’s untimely passing was, “Wow!”

I feel like I lost a close friend even though we had only met one time. I remember Steve as a great guy and an individual who was very thoughtful and generous. I send my prayers out to his family.

I remember speaking to my college classmates and other rookie players in the 1995 NBA draft about Steve.  Here was this exciting quarterback from a small Black college down south.  He was sort of a long shot, and like many of us, he too was hoping to make it in the pros.  Steve was so spectacular in college, and many of us were already fans.  I think we all were sort of hoping that he would get a chance to show what he could do in the NFL.

I hope his legacy can be just as thrilling and encouraging as he was to me when I watched him play, and even more so when I met him.  I thought Steve was a great guy and a great player.  Steve was all of those words that commentators use so often to describe the toughest competitor on a team.  He was a Warrior, a Leader, a Fighter, and a Soldier.  I will remember him for the good that he brought to the game of football and all of the people he touched in charity.  Steve will be missed.