The murder of Washington Redskin defensive back Sean Taylor a few years ago cast a pall over the National Football League. For the players, it was a signal that no one is safe, even in his home. For the fans, it was the loss of an exciting player who was already well on his way to stardom. To his teammates, it was an unforgettable loss, both off the field and on.
But the death also brought to light some interesting issues about pro athletes in today's world that are more subtle than the picture that's usually painted. This wasn't a simple case of another NFL player getting himself into trouble - though that's what it seemed like at first.
Sean Taylor had a troubled past, dating back to his childhood. Taylor played in college at Miami - which was for many years the most arrogant program in the nation, and one that openly flaunted college football's rules and the more general rules of good conduct. He fit the program perfectly. He swaggered and postured on the field, and then he occasionally used his athleticism to make the crucial play. He was feared on the field, but did not gain the respect of opposing players or fans.
In his early years in the pros, the same traits were in evidence. Taylor was constantly fined by the Redskins and the NFL for rules infractions. He acted as if, because he was Sean Taylor, NFL star, he could ignore anything he perceived as criticism. There was significant frustration by the Redskins that Taylor's selfish ways would thwart his obvious potential.
Finally, however, Taylor matured. He learned his position, and he became a leader on the Redskins' defense. He became an All-Pro and one of the most feared players in the game because he was a ferocious hitter, who also knew when to lay back and use his smarts and other talents. So, by the time Taylor was playing in his last season, he had earned respect.
However, when the news came that he was shot, the initial reaction was that Taylor had retreated to his old ways, and that those old ways had caught up with him. It was assumed - and it was reported by the media - that Taylor had been hanging around with "bad" people from his past. It was assumed that he had been out late partying, had become involved in a fight, and that fight resulted in him getting shot.
Of course, that story was wrong. Taylor was at home, and he tried to stop a break-in, and one of the intruders shot him. Taylor was protecting his wife and children, and he was murdered. He didn't even have the chance to just give up whatever money or jewelry the intruders wanted; they just shot him when they saw him holding a baseball bat.
And so we mourned. But here's what we learned. First, we learned that people can change. A tough kid from a terrible neighborhood grows up into an arrogant violent young man, and he plays a violent game for a living. But, with the right mentoring and a supportive wife, he matures. He becomes a family man, despite the reputation he carries onto the football field. Second, some men really will defend their homes with their lives. Most of us would not grab a bat if we thought we heard an intruder; we'd call 911. But the ethos of Sean Taylor's upbringing was that you fight; and so he did. Third, we learned that you can't completely run away from the past. We know this because the intruders to Taylor's home were led by Taylor's cousin, who he'd occasionally hire for odd jobs and help. That cousin was a good-for-nothing who told his buddies that he knew how they could rob Sean Taylor and make some easy money. But when the men came to rob Taylor's home, which they expected to be empty, they unexpectedly came upon Taylor, and they shot him. The past came back to haunt Sean Taylor, even as he tried to move beyond it. Finally, we learned that we must be careful about our first reaction and to falling prey to cliches. We assumed initially that Taylor's death was somehow his fault, that he'd put himself into a bad situation. But the truth was that he'd done nothing wrong, and that he was targeted merely because he was wealthy.
Sean Taylor won't soon be forgotten by those of us who enjoyed seeing him play football. But more importantly, his life and the circumstances of his death with help remind us occasionally to not make too many assumptions about the men who play pro football.