Cynical Times - A McNair Take

I have noticed that over time I have become a lot more cynical. This could be just a sign of the times, but I believe that it is part of the growing process. As children, we trust everyone; as young adults we believe no one and only our views are correct; and as adults, we have learned that things may not always be as they are. I am sure that I have reached that stage in life, where I read a story about a death or a crime and all I see are the underlying motives of those quoted.

As to what spawned this post, I was reading an article about Steve McNair and how his life will be celebrated for not how it ended, but how he lived it. Well that may be the case, but if he lived it by having affairs, then the only thing left is his football accolades. Because once you cross that line and step out on your family, there isn't a lot left to celebrate on that front. Now I do feel for his wife and kids, but we need not forget, if he had not been cheating on his family, this could and would have been avoided. Before I start, I should note I have a very different view on the grieving process than most, so my views may be a bit more harsh than others.

Now back to some more cynical parts of this tragic story.

• In this article from The Tennessean, we get this fabulous quote -“I wanted to view him – I didn’t want to view a casket. I think everybody expected to see him,” said Jackie Smith, who stopped by before going to work at the U.S. Postal Service. Seriously, why show up, you knew he had been shot in the head twice, did you expect an open casket. Ah but they were hoping for one, so that they could take a quick picture, sell it and make some cash off the celebrity that was McNair.
• From the USAToday, we have the first line of the story -There will be a memorial service for Steve McNair in Nashville today with as many as 5,500 people in the Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Now 5500 people is a nice turn out, but how many are going, just to say they went and maybe just maybe get on the coverage by ESPN or CNN. I would imagine it's a pretty high percentage, even if they won't admit why they are there.
• From WKRN's coverage came an interview with Vent Gordon. Now Vent was the Head Chef at McNair's newly opened restaurant, Gridiron 9. Some of the quotes were well, misleading to say the least. So when you put them all together, you had a guy, that was a "Life Long Friend, a Big Brother, and a homeboy," that thought McNair and Kazemi were only friends. This guy was either clueless or something else, because he was there when they got busted for DUI. And shouldn't he as a "homeboy and big brother" tell McNair that maybe sleeping around isn't the best idea. Especially when millions could be on the line. What I also see here is a guy that is going to start wondering where the money will come from. Because he comes off sounding like a "posse" member and not a life long friend.
  • Gordon, who describes himself as a longtime friend of McNair, said he was like a big brother to the former NFL star. T
  • "I loved him. I am going to miss him. He was my friend," Gordon told News 2 Wednesday, the same day Metro police ruled McNair's death a murder-suicide.
  • "For all I know he was just a friend to her," he said. "I didn't know [anything] about her."When asked if their relationship was a "boyfriend/girlfriend" relationship, Gordon said it seemed like they were friends, "hanging out.""I didn't get into his personal life, stuff like that," Gordon continued. "What Steve did, Steve did on his own, we weren't with Steve 24 hours; it was not anything like that. Wee were just friends, homeboys. Like I said, I'm his chef at the restaurant. I did some personal cooking for him, stuff like that."

The one piece of information that I did not see was that of a posse. Which if no posse existed, that's normally a good thing. But I'm sure there were a few hanger on's that are in it for the money and the sex. Which is no different than the Rock Star groupies that we have all heard about.

As far as the true relationships in the story, I do not know. I can only write about how I see it. If you do agree or not, please post a comment. I'm always open for debate.

Of note : this is my tweet that started the need to write this post

Comments

[Sfoshee]

Excellent points Alan. Celebrity worship has always bothered me, as well as the Gravy Train mentality. Good job!

[Alan Ashley]

@sfoshee, Thank you. I guess its just the times we live in. No one stands their ground and they would rather let someone else live their lives for them.