Praise for White ill-advised

By Adam Bagni
Collegian Staff
November 8, 2006

Former Philadelphia Eagle Reggie White has always been revered, especially in this city. But after watching many lavishly praise him during his induction this summer into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, I knew I had to speak out.

White, a football legend who played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers in the NFL, was certainly one of the greatest defensive linemen in the game. In Philadelphia, he was the leader of the Eagles’ vaunted “Gang Green Defense.” Later, he won a Super Bowl with Green Bay. White’s quickness off the snap was unparalleled by anyone of his generation, and it led him to amass an astounding 200 sacks in 15 NFL seasons. He was named to 13 Pro Bowls, was NFL defensive player of the year twice, and also was the NFC’s player of the year three times. The Sporting News ranked White number 20 on its greatest football players list, and the NFL added him to their All-Time Team. White died suddenly in 2004 of cardiac arrhythmia and was elected to the hall posthumously.

As you can gather, the man was an unbelievably gifted athlete.

White, however, was always quick to reference his softer side. He was an ordained minister and well known for preaching to large crowds, churches, schools, teammates and even the media. White quickly earned the moniker “The Minister of Defense,” and frequently yelled to opposing linemen, “Jesus is coming to get you. Hope you’re ready.” Apparently, offensive linemen are the devil.

His talent on the field allowed for his post-mortem induction into the hall in Canton, Ohio this summer. Much acclaim was made for him. But through all the praise on ESPN, in Canton, and at Lincoln Financial Field – where the Eagles erected a massive banner of White – the blatant ignorance and poor decisions White made throughout his life have somehow been forgotten.

The most notorious of these controversies came when White spoke before the Wisconsin Assembly in March 1998. In a long, drawn-out ramble that resembled a speech from Jerry Falwell (who later became his friend), White repeatedly made racist and homophobic comments that left the state legislature stunned. His comments set off outrage among individuals of nearly every ethnic group. Many feared that those who looked up to White would mimic his hate speech.

Among many other comments, White told the assembly Hispanics “can put 20 or 30 people in one home,” Asians “can turn a television into a watch,” African-Americans “like to dance,” and Native Americans weren’t enslaved because “they knew how to sneak up on people.”

Even more shocking than his comments about race were those aimed at homosexuals. White stated that gays were “one of the biggest sins,” responsible for the spread of STDs and blamed for bringing our nation “into the condition it is today.” A month later, he was asked by ABC’s 20/20, “Are you saying that homosexuals are like liars, cheaters, backstabbers and malicious people?” White’s response, “Yes.”

Remember, a 50-foot banner of this class act hangs at Lincoln Financial Field.

Some have said that White’s comments were taken out of context and that he was only trying to promote unity. However, White had a track record of putting his foot in his mouth.

After his time ended with the Eagles in the early ’90s, White stated that he wanted to play in a large city, with a large minority population, so that he could minister to them. Instead, he took the highest offer, because “God told him to.” It was a $17 million deal with Green Bay, a city not well know for its diversity.

White claimed the money was important, according to ESPN.com, “because I needed resources to continue the projects I wanted to do.” Did that include his anti-homosexual campaign in 1998?

White’s wife Sara, with Reggie’s smiling bust glistening in the sunlight, told those gathered in Ohio this summer that she hoped “more people would live their lives like Reggie.”

Reverend, I pray to God that they don’t.

bagnia1@lasalle.edu