We have all heard about the death of football icon Steve McNair. There are speculations that he was murdered by his 20-year-old girlfriend whom it is said he was having an affair with. The articles and interviews about his death are nonstop but the most disturbing factor in all of this is that they have questioned his integrity, lifestyle and career because of the way he died.
Although no one would jump for joy if their significant other was found dead in a condo along with a young woman, how would the media’s constant striking at his personality and morality be any more comforting? How many funerals have you been to where the obituary read, “He was such a wonderful athlete, and a role model to many, but he disappointed everyone by cheating on his wife and dying in infidelity?” Case and point, if someone’s life was filled with so many achievements, contributions and accomplishments, why is it that when they make one mistake or two, we cannot seem to let it go? We act as though we are all perfect.
If our lives were lived under the scope would we die with no lies, stealing or cheating? These athletes, artists and musicians are human being just like us. It is their job to do the things that they do. The same way we would not like it if our bosses had cameras follow us home from work and on the weekends and then judged us by it, they do not appreciate it nor deserve it either. The most disappointing factor about this situation, along with a few others recently, is the fact that this is someone’s father, son, and husband, despite his faults.
It’s unfortunate that McNair’s death was in such a tragic event but we will never know the entire story behind what happened between McNair and the female found dead in his condo because neither one of them lived to tell us. What good is the media doing by bashing his name and following by saying how great of an athlete he was? His legacy should not even be mentioned in the same article with these speculations.
All we can and should do as human beings is sympathize with the family and friends, be considerate and respect the life of an individual throughout their death and hope that, despite their flaws that were revealed to us, they lived their lives right and are now in a better place.

You cannot turn on the radio, or any major broadcasting television station without hearing news, music, or seeing photographs of the late Michael Jackson. The unfortunate issue about this whole loss to the pop world is that through this man’s death, the media has not shown any mercy or sympathy whatsoever. Immediately after the news was confirmed that Jackson’s death was legit, news stations began showing every picture ever taken of the man’s deteriorating nose and every case of child molestation that he was accused of. Sadly, issues that I had never heard of surfaced all within a half an hour of Jackson being pronounced dead.
What is wrong with this picture? Has America gotten so caught up in drama that it is the first thing that comes to our minds, despite the situation? It is embarrassing and insulting as a fellow American. Although this man may not have been a spotless individual throughout his life, I was always under the impression that death is a time of mourning and in some cases celebration, knowing that the person has ended suffering and moved on to a better place. How do news broadcasters think his close family and friends felt, to have to see their loved ones name bashed all over the news within minutes after their death?
Within the same day of the news of Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett lost her battle to cancer. Every station I turned to show beautiful pictures of the actress in her younger days, laughing and smiling and enjoying life. Although most stations showed some of those same stories about Michael, they would immediately follow it with interviews from random actors and actresses and repeats of old court cases and court drawings of the singer. Why not wait to include all of that in the Lifetime Movie or E True Hollywood Story? Why was this man’s name celebrated and bashed all within the first hour of his death? What is the world coming to? Respect has now become a mere characteristic of the past that has lost its importance in today’s society.