Hear Ye, Hear Ye: NFL Players with Double, Triple Lives

I know some folks don't want to hear this. The lives of some young players (NFL football, NBA, Golf and otherwise) may be endangered because of poor choices.

Take a good look into the eyes of your mate. Can you read them? Is he or she faithful?

Does someone you know step outside of the fidelity hoop when no one is looking?

Can we minimize danger and embarrassment if we try (a little harder) to walk a strait path, clinging to a value system of a higher order?

Years ago, I remember a young man named B.W. Cheeks. His life was cut short, according to the rumor, because of a situation with a woman.

Cheeks was bold. He was strong. He was handsome and well-built.

Cheeks took chances. He took too many, and the last chance cost him his life.

His data:

B.W. Cheeks Jr.
Position: OHB
Height: 6' 1'' Weight: 230
Born: 8/1/1941, in Hearne, TX, USA
High School: Phillis Wheatley (Houston, TX)
College: Texas Southern University

In 1965, B. W. Cheeks played on the same team with several other Houston Oiler teammates:

Art Strahan

Charlies Frazier

W. K. Hicks

George Blanda

Cheeks only played two games during one season. George Blanda was with the Oilers and he was 38 years old when Cheeks was on the team. B.W. Cheeks did not reach his potential in professional football.

In 2009 we have another situation. Steve McNair completed his NFl career, but his life was truncated by being at the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong person.

I remember Cheeks and the grief we all felt in Houston, Texas after the tragedy. I did not know McNair, but my heart is touched by the July Fourth tragedy.

The tragedy in the circle of students in Houston, and in and around Texas Southern University (and the Houston Oiler community) shocked so many people.

Are we learning from these events? How many times must we see young men like McNair who was only 36 years-old, and young men like Cheeks who was only 24 years  old, die so young?

A minister named Pastor S.J. Gilbert Sr. said "As we get older, we are to get better."

Are we getting better? Is there counseling and education to support active and retired NFL players so as to help minimize the risk of repeated tragedies?

I always thought that things would be so much better for my generation once we matured.

Hear ye, hear ye: Are we getting better?

The final question: How many NFL players have taken chances similar to Cheeks and McNair, but, by some extraordinary circumstances, are still alive and well?

Let's do the introspection and let us answer the call: Hear ye, hear ye: Are we getting better?

How many NFL. NBA, and Golf players (and others) have double, or triple lives? Again, the clarion call: Yes, we can do better, for the sake of our children.