In 10 years, what will we be saying about Steve McNair? Will we think of an NFL warrior who was drafted out of a small HBCU, earned a Most Valuable Player award, and gave back tremendously to his community? Or will we remember him as the former NFL star who was found shot to death while laying next to his 20 year-old girlfriend — also deceased — as his wife and four sons were preparing for the Fourth of July weekend?
Apparently McNair, 36, had been seeing 20-year-old Sahel Kazemi for several months and often met with her at his downtown condominium where their bodies were discovered. He reportedly bought her a 2007 Cadillac Escalade and pictures are surfacing of the two together during a recent vacation.
In the days to come, McNair will be condemned and denounced for the ill-fated affair. He will become the most recent tragic example of what happens when a man deceives his family for sex. Many will attempt to understand why a man who was once perceived as an upstanding member of society would betray his wife and kids.
Other powerful men (albeit politicians) such as John Edwards, South Carolina’s Gov. Mark Sanford, New York’s Gov. David Paterson, and former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer admitted to cheating on their wives and all have faced embarrassment and public scrutiny. But, McNair’s indiscretion led to death.
McNair’s wife and kids are grieving and distraught over the way things transpired. However, everyone outside of McNair’s immediate family should examine his overall work as an NFL player and community leader before passing judgment. At this point, it’s hard to forecast what McNair’s legacy will be. But it’s peculiar how one misstep can bring down such a heroic figure. –amir shaw
