THE PASSING OF A LEGEND

    It occasionally happens during our time on this earth that someone of note passes away; a person whom we admired in our youth. All of us living today have grown up in a culture of mass-media wherein celebrity-status attaches itself to any prominent public figure. Our ancestors typically chose role-models early in their lives from the panorama of history. We tend to choose them from the present today. Thus, the passing of a famous person becomes for many of us both personal and generational. 

    I can recall three previous times when this happened personally. The earliest was in 1979 when actor John Wayne died. I was still a kid then, but had been weaned on his films. I recall staying up late on Saturday Night to watch John Wayne Theater. The second happened in 1993 when novelist Leslie Charteris died. I devoured his novels during my teen years and they also shaped many of my own attitudes. And then Ronald Reagan passed away in 2004. I grew up mostly during the Reagan Administration and he too influenced me greatly. 

    Now, this weekend, funeral services were held quietly in Birmingham, Alabama for a fourth: a man who was also a role model from the world of sports: Bart Starr. Starr passed away at the age of 85, of a heart condition, during Memorial Day weekend. His wife of 65 years survived him, as did several children and grand-children. 

     Bart Starr had retired from football and become a coach by the time I was old enough to feel his influence; but I'd read about many of his exploits on the field. As a player, Bart Starr played for 15 seasons. During that time, he'd won 5 NFL Championships and 2 Super Bowls; been selected as an All-Pro five times; was NFL passing leader four times and finished in the Top 5 another four times. He was voted the NFL's Most Valuable Player three times and was voted the Super Bowl MVP after both of his appearances there. In 1977, Starr was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame and nominated to be part of HOF's 'All 1960's Team.' And this was back in a day and age where a man actually had to perform to be a sports hero. 

     Few people know that Bart Starr was chosen by the Green Bay Packers in 1956 on the 17th Draft Round---and then as a Defensive Back and 4th-String quarterback.  In college football during the 1950's, players actually played a full 60 minutes, both offense and defense. Starr beat out three prominent veterans, Lamar McHan, Babe Parelli, and Zeke Bratkowski for the starting QB role. Bratkowski became one of Starr's closest friends and an Assistant Coach during Starr's 9-year tenure as Packers' Head Coach. 

     Starr's term as Head Coach was not an easy one. He wasn't popular with the Media nor with many players. The reason for this was because Starr held fast to the traditional NFL values of professionalism, sportsmanship, and excellence in age during which the League was rapidly slouching towards becoming the Disaster Area that it is today. Starr threw even popular players off the team if he caught them using drugs and disciplined players who behaved unprofessionally. This didn't set well in an atmosphere where publicity stunts, the 'win-at-all-costs' mentality, and dirty play in general were becoming the norm. 

     The Media and the Corporate Elites also despised Starr because he was, throughout his whole life, a devout and sincere Christian. During an interview, he once said the following:

     "Growing up in a strong Christian environment provided me with many valuable lessons about family, school, athletics; and most importantly about God. Like most kids, I idolized sports figures, but Jesus was the ultimate role model for me. In my efforts to succeed as a football player, I went through some difficult times, but my experiences paled in comparison to what Jesus endured during His life: torture, humiliation, and death. Through it all, His attitude never wavered. His example inspired me to approach life's trials in a similar fashion. Jesus was able to sustain such a positive attitude because of His unfailing love for everyone around Him. It transformed the lives of everyone with whom he came in contact, even His persecutors. Jesus continues to have the same transforming effect upon people today. Regardless of the successes that I have experienced, if my life does not exhibit God's love, it becomes less meaningful." 

     And putting that philosophy into practice, Starr's post-NFL career was just about as impressive. Starr went on to work for a realty firm and---according to the company's website ---was personally responsible for building over two dozen hospitals. Starr also briefly returned to Green Bay and built Rawhide Ranch, a Christian-themed youth facility for at-risk boys. Starr founded the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation: named for the coach who'd been his mentor. Later, he expanded the organization to include the Starr Children's Fund to provide pediatric care for cancer-stricken children. 

    All things considered, Bart Starr is certainly a greater role model for young men than NPC jugheads who think they're heroes for boycotting the National Anthem. Or who take drugs, beat women, and get thrown in jail. Bart Starr represented what it truly meant to be a hero; and we can all hope that that type of man will someday become normative in the sports world again.