RIP Junior Seau

It was strange to watch the coverage of this on SportsCenter on the same day the bounty suspensions came down.

 

It's macabre to think about, but being in this business, I can't help it. I've already made a conscious decision that if, God forbid, something ever should happen to a relative, friend, or co-worker, and a composed spokesperson is needed, I'm going to step up. Not sure that I'd feel the same if I hadn't spent so many years on this side of it, but I think it's a benefit to both parties to have someone willing to take that on. I'm sure the majority of people here - again, God forbid - would do the same. I think that's the character of this place. This profession.

 

I'm with you on this. My uncle passed away a few months ago, and my wife wrote a poem in his memory. I was asked to read it at his funeral, which I did, without losing it (although it was close at the end), and everyone in my family told me they couldn't have done it.

While we don't ever want to completely harden our hearts, I think our training as journalists gives us just enough of that hard outer shell to maintain our composure in times of crisis.

 

This. It's pure speculation on everyone's part that this is a Duerson copycat. There's been no note found, or any clues indicating why this happened. Just because we can make the Seau=football=brain damage=suicide connection, does it mean we should, at least for public consumption? I think it's a huge leap of into the unknown, but YMMV.

 

BYH had a great post about this a few weeks ago re: his mom's funeral. A keeper post if there ever was one in these parts.

 

I don't want to offend anyone, but I'm probably going to. On the list of occupations in which death is part and parcel, journalism is down quite a ways. But even if you accept the idea that occasionally dealing with death in a mostly indirect manner makes journalists somehow more equipped to "step up" and "be strong" in times of crisis, what the fuck is the point of that anyway in regards to the direct emotional involvement of losing a loved one? My dad is dying. As the "eloquent" one in the family, I may be asked to be involved in whatever eulogizing takes place. If that is the case, it doesn't matter one bit what I do for a living. I will lose it at some point. There will be swearing; there will be crying. Not because I'm not strong, but because I'm more human than journalist. If I get the chance to speak in front of God, friends and family and I do it without getting emotional, I would hope my dad rises up and kicks my ass for being such a heartless fuck.

 

I think there is a perception that as a journalist, you instinctively know how to put words together that make sense at a time of crisis.

 

Been there. And your ability to put words together is going to help you more than you could imagine. Anyone else is going to have to overcome the emotions AND write and say something that's going to be heard by so many people and live on forever. Public speaking is a horrifying fear for so, so many people, and you already know how to do it. Writing, also, is a fear -- putting yourself out there for something so emotional. And then there's the process itself; for someone who doesn't write regularly, even a 500-word essay can be a daunting task and they will stare at a blank page for an hour.

So, in short, you will knock it out of the park.

I hadn't thought in the what-if terms of being in the center of a family tragedy that demanded news coverage, but yeah, when it comes down to it, I'd be the only one I trusted to speak on my family's behalf.

 

I came here to post that Esquire link. Another great job by Jones. RIP Junior.

 

I would like to have heard, or would like to learn, more about whatever police investigation work was done -- how it is known, seemingly for certain, that this was a suicide.

I'm guessing there must have been something in the texts to his family members that hinted at it.

Otherwise...could this possibly have been an accident? I guess it's a dumb question at this point, but people handling guns do accidentally kill themselves all the time. Especially given that there was no suicide note found, I'd like explanation of how it is known that this was a suicide. I'm sure there is one. I'd just like to know details of it.

Or, maybe I just can't believe it and am in denial about this...

 

This is the word-for-word truth. SOMETHING--and the two of you know more than anyone here I don't believe in a higher power--will guide you to write and deliver the eulogy that pays the proper tribute to your loved one. If you cry, that is OK. But don't be stunned if you find a soothing sense of calm come over you as you speak. I felt my Mom's presence as I was speaking.

 

I hope he's wrong, but he's probably right.