With all the talk of the 2012 Eagles football season being a special one, one of Super Bowl aspirations and dynasty’s in the making, there is something much more important. Way more important in fact… and that’s family. On the eve of what could become the most historic season in Eagles history, we were informed of the unfortunate separation and pending divorce of owner Jeffrey and Christina Lurie and wondered how it would affect the operation of the team, the season, and our championship hopes.
Divorce is an emotionally traumatic experience, I know. But even that pales dramatically in comparison to the terrible discovery of coach Andy Reid’s 29 year old son Garrett, who was found dead in his dorm room at Eagles Training Camp in Lehigh, Pa. I’ve been around death, watched people die, had a man die in my arms, lost parents and a sibling. But what must it be like to lose a child, even an adult son? My mother knew how Andy and Tammy Reid feel when she lost her baby boy. Maybe some of you do too.
I’m sure that many of your first thoughts were “How is this going to affect the season?” That’s probably a natural thing to think. But I look for this family pain, this adversity, to draw a close knit football team of men and their leader even closer.
In the past – if you remember – there were problems with Garret and Britt, Andy’s middle boy who both struggled with drug addiction issues. My mother could identify with the coach on that one since I was a chronic abuser for almost half of my 54 years. Actually, Coach Reid took a brief leave of absence to take care of his family, something I applauded him for. I never thought I might say this about an Eagles season, but from my heart, I would sacrifice a Super Bowl Title this year for the comfort and healing of the Reid family. Sincerely.
Drugs can take a devastating toll on a person’s life and that of their family, and over time can do such damage to a person’s health. Perhaps Garrett paid the ultimate price…but of course we don’t know yet the cause of death and in fact I want to emphasis that it really doesn’t matter how does it? The Reids lost their son.
Andy Reid is a professional and in time you know he’ll be right back to work. I just hope that the grieving process is full and complete for him and his family, particularly Tammy and Britt. Over the years Coach Reid has sown seeds of loyalty and support towards his players and the Eagles organization and it looks like he’s reaping the harvest of his commitment as team leaders are stepping up in support of their coach, friend and father figure to some… which leads us back to football.
Back in 1992 there was the season long chant or battle cry of “Bring it Home for Jerome” when defensive tackle Jerome Brown died in a car crash (with his nephew). The Eagles didn’t bring it home that year and lost in the first round of the playoffs. But this year we don’t need a “Get it Done for Garrett” chant to charge up a team already primed for greatness. This team has matured emotionally and is solid as a rock for their coach.
Jeff Lurie said on TV that “what happens in life happens”. Simple yet profound. “It’s what you do after such adversity”. I fell apart in 92 when my dad died but was able to thrive 12 years later during the loss of my brother and mom. I saw the difference in my emotional and spiritual maturity over that time. There’s still the issue of life and you have to move forward, you still have to live. Andy and Tammy Reid still have to go to work and the Philadelphia Eagles still have to play football. And play they will.
Michael Vick, Jason Avant, and Nnamdi Asomugha have already expressed to the NFL and to the world that they have their coach’s back. In fact, they’ve been saying it since the end of last season. They don’t need a tragedy this year to win games or even a championship. But in every heart in that locker room there will be a place for Garrett and a certain regret that he wasn’t there to share it with them, the year that would be special.
In the scheme of life, football is less than secondary. If you’re reading this then you are blessed! If you are alive then you are blessed! Make the most of your time on earth but most importantly, love your family… get my meaning?
I get you Mylow. I tell my Wife & kids everyday, that I love them. Not only do I tell them, I show them. Life is too short, & from my the history of my background, upbringing, struggles, my hard work, & all of my accomplishments, I never take anything, nor anyone, for granted.
That’s good stuff DCar… life is too short and too often we lose sight of that. Unfortunately, circumstances like what Coach Reid is facing tragically remind us… thanks for your input!
Life “is” to short bro, and unfortunately it takes something like what Coach is going through for us to realize it. Hopefully this will wake us up a little… thanks for your input DCar!