STEVE McNAIR 1973-2009

A few days ago, former Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair was murdered in downtown Nashville. Through my artwork, I had the pleasure of meeting him on four separate occasions when Laura and I lived in Spring Hill. The Titans fan club commissioned me to draw a picture of Steve that they presented his mother back in 2003. Steve signed a collage for me that same year. He just looked at it and said, “You drew this? With your hands? Wow!” He signed two pieces of my artwork and signed a jersey for me (that I still have) as well. I can’t say I was a friend of Steve’s. I’m sure he wouldn’t have remembered me if I walked past him on the street. I knew, even back then, that Steve had some struggles (just like the rest of us). In my opinion, dating people while you are married is wrong. That said, in the 20 or so minutes that I spent near him, I liked him. I really liked him. He was always very accommodating, soft spoken and friendly … and he liked my art. In the next few weeks (as with Michael Jackson) I’m sure we’ll hear every bad thing the man ever did, and that, to me, is a shame. On the field, Steve McNair was unlike anyone else. He may have been the toughest quarterback who ever played. Off the field, he was like every one of us. He wasn’t perfect. None of us are. I feel lucky to have met him and talked to him and I feel sad that he is gone.