REGGIE WHITE DID IT HIS WAY

Dead at 43.

Those three words were completely stunning when my brother, Reginald, called me Sunday to inform me of the death of one of the greatest players in the history of the NFL.

Reggie White was a mammoth of a man who could toss aside equally massive opponents as if they were children - sometimes with one arm. To think that he died at such a young age - not from a car accident, drug overdose or from a shotgun blast - was stunning. We've come to expect today's athletes not being taken from us at such young ages unless other factors came into play.

One of the popular statements I've heard from sports commentators and others is that White was "taken from us too soon." That is an obvious statement considering we all expect to leave this earth at a ripe old age, but those of us from the faith world can reach the conclusion that his work was done and God called him home.

If there was one constant about Reggie White, it was that he understood that playing football was more about a calling, rather than a career move. He often told sportswriters that God blessed him with the gifts to play football so that he could use the enormous stage to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, witnessing to others who would otherwise tune you out with "That's God talk."

And that is what I most admire about White. Not his 198 sacks, Super Bowl ring or NFL records. It's the fact that he used his position as a great ballplayer to share his faith with the rest of the world.

It's amazing how we relish the likes of Charles Barkley pontificating on social issues - even when he is completely clueless as to what he is saying. But when a guy talks about the goodness of Jesus, we all freak out and say, "Hey, we don't want any part of that. Just shut up and play ball."

In many quarters of America, faith is treated as a "personal thing" that shouldn't be shared with others. Democratic presidential contender Howard Dean talked about this when he tried to be more open about his faith as he ventured down South, where folks are more willing to openly talk about grace, mercy and salvation.

One of the greatest memories I have of White was from December 1995, when a leg injury forced the Packers to declare him out for the season. But after intense prayer, White called the trainer to his house and declared, "I'm healed!" He then ran around the backyard to show his moves. Everyone was shocked - Packers head coach Mike Holmgren found it hard to answer questions in his news conference - and some even suggested he was misdiagnosed. White played in limited action, but for those of us who truly understand the power of prayer, all we could say was, "Nothing but God."

White's faith often ran counter to what we think should be discussed. When he spoke before the Wisconsin legislature, he made some remarks that were offensive to ethnic groups, and his opposition to homosexuality earned him the wrath of gay and lesbian groups. He apologized for the ethnic remarks, but for White, the same God who healed him is the same God who spoke against homosexuality. And just like the opposing quarterback, Reggie White didn't care what you thought. He was playing on God's Team and was unwilling to bend or break his beliefs to prove more palatable to the public.

What we really should always cherish about White isn't his play on the field, but his steadfast belief in his convictions and the willingness to do God's will, rather than his own. And with that, God likely met his warrior with the one greeting we all should covet: "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

Roland S. Martin is executive editor of the Chicago Defender. He can be reached at rmartin@chicagodefender.com or (312) 225-2400, ext. 130.

Article copyright REAL TIMES Inc.

Photograph (Reggie White)