Steve McNair :: A Farewell

I was a huge sports fan throughout my childhood. Somewhere in highschool I took a turn for the arts and left sports behind. I focused on music and writing throughout college, and once I graduate from Belmont I stayed in Nashville. We were getting a football team, the former Houston Oilers, and they were to be named the Tennessee Titans. My dad, who was a huge football fan, kept asking me about the Titans...how are they doing, who are they playing, etc. I didn't know or really care to know. But as the season went a long and my dad kept asking me about the Titans, I began to pay attention. He was a big fan of the St. Louis Rams and brought up the prospect of the Rams vs. Titans in the Super Bowl. He had my attention.

For the next several months we knocked on each other's team in good fun. He would call me anytime the Rams made a great play and I would call him when the Titans did the same. Then this happened:



The Titans had stayed alive and eventually made it to the Super Bowl. It was a hell of a game. My dad called me every time the Titans screwed up or the Rams made a great play. We loved the ribbing. He was great at it. On the final play of the game I called him while the play unfolded..."McNair throws...caught!!! TOUCHD....NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" The other end of the phone distorted with celebration that the Rams won.



I lost my dad in 2003. I am forever grateful to that group of Titans for such a memorable season that brought dad and I closer. Without Steve McNair, I don't think we would have been there. Rest in Peace, Steve, and thank you for the memories that inspired the city of Nashville.