It’s all over the news here in San Diego:
Junior Seau, one of my favorite Chargers ever and one of the most universally beloved, too, just committed suicide.
His mom is only just now on the scene here in San Diego.
I cannot even take this in. I’m stunned.
Stunned and sick.
Update: Good Lord. The news just showed an aerial shot of his home on the beach with his 17-year-old son tearing up the driveway to the door, the police trying to restrain him and then letting him go. I’m in tears. This is horrible.
Seriously. The two most beloved sports figures here in SD are Tony Gwynn and …… Junior Seau.
Horrible.
The whole city is now at a standstill because of this.
I heard about this when I was driving home today–really sad. Incomprehensible.
I’m so sorry, trace. Very sad.
Such sad news – my husband grew up in SD and has told me so many stories about Junior. What a terrible loss for his family and for the city.
I was unfamiliar with him until today (not much of a football fan myself), and I find it truly shocking that seven of his teammates are also already dead, all way before their time.
There’s a very moving tribute to him here: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl–junior-seau-was-gregarious–ebullient–hilarious-and-immensely-popular.html When a sportswriter speaks that well of him, he must have been a special kind of guy.
They showed Junior’s mother on camera — she asked to speak to the media — and she was just wailing. It was horrible. I started to cry just watched her. This old Samoan woman, begging God, “Take me, Lord! Take me instead! Leave my son alone!”
People were literally holding her up so she could talk.
Tragic. Unbelievable.
RT — It’s true. Eight of the players on the Chargers’ 1994 Super Bowl team are now dead.
Junior Seau was a man of faith, known for his huge heart, huge smile, and love of his community. He was always out and about, just doing good, you know? He’s a local boy who ended up playing in the NFL for his hometown team, which was his dream. He’s basically everyone’s favorite football player — of all time — here in San Diego. So admired and so beloved.
Imagine your town’s biggest sports icon killing himself and that’s what this is.
heartbreaking! to say the least.
I’ve been trying to process this all day. It’s incomprehensible. Such a shame. His mom’s reaction breaks my heart. He was well-loved by so many people, community-minded, and there are so many stories of his generosity. Just the sort of man any organization or city is proud to say was one of their own. RIP Junior.
NF — I know. The mom! She was gutwrenching, wasn’t she? What a loss. The stories that local people are now coming forward with about “Junior did this for me and Junior did that for me” — well, it’s just heartbreaking. I have no place in my mind to even put this.