Money

Retired NFL quarterback Steve McNair hopefully had plenty of money from his playing days. He played in an era where pro athletes, especially key players like quarterbacks, make millions in salary and endorsements. Additionally, McNair had some business interests – he recently opened a restaurant – outside of professional sports.

Have you ever heard the saying “More money, more problems?” One problem, which may not seem like a problem, money can cause is excessive popularity.

Popularity

Athletes, entertainers and public figures often breeze through certain situations as a result of their popularity. They often eat without paying, something that seems so unfair, and they draw more-than-normal attention from the opposite sex. “I ain’t saying she a gold digger, but she ain’t messing with no broke…”

Since we are born with human weaknesses, the amount of popularity some people get turns into a huge negative; just because someone can throw a football 60 yards does not automatically make them equiped to deal with celebrity.

Sin

The seventh of the ten commandments speaks about committing adultery – cheating on your husband/wife. McNair had a girlfriend although he was married. When you read the initial reports, it actually seems like he had a girlfriend and a wife on the side! They didn’t even talk about it at first, but the story was certainly odd since there was no mention of divorce and/or seperation. Basically, he was sinning.

Predictable behavior

So we have a man, McNair, who should have plenty of money, is popular his playing days in the NFL and was cheating on his wife. Oh, he was also suspected of cheating on the woman who he was cheating on his wife with! I guess his first girlfriend thought he was divorcing his wife and there was something so special about her to make him change his ways. Maybe it was all the time they spent together and the Cadillac Escalade he gave her – although she had to make payments on it.

The way the story is developing the girlfriend found out he may have been cheating on her, she had to pay for the “gift” along with a car she couldn’t sell and her rent was going up. At this point the alarm probably went off and she realized where she really stood in the pecking order with McNair. When reality hit, she might have realized she wasn’t as special as she thought she was.

McNair met his girlfriend 6 months ago at a restaurant he frequented with his family. Just think what would have happened, or not happened, if he wouldn’t have cheated on his wife. Normally, the cheater gets caught and may end up breaking up with their significant other. McNair kept on cheating and paid with his life.

It was unfortunately his time to go, but if he wouldn’t have cheated he would probably be somewhere right now enjoying life. Lesson learned?

I love you honey!