# Reggie White is Not a Great Man - Shame on the Packers and the NFL **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 18, 2005, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reggie-white-is-not-a-great-man-shame-on-the-packers-and-the-nfl/322271 "2005-09-18T22:54:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Go\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce73a5/32.png) [@Go\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Blue)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reggie-white-is-not-a-great-man-shame-on-the-packers-and-the-nfl/322271/1 "2005-09-18T22:54:58Z")
Reggie White was a great football player, but not a great man. He used his position as a great football player to promote his hateful racist, homophobic viewpoint. If the Packers wanted to retire his number because he was great player fine. But there should have been balance to this. The Packers and the NFL commentators should have stated that they in no way support White’s racist, homophobic views. They should have stated that while he was a great football player as a man he left much to be desired. There was no need to whitewash his hateful views. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reggie-white-is-not-a-great-man-shame-on-the-packers-and-the-nfl/322271/2 "2005-09-18T23:01:22Z")
> [@Go Blue](#): > > Reggie White was a great football player, but not a great man. He used his position as a great football player to promote his hateful racist, homophobic viewpoint. If the Packers wanted to retire his number because he was great player fine. But there should have been balance to this. The Packers and the NFL commentators should have stated that they in no way support White’s racist, homophobic views. They should have stated that while he was a great football player as a man he left much to be desired. There was no need to whitewash his hateful views. I get the feeling you don’t like this Reggie White guy. Now, being a fairly big nerd, I really don’t know who he is…care to explain why he’s a racist homophobe? ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Pfukke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@Rufus\_Pfukke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Pfukke)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reggie-white-is-not-a-great-man-shame-on-the-packers-and-the-nfl/322271/3 "2005-09-18T23:06:11Z")
Cite, please. ---
**Author:** ![Go\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce73a5/32.png) [@Go\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Blue)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reggie-white-is-not-a-great-man-shame-on-the-packers-and-the-nfl/322271/4 "2005-09-18T23:09:25Z")
[http://www.skeptictank.org/white.htm](http://www.skeptictank.org/white.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Go\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce73a5/32.png) [@Go\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Blue)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reggie-white-is-not-a-great-man-shame-on-the-packers-and-the-nfl/322271/5 "2005-09-18T23:12:58Z")
> [@](#): > > As America has permitted homosexuality to establish itself as an alternative lifestyle, it is also reeling from the frightening spread of sexually transmitted disease. Sin begets its own consequence, both on individuals and nations. > [@](#): > > I’ve often had people ask me, would you allow a homosexual to be your friend. Yes, I will. And the reason I will is because I know that that person has problems, and if I can minister to those problems, I will. > [@](#): > > People who call Reggie White a bigot and homophobic, beware, because you’re calling God himself a bigot and homophobic. > **[Reggie White Quotes - BrainyQuote](https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/reggie-white-quotes)** > > Enjoy the best Reggie White Quotes at BrainyQuote. Quotations by Reggie White, American Athlete, Born December 19, 1961. Share with your friends. ---
**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reggie-white-is-not-a-great-man-shame-on-the-packers-and-the-nfl/322271/6 "2005-09-18T23:21:03Z")
I don’t follow football either, but, do you have anything that isn’t seven years old for a cite? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reggie-white-is-not-a-great-man-shame-on-the-packers-and-the-nfl/322271/7 "2005-09-18T23:26:53Z")
> [@ltfire](#): > > I don’t follow football either, but, do you have anything that isn’t seven years old for a cite? Why does the age of the cite matter? White did say those things. ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reggie-white-is-not-a-great-man-shame-on-the-packers-and-the-nfl/322271/8 "2005-09-18T23:27:57Z")
I think the reason Reggie is having his number retired is because of what he did on the football field and not what he did on the pulpit. He had his number retired, he wasn’t canonized. Lighten up, Francis ---
**Author:** ![AndyPolley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@AndyPolley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyPolley)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reggie-white-is-not-a-great-man-shame-on-the-packers-and-the-nfl/322271/9 "2005-09-18T23:35:24Z")
> [@imthjckaz](#): > > He had his number retired, he wasn’t canonized. Well, the city of Green Bay also namedd a street after him… > [@NFL.com](#): > > Also on Sept. 17, the city of Green Bay dedicated a street known now as “Reggie White Way.” I’ve stopped treating pro athletes like they are the smartest guys in the room, perhaps **Go Blue** should do the same. ---
**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2005, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reggie-white-is-not-a-great-man-shame-on-the-packers-and-the-nfl/322271/10 "2005-09-19T00:09:44Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Why does the age of the cite matter? White did say those things. Says a seven year old article. Has he continued to say these things today? Maybe he was hit by a fuckin’ lightning bolt and now sees the errors of his 7 year old comments. …is all I was askin’. ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2005, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reggie-white-is-not-a-great-man-shame-on-the-packers-and-the-nfl/322271/11 "2005-09-19T00:14:15Z")
> [@ltfire](#): > > Maybe he was hit by a fuckin’ lightning bolt and now sees the errors of his 7 year old comments. That’s unlikely, since [he’s dead](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/football/nfl/12/26/bc.fbp.lgns.reggiewhitedies.r/?cnn=yes). ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2005, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reggie-white-is-not-a-great-man-shame-on-the-packers-and-the-nfl/322271/12 "2005-09-19T00:31:17Z")
**Go Blue:** I don’t agree with White’s comments, but I’d like to ask you a question: Is it possible for someone to hold the views he did and be a good man? A great man? ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2005, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reggie-white-is-not-a-great-man-shame-on-the-packers-and-the-nfl/322271/13 "2005-09-19T00:34:52Z")
Aw, let White have his day for his football accomplishments. It’s possible to make sure the world knows about White’s flaws without making it a 24/7/365 issue. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2005, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reggie-white-is-not-a-great-man-shame-on-the-packers-and-the-nfl/322271/14 "2005-09-19T00:48:38Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > **Go Blue:** I don’t agree with White’s comments, but I’d like to ask you a question: Is it possible for someone to hold the views he did and be a good man? A great man? No. ---
**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2005, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reggie-white-is-not-a-great-man-shame-on-the-packers-and-the-nfl/322271/15 "2005-09-19T00:54:01Z")
> [@neuroman](#): > > That’s unlikely, since [he’s dead](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/football/nfl/12/26/bc.fbp.lgns.reggiewhitedies.r/?cnn=yes). OK, you made me Google that. Was he in a coma until December 19, 2004? Did he say anything about his views published 7 years ago or, were his views known only by his past statements? No recanting? Then, fuck 'em. ---
**Author:** ![PanicZone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2bfe46/32.png) [@PanicZone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PanicZone)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2005, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reggie-white-is-not-a-great-man-shame-on-the-packers-and-the-nfl/322271/16 "2005-09-19T01:03:32Z")
Reggie White was a homophobe, and probably a racist (see his comments on Asians sometime). But he was also the greatest pass-rusher of all-time, and that’s why his number was retired! ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2005, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reggie-white-is-not-a-great-man-shame-on-the-packers-and-the-nfl/322271/17 "2005-09-19T01:06:24Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > No. So, if a man spends his life helping children and the poor and organizing charities to help kids with no fathers and feed the hungry, yet holds beliefs that are due to ignorance, he cannot be a good man? He may not be an enlightened man, or he may be a man blinded by religous doctrine, but his actions count more than an idea that he held. Now, if he acted on those beliefs in a hateful way, I’d agree. Otherwise, I say let a man think what he wants, let’s judge him by his actions. \*The portrait of the man I painted above is hypothetical. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2005, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reggie-white-is-not-a-great-man-shame-on-the-packers-and-the-nfl/322271/18 "2005-09-19T01:06:44Z")
> [@ltfire](#): > > Did he say anything about his views published 7 years ago or, were his views known only by his past statements? No recanting? > Then, fuck 'em. I’m pretty sure he didn’t. But I did check Wikipedia and it seems the NFL and the Packers didn’t appreciate his comments. They’re only retiring his number here, I don’t think they’re offering any other endorsement of his views. Some whitewashing of a person’s life after he dies is normal, not to say it’s a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2005, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reggie-white-is-not-a-great-man-shame-on-the-packers-and-the-nfl/322271/19 "2005-09-19T01:15:49Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > No. Says the Vikings fan. Shit, didn’t you guys get the memo that Bush kicked a puppy? This is the best there is for a Sunday rant? **Go Blue** , go fuck yourself. Unless you come with a rant about Farrakhan, you’re drivel is pointless. Reverend White has done more good for people than you ever will. Shut the fuck up. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2005, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reggie-white-is-not-a-great-man-shame-on-the-packers-and-the-nfl/322271/20 "2005-09-19T01:20:48Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > So, if a man spends his life helping children and the poor and organizing charities to help kids with no fathers and feed the hungry, yet holds beliefs that are due to ignorance, he cannot be a good man? He may not be an enlightened man, or he may be a man blinded by religous doctrine, but his actions count more than an idea that he held. Now, if he acted on those beliefs in a hateful way, I’d agree. Otherwise, I say let a man think what he wants, let’s judge him by his actions. > > \*The portrait of the man I painted above is hypothetical. He wasn’t Albert Schweizer. he spent his life playing football and did some of the same charity work that many other NFL players do. He wasn’t an entirely evil man but he was far from a “great” one. It’s hard to get around the fact that he was a homophobe, a racist and a religious bigot. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reggie-white-is-not-a-great-man-shame-on-the-packers-and-the-nfl/322271.md?page=2)