Reggie White

Reggie White, Minister of Defense, was elected to the National Football League Hall of Fame today.

My sons, Adam and Ryan, grew up admiring Reggie for his deep commitment to Christ and his excellence on the football field. Ryan still has a picture of him on the wall of his room. Reggie's still his hero!

I recall visiting training camp one year. Reggie smiled and waved at my boys. That small gesture on his part, left a beautiful lifetime memory for them.

In an interview before Super Bowl XXXI, an announcer asked Reggie if he had anything he wanted to say to the world.

He responded by singing "Amazing Grace".

Our family had the privilege of attending Reggie's last home game at Lambeau Field. At halftime, they honored him -- and the entire stadium of 64,000 stood and sang "Amazing Grace" together, as he ran a lap around the field and pointed up to heaven.

Michael Irvin, the star receiver for the Cowboys did not make the Hall of Fame cut this year. His poor choices and misadventures off the field discredited him.

Teammate, Emmit Smith protested, saying "This is the Football Hall of Fame, not the Life Hall of Fame."

A nominee's life DOES have something to do with it, however.

The Hall of Fame ought to be more than the celebration of good football -- but rather of heroism, and that is a matter of character.