"Rabbi White and Red Team"

Reggie White, former Green Bay Packer great and Minister of Defense pontificates on a recent ESPN documentary that his spiritual journey is now taking him towards the Torah. OK, I understand many Pastor White fans don't have a problem with this at all. I DO! Before I go any farther, let me sincerely say I would have the very same problem if it happened to be Rabbi White building hundred of beautiful synagogues across the country and then deciding to leave to study Muslin or Christianity.

Believe me, I'm not upset with Reverend White because it Judaism, or for that matter any other religion he seeks as he nears the goal line of his search. I'm upset because here is another celebrity using his "I'm famous-follow me" status to sell us a bill of goods without so much as a warranty. Unlike my colleagues on this show, on the football field of faiths, I think there are a lot of "yards" between the preaching the New Testament and embracing the beliefs of the Torah. Again, I'm not berating any religion, I'm just stating that going from a believer to a non-believer in the New Testament's Rules and Regulation hand book is a pretty good "leap of faith".

At the first of the week it was Walter Cronkite assassinating any credibility baby boomers had invested in his undeserved reputation. For those of you who may not have heard, old Walter climbed off his golden broadcast throne to proclaim World War Three should the current REPUBLICAN president go to war with Iraq. Thanks Walter, but if you're wrong, what are the consequences to YOU, compared to the consequences to the NATION if the PRESIDENT is wrong? Ummmmmm?

Now we have another of the golden gods of celebrity disappointing a lot of believers. Listen, Reverend White is free to jump from faith to faith as many times as he likes, after all this is America. But I believe there is a real responsibility he has to the people who signed on to his team.

Let me take the emotional ingredient of religion out of the mix for a moment and see if this makes more sense this way. Reggie White used his celebrity status to encourage and solicit people around the world, "Join me on the BLUE TEAM. I've found truth and tranquility and I'm asking you to change your ways, your life, eternity and JOIN THE BLUE TEAM. The BLUE TEAM is THE WAY! It did for me and it will for YOU!"

Well guess what? A lot of people heard his message. It was a message that reached thousands of people simply because of his celebrity status. Followers across the country packed into small and large tents and buildings to hear his message of conversion to the BLUE TEAM. Thousands were energized and motivated as they surrendered their ways, their lives, and their very existence to the tenets of the BLUE TEAM.

And now? Well now as they gather together singing the songs of inspiration from the BLUE TEAM's songbook, they abruptly hear that Coach Reggie has, in the middle of the game, left the team. Shocking! Disappointment showers a silenced crowd in every gathering. "Say it ain't so, Reggie!" Well, I'm afraid it is folks. He didn't even send a personal letter to the leaders of the BLUE TEAM. Instead he tells some bed-head broadcaster on ESPN that he no longer believes in the BLUE TEAM. He has now decided his heart is calling him to search the handbook of the RED TEAM.

Now, you see? Don't you think he has an obligation to the BLUE TEAM? Don't you think peoples' feelings and faiths should be given a little more consideration? At least Pastor White should have the respect to keep his game plan to himself until he finally arrives at his spiritual destination. Informing all his BLUE TEAM followers via ESPN that he sold them a bill of goods he doesn't even stand by anymore is rather heartless.

I use to respect Reggie for being a solid rock to lean on, but then again I was stupid enough to think Walter Cronkite was fair and balanced back during his day. Now I'm not sure what either believes or how long they'll believe what they believe. I guess I'll have to just have to keep watching ESPN for a religious progress report on the Minister of Defense, or should he now be called the Minister of OFFENSE!

Paul Gallo

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