Pictures and flowers for Seau (USP)
|
|
Services for Junior Seau were held Friday. The longtime NFL linebacker was laid to rest near his home in Oceanside. Thousands turned out to honor the man, at Qualcomm Stadium, including LaDanian Tomlinson, John Lynch, Bobby Ross among others.
|
Junior Seau laid to rest in hometown
OCEANSIDE, CALIF. (AP)
Hours after Junior Seau was buried in his hometown, thousands of fans
got their chance to cheer one more time for the hard-hitting,
fist-pumping linebacker at the stadium where he starred for 13 seasons.
A crowd estimated at 20,000 attended a public memorial service at
Qualcomm Stadium. Many wore Seau's No. 55 jersey — in Chargers blue,
Southern California cardinal and gold and Miami Dolphins aqua and
orange. One of Seau's cousins wore a jersey combing the colors of all
three of his pro teams, including the New England Patriots.
Former NFL safety John Lynch led a shout-out of "Buddy!" — Seau's
greeting to friends and strangers alike.
"I love it," Lynch said.
"He was a good and loyal friend," said former teammate LaDainian Tomlinson, who drew some of the biggest cheers of the night as he spoke
of Seau. "Notice the words I said: good and loyal."
Chargers president Dean Spanos made official what many had known since
Seau left after the 2002 season, that No. 55 will never be worn by
another Chargers player.
Among those attending were Seau's parents, his ex-wife and their
children, several current and former Chargers, and former rival John
Elway. Elway, who now runs Denver's front office, was accompanied by
new Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and coach John Fox, a former
assistant with San Diego.
Seau's No. 55 was painted at midfield.
Seau committed suicide on May 2 at his Oceanside home. He played parts
of 20 seasons in the NFL.
After a private funeral earlier Friday, Seau was buried at Eternal
Hills cemetery.
Chargers chaplain Shawn Mitchell opened the service with a prayer.
"Junior, we don't know if you can see this down here, but tonight's
your night."
Said Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts: "Our paths never crossed on
the field, but boy could we have used him with the offense of Air
Coryell. I'm also glad I never had to play against him. I could just
imagine the thought of him sacking me, then standing over me and
dancing all over me."
Someone yelled, "Ask Elway!"
Fouts called it a "classy move" for Elway, Manning and Fox to attend,
and the crowd cheered.
Seau didn't leave a suicide note.
"No doubt this is a tragedy," Fouts said. "A tragedy for the community
of San Diego, for Chargers fans and football fans everywhere. And with
all tragedies, there are lessons to be learned, lessons that must be
learned by all of us. The lesson here is, if you need help, get help.
It's out there. All you have to do is swallow your pride and ask for
it. We all need help at times. We can all do a better job of helping
each other."
Former teammate Billy Ray Smith, a fellow linebacker, told the crowd:
"I want to make sure you know, Junior Seau loved you guys; loved you
all. I'm real sure that you loved No. 55 as well. Is that correct? He
was a great friend a great teammate and I will miss him forever. Rest
in peace."
Bobby Ross, the only coach to get the Chargers to the Super Bowl, told
a Seau "bounty" story from the 1990s, when Stan Humphries was throwing
long passes during pregame warmups near the stands. One of the Raiders
fans was dressed up in a garish football outfit that included shoulder
pads and a helmet.
"I said, `Stan, what the hell's going on?'" Ross said. "And he said,
`I've got to tell you, coach, Junior told me if I hit that guy in the
stands, he'd give me $1,000.'"
Ross recalled Seau's many charitable contributions to the community.
"I don't believe there's a player who played in the National Football
League who has done for a city what Junior Seau has done for San
Diego," Ross said.
"Junior, we know that you're with our maker, up there with our heavenly
father," Ross added. "We know that. Look out for our guys who have also
left. Look out for our guys."
Ross then mentioned the other seven players from San Diego's 1994 team
who have died: David Griggs, Doug Miller, Rodney Culver, Chris Mims,
Curtis Whitley, Shawn Lee and Lew Bush, as well as former equipment
manager Sid Brooks.
Tomlinson recalled how impossible it was to block Seau during practice,
and how it inspired him to lift weights.
"But lucky enough, he was on my team," Tomlinson said to loud applause.
Tomlinson spoke directly to Seau's parents, telling them: "Mama Seau,
Papa Seau, it's time for you to take a bow. Why? Because of everything
that you instilled in Junior, and taught him and told him to go out and
be happy and do happy, he did that. He instilled in everybody he
touched, the things you taught him. So don't be sad today, be happy
because Junior lives through us every day in everything he's touched."
Then, reciting the names of Seau's children, who were seated in the
front row, Tomlinson said: "Go make your father proud. He'll live
through you. Thank you, Junior."
Patriots Forums: Come Talk Some
Football
For more Patriots news follow us via Twitter:
Or find us on Facebook : Facebook.com/PatriotsInsider
|