Link (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/sports/football/05mcnair.html?ref=sports)

Steve McNair, the former N.F.L. quarterback whose Air McNair nickname gave short shrift to his scrambling ability, died Saturday, apparently in a double shooting, according to the Nashville police.

McNair, 36, and an unidentified woman were found dead with gunshot wounds Saturday afternoon inside a condominium in downtown Nashville, the police said.

The Associated Press quoted a police spokesman saying that the woman was not McNair’s wife, Mechelle.

McNair shared the league’s Most Valuable Player award with Peyton Manning in 2003, when McNair played for the Tennessee Titans. He played for the franchise for 11 years, taking it within inches of overtime against the St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl after the 1999 season. He retired before the 2008 season, after 13 years in the N.F.L. (he played two seasons in Baltimore) as one of the best quarterbacks of his era.

“The N.F.L. has lost a brother, and I believe black quarterbacks have lost a pioneer,” said Jets linebacker Bart Scott, who played with McNair in Baltimore.

The Houston Oilers, who later moved to Tennessee, drafted McNair with the third overall pick in 1995 out of Alcorn State, a historically black college where McNair first displayed his dazzling ability to scramble or throw — and a toughness that pushed him to play through numerous injuries. Other players marveled at his grittiness, and in 1999, he returned from early-season back surgery to take the Titans to the Super Bowl.

The greatest stretch of his career may have occurred near the end of the 2002 season, when McNair had so many injuries that he could not practice for two months, but led the Titans to five straight victories to finish the regular season before they lost in the American Football Conference championship game.

In 2003, McNair was charged with drunken driving and possession of a handgun. Those charges were dismissed. In 2007, McNair was charged with driving under the influence in Tennessee, accused of allowing his vehicle to be operated by someone who was driving under the influence. His brother-in-law was driving the vehicle, and he pleaded guilty to reckless driving. The charge against McNair was dropped.

McNair was a gifted athlete in Mount Olive, Miss. He was even drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 35th round of the 1991 baseball draft, and bigger colleges had recruited him — but they wanted him to play defensive back. As a college sophomore, he led the nation in total offense, averaging more than 400 yards a game and displaying the ability to play through injuries. As a senior, he gained nearly 6,000 yards rushing and passing, along with 53 touchdowns, and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting.

“Steve was special and as tough and competitive of a guy that I have ever been around,” said Jets Coach Rex Ryan, who was an assistant with the Ravens from 1999 to 2008. “As soon as we got him in Baltimore, he gave our team instant confidence, and I was fortunate to be around him for two seasons.”

McNair was a genial locker room presence, and he was embraced by the Ravens in part because of his close friendship with linebacker Ray Lewis, who was said Saturday night to be having a difficult time dealing with McNair’s death. Ravens receiver Derrick Mason called McNair “Smile” and said their families were close.

“I’ve known him for 13 years, and he was the most selfless, happiest and friendliest person I have known,” Mason said. “On the field, there isn’t a player that was as tough as him, especially at the quarterback position. What I have seen him play through on the field, and what he dealt with during the week to get ready for a game, I have never known a better teammate.”

Scott had his first career interception off a McNair pass in 2002. When McNair joined the Ravens, Scott said McNair signed the ball for him.

“Me personally, I’m not a guy who’s like a big fan of football players; it’s not my personality,” Scott said. “But I tell you one thing: Steve McNair’s Tennessee Titans jersey sits down in my basement. I’m not a fan of players, I’m a fan of people. And I was a fan of Steve McNair the person.”

McNair was an anomaly when he came to the N.F.L., displaying Michael Vick’s penchant for running before Vick did, combined with the booming arm that earned him his nickname. McNair went to the Pro Bowl three times. In his M.V.P. season he threw 24 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions; he also rushed for four touchdowns. He finished his career with 174 passing touchdowns and 37 rushing.

McNair was traded to the Ravens in 2006 after the Titans drafted quarterback Vince Young, who was advertised to have McNair’s combination of skills.

“He was one of the finest players to play for our organization and one of the most beloved players by our fans,” said Bud Adams Jr., the Titans’ owner. “He played with unquestioned heart and leadership and led us to places that we had never reached, including our only Super Bowl.”

I'm shocked!

Holy ****

RIP Steve :( :rip:

I'm shocked!

Yeah me too. This is absolutely crazy.

McNair was great.

Yeah me too. This is absolutely crazy.

McNair was great.
McNair was an outstanding QB. What a tragic ending to a great career. :rip:

McNair was an outstanding QB. What a tragic ending to a great career. :rip:

I know :(. Not a good day for the NFL family. Lost a very good one.

He was one of the toughest and most courageous QB's I ever saw.

Guy took a licking, kept on ticking.

He was a great QB and seemed like a great person. RIP Steve McNair

This is just awful. He was such a great QB and a great person too. My Dad is a Baltimore Raven fan and he's shocked about it. R.I.P. Steve. :(

What a terrible thing to have happen. And he was only 36. This is very sad news!!!

That's awful! My husband is shocked. He said he just saw him Pros vs Joes.

I had a feeling when someone brought this up at the family barbecue that it was a major player and when I found out I was stunned. Sad Day for NFL fans

R.I.P.

He was cheating on his wife

he had a girlfriend, the woman that died, who was 20 years old....she apparently killed him, by shooting him 4-5 times, and then took her own life, and shot herself...

RIP but that's a bad way to go out for sure...

He was cheating on his wife

he had a girlfriend, the woman that died, who was 20 years old....she apparently killed him, by shooting him 4-5 times, and then took her own life, and shot herself...

RIP but that's a bad way to go out for sure...
Man, this story just keeps getting uglier.

Man, this story just keeps getting uglier.

I know. It's like, when will it end? Let his soul rest.

I know. It's like, when will it end? Let his soul rest.
I know. I hate that when someone famous dies the media take it as an invitation to air all their dirty laundry. Let the dead rest in peace.

What a sad story - for everyone involved. :(

I know. I hate that when someone famous dies the media take it as an invitation to air all their dirty laundry. Let the dead rest in peace.
Unfortunately when you die like this, it becomes a big story. I was listening to some Baltimore radio stations today and all anyone wanted to talk about was McNair's affair.

I know. I hate that when someone famous dies the media take it as an invitation to air all their dirty laundry. Let the dead rest in peace.


How do you know that his affair with that girl was ALL the dirty laundry this guy had?

A man's #1 responsibility is to his wife and children. This guy cheated on his wife (fairly openly, I guess), and now his wife and kids have to live the rest of their lives with what they now know happened, and knowing what kind of a "man" McNair really was.

The guy was a bum. Whatever he did on the football field ain't jack compared to what he did to his family.

How do you know that his affair with that girl was ALL the dirty laundry this guy had?

A man's #1 responsibility is to his wife and children. This guy cheated on his wife (fairly openly, I guess), and now his wife and kids have to live the rest of their lives with what they now know happened, and knowing what kind of a "man" McNair really was.

The guy was a bum. Whatever he did on the football field ain't jack compared to what he did to his family.

I disagree. First of all, it's Steve's business, not ours. It was his business, let's just say. The only reason we know, is because of the ******** media anyway. Who says he wasn't a great husband for most of the time? Who says he wasn't a great father & a father who was always their for his kids as well? As far as his marriage goes, we know absolutely NOTHING. We don't know anything about his wife, and if we do, it's her name and a few things about her, mostly that she wed a QB of the NFL, Steve McNair. Additionally, we do not know the up to date status of their marriage. They could of been going through a meltdown, BEFORE McNair allegedly even had a so called affair. She could of been cheating on him. She could have a boyfriend now, and at the same time as he did, with a girlfriend, for all we know. They could of been planning a separation or a divorce, we do not know that either. We are also quick to judge. It's been what, 2 1/2 days since his death and we already making preconceived notions about the guy and his marital status and character as a father & husband? I hope you're kidding really, because this sounds like a joke. I think they will be living the rest of their lives MOURNING his death, or at least for a little while they will be. You are making assumptions as to what will happen & what kind of person he is & was. Not only should you let him rest in peace. The situation is dead- pun not intended. We should let the guy rest and move on from this awful thing. Did you know Steve McNair in person? Unless you did, you know nothing about him, except from what is reported in the press, and whatever else is on wikipedia, or on the internet, mainly when you google his name or headlines surrounding his name. He seemed like a really good person. Maybe his personal life needed reworking but that's not for me to judge, neither it is for you as well.

I disagree. First of all, it's Steve's business, not ours. It was his business, let's just say. The only reason we know, is because of the ******** media anyway. Who says he wasn't a great husband for most of the time? Who says he wasn't a great father & a father who was always their for his kids as well? As far as his marriage goes, we know absolutely NOTHING. We don't know anything about his wife, and if we do, it's her name and a few things about her, mostly that she wed a QB of the NFL, Steve McNair. Additionally, we do not know the up to date status of their marriage. They could of been going through a meltdown, BEFORE McNair allegedly even had a so called affair. She could of been cheating on him. She could have a boyfriend now, and at the same time as he did, with a girlfriend, for all we know. They could of been planning a separation or a divorce, we do not know that either. We are also quick to judge. It's been what, 2 1/2 days since his death and we already making preconceived notions about the guy and his marital status and character as a father & husband? I hope you're kidding really, because this sounds like a joke. I think they will be living the rest of their lives MOURNING his death, or at least for a little while they will be. You are making assumptions as to what will happen & what kind of person he is & was. Not only should you let him rest in peace. The situation is dead- pun not intended. We should let the guy rest and move on from this awful thing. Did you know Steve McNair in person? Unless you did, you know nothing about him, except from what is reported in the press, and whatever else is on wikipedia, or on the internet, mainly when you google his name or headlines surrounding his name. He seemed like a really good person. Maybe his personal life needed reworking but that's not for me to judge, neither it is for you as well.

I'm not stopping him from "resting". I sincerely doubt that McNair knows what I'm saying.

No, I didn't know Steve McNair in person...but so what? Do you know his wife? You're saying an awful lot of nasty things about her...maybe she was cheating on him...maybe she has a boyfriend... etc etc... .where does all THAT come from? In only 2 and 1/2 days, you've got his wife cheating on HIM, and you're accusing ME of jumping to conclusions?

Of course, I don't know OJ Simpson either, but that doesn't mean that I can't possibly know what kind of a person he is.

As far as "knowing" McNair...maybe NOBODY "knew" him. I heard Mike Wilbon on "Pardon the Interruption" today, and he talked about how he "knew McNair a little bit".... Wilbon always talks about how he "knows" these guys... most of the time, all he's done is interview them after a game. He doesn't know what these players do once they leave the locker room.

And then Wilbon says he's going to "choose" to remember McNair as the football player that he was... well, gee, Mike, that's great, but what you "choose" to remember doesn't change what actually happened.

I guess it must have been TMZ that posted the pictures of McNair and his girlfriend out on the water, I'm not sure where the pics were taken... meanwhile, ESPN continues to prop these guys up as great role models because they don't want to piss any players off because they're afraid of being cut off from communicating with the players. ESPN had to know what was going on with McNair and that girl.

If ESPN would just stick to reporting the scores and quit telling us what great role models these guys are, then that's fine... but quit telling me what a fantastic family man and role model Steve McNair was, because he wasn't that person.

Not that I'm saying anyone deserved to die over this, that's not my point. But ESPN needs to quit holding these guys up as role models. Just give me the scores, and we'll pick out our own role models.

btw, I hope you're feeling better from that flu the other day!

I'm not stopping him from "resting". I sincerely doubt that McNair knows what I'm saying.

No, I didn't know Steve McNair in person...but so what? Do you know his wife? You're saying an awful lot of nasty things about her...maybe she was cheating on him...maybe she has a boyfriend... etc etc... .where does all THAT come from? In only 2 and 1/2 days, you've got his wife cheating on HIM, and you're accusing ME of jumping to conclusions?

Of course, I don't know OJ Simpson either, but that doesn't mean that I can't possibly know what kind of a person he is.

As far as "knowing" McNair...maybe NOBODY "knew" him. I heard Mike Wilbon on "Pardon the Interruption" today, and he talked about how he "knew McNair a little bit".... Wilbon always talks about how he "knows" these guys... most of the time, all he's done is interview them after a game. He doesn't know what these players do once they leave the locker room.

And then Wilbon says he's going to "choose" to remember McNair as the football player that he was... well, gee, Mike, that's great, but what you "choose" to remember doesn't change what actually happened.

I guess it must have been TMZ that posted the pictures of McNair and his girlfriend out on the water, I'm not sure where the pics were taken... meanwhile, ESPN continues to prop these guys up as great role models because they don't want to piss any players off because they're afraid of being cut off from communicating with the players. ESPN had to know what was going on with McNair and that girl.

If ESPN would just stick to reporting the scores and quit telling us what great role models these guys are, then that's fine... but quit telling me what a fantastic family man and role model Steve McNair was, because he wasn't that person.

Not that I'm saying anyone deserved to die over this, that's not my point. But ESPN needs to quit holding these guys up as role models. Just give me the scores, and we'll pick out our own role models.

btw, I hope you're feeling better from that flu the other day!

I understand that. And I haven't said anything about his wife, I said she could....it's a made up assumption, I'm not pinning anything on her whatsoever. I apologize for snapping at you, or if you truly feel this way, I just had to respond. I disagreed with you at first but now I respectably see where you are coming from. Yeah Mike Wilbon is kind of a moron. I just do not like him at all, and comments/things said by him like that just put the icing on the cake, so you know how I feel about him now. Well Tweety, OJ Simpson killing his wife and McNair cheating on his wife are a little different- lol. McNair didn't kill his wife, but I get what you are trying to say there.

And thanks Tweety, I appreciate it.

If people don't like discussing the story, then simply don't click on the thread. It's that simple. People are not going to continue tossing the guilt trips around because members are talking about what happened. It's a huge story, and many people want to discuss it. That's what message boards are for, to have discussions. For those who feel it's disrespectful or whatever, don't open the thread. It doesn't get any easier than that. However, no lecturing members on what they should or shouldn't be discussing. I'm not singling anyone out. All I did was read Tweey's post. It's for anyone who does it. Nothing personal or anything like that. Please keep in mind that this is is a discussion forum and a huge story.

I haven't really kept up with the story, but it wouldn't surprise me if McNair was planning on going back to his wife. That often happens. They miss their kids and/or start realizing how much they love their wife after all.

I haven't really kept up with the story, but it wouldn't surprise me if McNair was planning on going back to his wife. That often happens. They miss their kids and/or start realizing how much they love their wife after all.

Yeah I agree with you

Yeah I agree with you
My husband has a theory, Kyle. Says all women are the same. It's a little cassette that's put in our backs, lol. Like the Stepford Wives. He's kidding of course, but there is a little truth to that in an odd way. What comedian said that you can find the most beautiful woman in the world, and there's a guy who's sick of ....... her? :lol: I think it was Chris Rock.

My husband has a theory, Kyle. Says all women are the same. It's a little cassette that's put in our backs, lol. Like the Stepford Wives. He's kidding of course, but there is a little truth to that in an odd way. What comedian said that you can find the most beautiful woman in the world, and there's a guy who's sick of ....... her? :lol: I think it was Chris Rock.

:lol: :lol:

...I haven't really kept up with the story, but it wouldn't surprise me if McNair was planning on going back to his wife. That often happens. They miss their kids and/or start realizing how much they love their wife after all.

Actually, that was sort of another theory I had about this whole thing. I wondered if McNair had told the girlfriend that he had perhaps decided to end it and stay with his wife, and the girlfriend blew her cork.

I don't know that there's any way that this could ever be verified, but that was the main theory that crossed my mind, once it was apparent that McNair had multiple gunshot wounds while the girlfriend apparently had a single wound to the head, and the murder weapon was found either right by her body or underneath it.

McNair, at some point, had apparently bought a 2007 Cadillac Escalade for his girlfriend (which was registered in both his and Kazemi's names). That could have put ideas in her head about their future, whether he would have said anything to her about his marriage or not.

In any event, what's happened so far suggests to me that Kazemi must have thought that McNair was going to dump his wife and marry her. One of her family members said that Kazemi had told them as much.

Not that neighbors are necessarily a reliable source for anything, but one of the neighors who lived in a nearby condominium unit said that they'd seen McNair over there so often that they thought he lived there (although they apparently did not realize exactly who he was).

McNair was, by all accounts, an extremely generous person. He gave millions of his own money over the years to good causes. That will also be part of his legacy. It's just that, imo, there's no excuse for what the guy did to his family. If his wife was cheating on him and he wasn't willing to forgive the affair and they couldn't work it out, then get a divorce and move on (wouldn't be great for the kids, but who cares about them anyway?). But even if she was, that doesn't make it OK for him to do what he did.

But I tend to go along with the jilted girlfriend story, at least at this point... I think that McNair may very well have told her that it had to end. She'd purchased the gun recently (I don't think anyone has said whether the gun she purchased was the murder weapon. McNair himself had a permit to carry a handgun).

One story I saw reported that:

"... McNair, who was married with four sons, had a permit to carry a handgun in Tennessee, and he was arrested once before with a 9mm weapon although charges in the case were dropped. Police said they had not yet determined who owned the gun found at the scene.... "

The full story can be found at
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090705/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_mcnair_killed


Kazemi had purchased a gun last Thursday

Police: McNair's girlfriend bought gun Thursday (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090706/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_mcnair_killed;_ylt=AkZwfL6fc1MFUcfSkaavqCQN97QF;_ylu=X3oDMTE1cmw0c3VlBHBvcwMyBHNlYwN5bi1jaGFubmVsBHNsawNwb2xpY2VtY25haXI-)

So I think that this was, in fact, a case of McNair telling her that it had to end between them, and she didn't like it one bit. If she couldn't have him, she would make sure no one else could, either.

...Well Tweety, OJ Simpson killing his wife and McNair cheating on his wife are a little different- lol. ....

lol, no doubt about that!

You had asked me if I knew McNair personally...I was just pointing out that, just because we don't know someone personally, it doesn't mean we can't draw certain conclusions based on certain things that happen. That's all that was :)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/07/08/sports/s083316D83.DTL&tsp=1

Police: McNair girlfriend behind murder-suicide
By LUCAS L. JOHNSON II, Associated Press Writer

Wednesday, July 8, 2009


(07-08) 13:29 PDT Nashville, Tenn. (AP) --

Police confirmed Wednesday that ex-NFL star Steve McNair's 20-year-old girlfriend killed him before turning the gun on herself.



They said they may never know what was going through Sahel Kazemi's mind when she shot McNair in his condominium early Saturday, but interviews with friends indicated she was becoming increasingly distraught over events in her life, including financial problems. Police said she also suspected McNair was seeing another woman.

She told a friend on Friday that "My life is a ball of s--- and I should end it," Police Chief Ronal Serpas said.

Police earlier had labeled McNair's death a homicide, but awaited further tests and investigation before saying for sure what happened.

McNair, a quarterback for the Tennessee Titans most of his career, met Kazemi six months ago at a restaurant where she was a waitress and his family often ate. She seemed happy and eager to build a life with him, but something went wrong.

Kazemi had recently told an associate that her "personal life was all screwed up." She had mounting debts and her roommate was moving out, which would have doubled her rent.

"We do know that she was clearly sending a message during the last five to seven days of her life that things were going bad quickly," Serpas said, though there was no indication she told anyone she planned to harm McNair.

Serpas said detectives learned that Kazemi recently found out about another young woman she thought McNair was romantically involved with and even followed that woman home, though she did not confront her.

Police believe McNair was asleep on a sofa at a condominium he rented with a friend when Kazemi shot him in the head. She then apparently shot him twice in the chest before shooting him again in the head and then shooting herself.

She sat next to his body and tried to position herself to fall into his lap when she died. She did, but her body slid to the floor and ended up at McNair's feet, Serpas said. The gun was found underneath Kazemi.

Her family told reporters Kazemi was so confident McNair was divorcing his wife of 12 years that she was preparing to sell her furniture and move in with him.

But associate Mike Mu, who has worked with McNair's charitable association for years, said McNair's wife, Mechelle McNair, "didn't know who this girl is." No records of divorce proceedings have surfaced.

Two days before the shooting, police stopped Kazemi driving the Cadillac Escalade sport utility vehicle that McNair gave her for her birthday in May.

According to an arrest affidavit, Kazemi had bloodshot eyes and alcohol on her breath. She refused a breath test and told an officer "she was not drunk, she was high." She was charged with DUI. McNair was with her but not charged. He later made her bail.

Serpas said that even though the Cadillac had both her name and McNair's on the title, she was apparently responsible for making payments. She was also making payments on another car after failing to sell it.

^ One more example of how adultery can hurt everyone involved. :(

Wow, so the guy was married with kids? Sad, but I kind of figured it was the girlfriend that killed him. He shouldn't have cheated on his wife (or whatever he did-I haven't been reading all these posts, just a couple), but it's still sad that he had to die as a result.

Steve seemed like a good guy and he was a good football player but his death is his fault. He shouldn't have cheated on his wife and his girlfriend who's dead now was crazy. I can't believe she shot him while he was sleep. She could've at least talked to him about their problems before she killed him. I don't understand why some guys get married if they're gonna mess around with other women. I feel bad for his kids. He was a bad role model to his kids. I hope they don't grow up to be like him.

Steve seemed like a good guy and he was a good football player but his death is his fault. He shouldn't have cheated on his wife and his girlfriend who's dead now was crazy. I can't believe she shot him while he was sleep. She could've at least talked to him about their problems before she killed him. I don't understand why some guys get married if they're gonna mess around with other women. I feel bad for his kids. He was a bad role model to his kids. I hope they don't grow up to be like him.


I'm sure that McNair did not intend to get married and then run around on his wife... this was just something that ended up happening...don't get me wrong, he MADE it happen, but I'm sure it was not his intent to get married and then have an affair.

You have to feel bad for his whole family. I don't know how much his wife or kids knew about this affair, and that's strictly between the five of them (wife and four sons).

Not that there is ANY "good way" to lose a father/husband, but this has got to be one of the worst.

If a father who is also a soldier/policeman/fireman is killed in the line of duty, it's an equally terrible loss to the family, but at least in that case, the family can take some comfort (at least over time) in the fact that he died as a true hero.

But in a case like this, McNair's family has to live the rest of their lives knowing that Steve wasn't really the man portrayed to the public all these years (if they didn't already know that), and that he lived a double life. That is gonna haunt them forever. It's going to take an incredible amount of strength on the part of each of his family members to live with this episode as their last memory of him.