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Friends, Teammates Pay Tribute to Thomas
Feb. 15, 2000
"There's no doubt in my mind he's right there with Jesus right now. He was so young, and he's come and gone. Thirty-three? One other very important person passed away when he was 33. His name was Jesus Christ."
-- Joe Torry, comedian, actor, friend, confidant
"To the family of Derrick Thomas, Hillary and I are deeply saddened to learn of Derrick's tragic death, and our hearts go out to you. Derrick Thomas was a gifted athlete and a fierce competitor, setting pass-rushing records throughout his career at the University of Alabama and during his 11 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. But as intimidating as he was on the field, his kindness, character and highest generosity off the field earned him the deep gratitude of the many children and families he helped and the warm affection of his teammates and the entire Kansas City community. Derrick's courage in his days following his devastating injury was an inspiration to people across America, and his death is a great loss to us all. Hillary and I hope you can find comfort in this difficult time in the knowledge that Derrick's life and character achievements have won him a national place in football history and in the hearts of millions of fans. We're keeping you in our thoughts and prayers. Bill Clinton, President, United States of America."
-- President Clinton, whose proclamation was read by Carol Coe
"This is a man who lived 28 hours in 24 every day. He lived 75 years in 33. Maybe that's why, from time to time, he was a little bit late, but he was always there.
"I'll never forget we met with Bill Curry, the head coach at Alabama, and he said, `Let me tell you something -- you'll never be able to tire him out.' On a very hot day on the Astroturf, we worked Derrick out with Howard Cross and a number of his teammates, and we worked him out and worked him out, and everybody fell away one at a time, except for one. Bill Cowher turned to me and said, `Carl, have you seen enough?' Frankly, I was angry at Derrick because he hadn't come to the Indianapolis combine, and I said, `Bill, let's do another drill.' Every time, at the end of the drill, Derrick turned to me, gave me that smile and said, `What else can I do for you?'
"Thank God he was there for us when the time came (in the draft).
"It was certainly my desire, and I believe Lamar's also, that Derrick would begin and play his entire career with the Kansas City Chiefs. I would never have allowed anything else. By the grace and will of God, he accomplished that feat. Derrick Thomas will always be a Kansas City Chief.
"Was he perfect? No. Who among us is? Did he make mistakes? Of course.
Who among us doesn't? Did I ever scold him, sometimes reprimand him?
Sometimes, yes. Suspending him was the most difficult thing I've had to do as president of the Chiefs.
"I made a statement about this same hour last week. I said a light's gone out. I need to correct myself. The light merely dimmed, briefly, and then came back on and shines today brighter and bigger than ever. That light is the spirit and smile of Derrick Thomas.
"Perhaps it's also some closure that my son Derrick is finally with the father that he never really got the chance to know."
-- Carl Peterson, Chiefs president and general manager
"Derrick's mother, Edith, had the foresight to see that Derrick was born on the very day that the Chiefs qualified for Super Bowl I. We didn't know it then, but as the Chiefs were beating the Buffalo Bills that day, there was a little baby boy who was going to play a very important part in all of our lives.
"I can only say that America is the loser today. There is a void in America."
-- Lamar Hunt, Chiefs owner
"As commissioner of the entire league, it's not for me to root for any team. But it is my honor and my privilege to cherish unique and caring individuals such as Derrick Thomas.
(Reading a note from a fan): "We're not here because Derrick Thomas died, we're here because he lived.
"Why at a time when we need the Derrick Thomases more than ever? Why at a time when we need the Walter Paytons more than ever? Why did we lose both Walter Payton and Derrick Thomas? Perhaps the answer is threefold. We can sing the hosannas and hallelujahs that celebrate what Derrick and Walter accomplished. We can broadcast to the world the qualities that they had and that they brought to their communities. And we can live our lives following the examples that they set."
-- Paul Tagliabue, NFL commissioner
"Derrick told me when I got here that he'd take care of me. When Marty Schottenheimer resigned and Mr. Hunt and Carl gave the head-coaching job to me, he said, `Gun, how do you feel? You're going to follow a legend.' I said, well, I never looked at it like that. He said, `Boy, are you lucky you've got me.'
"For a man who's never buckled a seat belt in his life, I want you all to know, every day that I get in my car...It's taken Derrick's death to get me to buckle my seat belt. But I will wear it every time I get in a car."
-- Gunther Cunningham, Chiefs coach
"He wasn't just a football player, or a star football player, but was a star working in the community. He's going home. He's going to see Buck Buchanan and Walter Payton. They're just forming another team for the NFL, in heaven."
-- Otis Taylor, former Chiefs receiver
"Derrick wanted to make things better. He just didn't want his name linked to just any organization.
"Jan. 23 was a horrible day for me. But I prayed and I prayed and I prayed, and I felt good that Derrick was coming back. And I talked to him on Wednesday about the foundation, and I told him I thought we would cancel the celebrity weekend. He said, `Why? Let's just tone it down a little bit.' He said, `We're going to have a celebrity weekend. And Miss Brown, you've got a job to do.' I have a job to do, and I tell you, I'm going to do that job, because the Derrick Thomas Third and Long Foundation is going to live and live and live."
-- Betty Brown, president of Third and Long Foundation
"Derrick's soul was rich and grounded. Derrick was at his best when he was surrounded by young people that he could encourage and motivate. I was blessed to be a part of the Third and Long Foundation, where I met Derrick, who introduced me to other positive adults. During my first month with the foundation, I informed Derrick that I wanted to become a Supreme Court justice....A few months later, Derrick surprised me when I met United States Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas. He promised me a clerkship when I graduate from law school.
"I hope to be a friend, mentor and confidant to Derrick's sons and daughters as he was to me."
-- Rahman McGill, Third and Long student
"When I was a little boy, my mom and dad would tuck me in at night by saying, `Good night, God bless you, we love you.' It's now our time to tuck Derrick in and send him back to God and to his father.
"Many of you thought Derrick pounced on an opposing quarterback like a lion. Last week, the man with the heart of a lion stopped. The lion passed away.
"Derrick crammed 100 years of life into his 33 years.
"He loved this organization (the Chiefs), he loved his teammates, but most important, he loved you people who were his fans.
"While I hope that Derrick gets into pro football's Hall of Fame someday in Canton, Ohio, I know he's already in God's Hall of Fame for good people.
"I know Derrick would want me to say this to you all. Drive home safely and buckle up."
-- Kevin Regan, Thomas' attorney and counsel for Third and Long
"Derrick had a larger-than-life appetite to live many different ways. Some of you knew Derrick the haberdasher, with his custom-fitted suits. Some of you know Derrick's limousine service, where he acquired seven limousines. Some of you knew him as Derrick the roofer. Every single day, he came up with some of the most creative ideas imaginable. His creativity, his imagination, was simply astounding.
"Derrick had more friends across the NFL than any player I've ever seen.
"Ambassador to the world. Has Derrick Thomas left us? He hasn't left us. He's alive in all of our hearts. He's alive in the hearts of everyone he's touched throughout this world."
-- Leigh Steinberg, agent
"I can remember when we came in together as freshmen at the University of Alabama...he pulled up to the dorm in that Nova. All the guys around us at the time knew about that Nova. It sounded like he had the University of Alabama marching band in the trunk of that Nova. He's been driving all night long from the bottoms, which is what we used to call Miami. He got out with his tank top, walked over to everybody with that smile, he was greeting everyone, saying hello. He was a very friendly person. I was very frightened when he told me he played linebacker because I knew I'd have to block him. I was a running back. But we had a great relationship.
"All the things I heard of what he did in Kansas City are not new to me. We loved him in Alabama, too.
"No one expected him to be on time. If he was on time, something was wrong. It was just his characteristic.
"Derrick has touched us all. How many of us are going to give back and pour into the community and to the kids in which he cherished and give back in order to keep his legacy going? I'm on it."
-- Bobby Humphrey, former NFL running back and Alabama teammate
"Knowing Derrick gave his life to the Lord, I can stand here in peace.
"Giving back to the community is the legacy Derrick Thomas has left for us. What are we going to do to continue this legacy that he's left for us?
"When I was reading this program, the most important date I saw was March 1997. Derrick rededicated his life to Christ.
"Derrick's at rest, he's at peace. If he had an opportunity to come back right now, there's no way he'd trade where he's at right now.
"I know that, one day, I'll see my buddy again."
-- Tony Richardson, Chiefs fullback
"I have had the blues. We have had the blues. Kansas City has sure had the blues the last two or three weeks.
"If you don't think you could wear him out on the practice field, you should've gotten him on the stage.
"I thank the Lord that I had a nickname. That I was one of those chosen few with a nickname. I was Sam. My wife was Zsa Zsa. My children had names.
"I don't think anyone realized how much we loved Derrick until this happened. When I walked down the stairs at Arrowhead Stadium yesterday, I was mighty touched to look at his locker and...(breaks down crying) have a picture of me in there. Lord, I'm tired of crying. We can't help it.
"D said, `Sam, I want you to sing at my funeral.' I said you can get anyone you want, any of the most popular singers to perform at your funeral. I never thought that day would come. But that day has come. I just want to have the privilege of reading Derrick's words and then singing the message I must sing."
-- Hank Williams Jr., country singer and Thomas' friend
from kc star
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