As I watched the Carolina -Tampa Bay game today I was suddenly shocked and surprised to hear of the death of former Packer Defensive End Reggie White at the age of 43. Some stations have reported the cause of death as "Sleep Apnea" a disorder that can happen to just about anybody but especially people of large builds. Reggie died in his sleep sometime between last night and early this morning. A message from his wife Sara that has been posted on Packers.com and NFL. com asks that everyone please respect the privacy of the family at this time. She also mentions that she is grateful for all the love and support of those who knew her husband. Reggie came to Green Bay a year after Ron Wolf traded for Brett Favre. Wolf and then Head Coach Mike Holmgren convinced Reggie that now that they had the quarterback they needed, he would be the cornerstone of a defense that sorely needed his experience and leadership. With Reggie in the fold it took no time at all to start luring the key players the Packers would need to bring back the "Glory Days " to Green Bay. Players like Sean Jones, Santana Dotson, Eugene Robinson, and Keith Jackson came because Reggie asked them to. That led to 2 Super Bowl appearances including the victory over New England that finally gave Reggie the championship that he had longed for since he came into the league in 1985. Reggie was not a stranger to hard work and commitment. He also was no stranger to controversy. In a speech to the Wisconsin State Legislature he denounced homosexuality and used racial stereotypes to make a point. Later he apologized for the racial slur but not about his stance on homosexuality. A man of the cloth, Reggie considered that an act against God and unless God himself told him to apologize he knew he would not. I , for the most part, really admired and respected Reggie. The only time I felt disappointed in him is when his pastor ran off with all the money that was raised to help rebuild the church that Reggie would preach in during the off-season. When reporter Colleen Henry of WISN-TV from Milwaukee went down to Carolina to ask Reggie about this he turned his back on her and closed the elevator door behind him. I only wish he would have said something to the fans not only from Wisconsin,but from fans all over who admired him for who he was, about this. Even if he would have said something like " I only wish this could have been avoided. I know that many of the contributions came because of the respect that football fans have for me. I can only say that I am truly sorry that someone I trusted not only took advantage of me but also of all of you who pitched in to help in what should have been a worthy cause". But what is done is done. I know that the loss of Reggie White will be a profound one to anyone who has had anything to do with the man. He touched so many lives not only in football, but all over. Rest in Peace Reggie.