MJ and ET

These last 10 days, we have been bombarded with news and rumours surround Michael Jackson’s passing. While there is absolutely no doubt that Michael Jackson is a transcendent figure in the world of entertainment, I cannot but remember his later days and all the controversies and allegations. Is Michael Jackson a legend? Absolutely. Is he worth the wailing and crying that we are seeing daily in the news? Unless you are actually related to him biologically or in relationship, I think not.

Just a couple days before MJ’s passing, a far less prominent person by the name of Ed Thomas suffered a tragic death. The news, however, did not receive much media attention. Here's one though, from ABC news.

Ed Thomas was a long-time high school football coach at Aplington-Parkersburg, a small town in Iowa, USA. He has coached for over 40 years, and from his small high school program, he has produced four professional football players, no small feat for a program so small. On the day Mr. Thomas died, he was putting in extra time for his players, gathering them for an extra training session. A former student from his high school stormed the changing room where Mr. Thomas was, and shot him in front of his players.

Mr. Thomas is a big-name person in the state of Iowa not because of his coaching genius, but because of his character as a person. A couple years ago, a tornado basically destroyed this small town in Iowa. While many considered leaving the town, Mr. Thomas urged the people to stay, and used the re-building of the school’s football field as a rallying cry to help the town’s people to move on.

In many ways, I understand why Mr. Thomas is not getting the respect and tribute that Michael Jackson is getting – after all, Mr. Thomas was “just” a high school football coach that worked with these teenagers, and showed them how to live their lives the right way. But, isn’t that exactly the problem we have in this society, that we celebrate the stars, and don’t recognize those who are truly making the true difference, one life at a time?

Rest in peace, Mr. Thomas. You have my utmost respect.