Ralph Ortega Mourns Sean Taylor's Death

The recent tragedy in professional sports has been the murder of NFL player Sean Taylor. Taylor was shot during a robbery at his home on November 26th and was taken to the hospital in critical condition before passing away on the 27th. Yesterday afternoon the Washington Redskins played an emotional football game in Washington, DC against the Buffalo Bills. The Redskin fans were given flags with Taylor's number on them. For the first play of the game the Redskins sent just 10 defenders onto the field, one less than normal to honor their fallen teammate. The funeral for Taylor was held today in Miami, Florida.

In addition to Taylor's teammates, family and the NFL being shaken by this tragedy, it also seemed to really shake Ralph Ortega and his son, Buck. According to the Miami Herald, Sean Taylor spent a lot of time with the Ortega family growing up, and Ralph served as a sort of surrogate father to him. Buck Ortega (son of Ralph) and Taylor also were roommates for 2 years together when they played at the University of Miami. Prior to that they were friends and teammates at Miami Gulliver Prep school. They reportedly went fishing together, played video games and hung out as good friends. Ralph Ortega coached Sean Taylor back in high school and is a former NFL linebacker with the Falcons and Dolphins. A recent ESPN.com article discusses 54 year old Ralph's view of Taylor. Ortega remembers that "He (Taylor) was an extremely clean-cut, well-mannered kid. And that's what I remember. If there's another truth, fine. But I'd like to hear it from somebody who was really there."

Often times we don't hear about enough of the good in sports, as we see athletes in trouble with the law more frequently in media reports. Miami Herald discusses how Ralph Ortega saw Taylor as being really gifted and dedicated with kids. He states that the last time he saw Taylor was outside the Redskins stadium he had stopped to talk to a little girl. According to Ortega, "I've known Sean Taylor since he was 15 or 16 and I've seen him a lot over the years. He'd eat dinner at my home. I can tell you he has a great heart. He's not a thug". Ortega also adds that Sean Taylor acted as a father figure to his own younger brother and sister, and "has a great heart". It appears that Ortega saw the good in Taylor despite how Taylor might have been viewed due to court appearances and troubles with the law. It's unfortunate that it takes a tragedy for these sides of the athlete to be seen through the media. You can tell from the words and comments from Ralph and Buck that Sean Taylor definitely had a caring and good side to him.

It's been a rough, emotional week for Ralph Ortega, who according to GatorSports.com was going to be honored as one of Florida's 12 Living Legends. He was to appear at a dinner last Friday night and at the SEC Championship Game Saturday. He was also on a high as his son Buck learned he had just been added to the New Orleans Saints practice squad. The emotions turned from happy to sour upon the news of Sean Taylor's death. You can imagine how deeply this grisly murder has affected the Ortega family. As friends and mentors to Sean Taylor, they have been sickened and saddened as they deal with the loss of a friend who was like a brother and son to them. May Sean Taylor rest in peace and condolences go out to all those who touched his life or were touched by him.

References and Sources Cited:

Elizabeth Merrill, In life, and in death, Taylor was a natural mystery , ESPN.com

Susan Miller Degnan, Taylor's ex-teammate: `He has a great heart' , Miami Herald.com

Pat Dooley, Taylor's death shakes Ortega, GatorSports.com