Another Pair of Obits: Steve McNair and Karl Malden

Sometimes, I think Providence schedules earthly departures in pairs, just to make a point. Remember how the funerals of Mother Teresa and Princess Di occurred back-to-back? I'm to the point that I almost expect these dual departures.

This first one makes no sense.

Dead at 36, with a lifetime of achievement behind him, at least as many years ahead of him, financially secure, and a local hero in two states, just for good measure.

Found dead in a murder/suicide, where he was the party murdered, and the girlfriend appears to be the suicide--usually the roles are reversed between the parties.

The grisly, sordid, Jerry-Springer-stuff will all be published, humiliating his wife and children (yes, he left behind the wife and kids by getting shot by the 20-year-old girlfriend).

And to quote Jerry Springer, as he says at the end of each televised melee:

'So, what have we learned here?'

Not really certain yet...

But, perhaps a comparative obit from the same week might provide food for thought--another kid from hard-scrabble America, who played football, and ended well.

Karl Malden, requiescat in pace.