Sometimes you can only ask "why?"

It was a cold and rainy day, the kind of day that chills even the hardened bones of people who live in places like Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. The wind was howling as it almost always is, and the two men were trying to keep safety in mind as they headed to the airport. They were excited about the fact that they were headed to watch the Super Bowl in an obviously more moderate climate. It was January 23, 2000.

Today, 4 February 2006, the names of the Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees for this year were announced. Missing from that list, in his second year of eligibility, was the passenger in that SUV that was rolling down that road 6 years ago.

Derrick Thomas was born in Miami, FL on New Years day, 1967. His father, Robert James Thomas, was a B-52 pilot in Vietnam and was listed as missing in action when Derrick was 5 years old, in 1972. Although officially unaccounted for for over 20 years, with the help of several State Senators and the influence of Lamar Hunt, the owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, in 1993 the family was finally given closure and Robert James Thomas' status was officially changed to KIA.

Derrick was a good boy and an unbelievable athlete, and he rose to national prominence as a linebacker for the University of Alabama in the mid-80's. He graduated in 1989, eschewing the chance to run off to the NFL and become an instant millionaire before his schooling was finished because his Mom asked him to stay. In the 1989 NFL draft, he was selected in the first round, 4th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs. He played 11 seasons for those Chiefs, loyalty being one of his greatest assets. He was voted by his fellow NFL players to the Pro Bowl (the NFL's version of the All-Star game) 9 times. He ended up 9th on the all-time list of quarterback sacks, and still holds the single game record of 7 against the Seattle Seahawks. He twice received the NFL's most prestigious awards for citizenship and humanitarian efforts, being voted the NFL's Man of the Year in 1993, and the Byron "Whizzer" White humanitarian award recipient in 1995. He holds the all-time Chief's team records for sacks, tackles made, fumbles forced, and fumbles recovered.

In 1999, Lawrence Taylor was inducted into the Hall of Fame on his first try.

Derrick was considered undersized for his position, but of course the size of a person's heart dictates his success. He was often compared to Lawrence Taylor of the NY Giants, a terrific but troubled soul who had several brushes with the NFL hierarchy during his illustrious career regarding illegal substance abuse of several kinds, as well as some suspicious mandatory drug testing incidents where there was doubt cast upon the dubious nature of him never getting caught. Taylor retired and found himself consistently in trouble with the law after his playing days were over. Several arrests and convictions for possession of drugs were followed by an admission of tax evasion in 1997. Gambling and having notorious figures around him further tarnished his image.

In 1999, Lawrence Taylor was inducted into the Hall of Fame on his first try.

Derrick Thomas had none of the social or personal problems of the fine Mr. Taylor. Derrick had two children's foundations; 1 in Kansas City and 1 in Miami. He never took performance enhancing or illegal drugs. He was never involved in a bar fight at 2 am. He was never arrested or in trouble for anything as a matter of fact. He didn't complain about not having a dad growing up (although his closest friends acknowledged he was privately bitter), and he honored his mom all his life. He never said a single bad thing in public; never uttered an unkind word about his coaches or teammates. Like any other superstar, his face was in front of that microphone a lot, too. But he maintained a professional and social demeanor for all to emulate. In looking at a current NFL talent, Terrel Owens won't go to practice without an entourage and his very own press agent.

In 1999, Lawrence Taylor was inducted into the Hall of Fame on his first try.

In the era (and by that I mean the last 25-30 years) of the pampered, petulant, obnoxious athlete, Derrick Thomas stood out as a model citizen and breath of clean fresh air. For some reason though - the sports media types who complain daily about the antics of these idiot athletes - haven't taken the final step to right the wrongs and voted in someone that we can all feel good about. As of today, I'm clicking off the TV when someone from the inner sports circle who didn't vote for Derrick's enshrinement starts complaining about an athlete who isn't acting right. For two years now, they've had their chance...and for 2 years they've blown it.

The wind howled across the highway in a ferocious gust. The road - covered with a sheet of ice from the rain - was impossible to hold onto. The car slid sideways, hit something low on the ground, and flipped up and over. The driver died instantly.

Derrick Thomas...superstar human being...was paralyzed from the chest down. After a week or so in a Kansas City hospital, he was sent back to a hospital in his native Miami. 16 days after the accident, with his mom sitting in a chair next to his bedside watching Derrick try to recover from surgery to remove an accident-induced blood clot, his heart suddenly exploded. He thrust his chest forward- let out a gasp - and closed his eyes for the final time. At long last he was reunited with his dad.

Derrick Thomas was 33. Shame on you Mr. Sportswriter.