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In their hands Stringer family will decide if autopsy released
Updated: Sunday August 05, 2001 10:16 PM
MANKATO, Minn. (AP) -- Korey Stringer's family will decide if an autopsy performed on the Minnesota offensive tackle will be made public. Vikings executive vice president Mike Kelly said the team will support the family's decision. Blue Earth County medical examiner Dr. Dennis Gremel, also a pathologist at the Mankato hospital where Stringer died, conducted the autopsy after Stringer died early Wednesday apparently of heatstroke. Autopsies are usually part of public record, but Gremel said that because he performed the test on behalf of the hospital and not as medical examiner, he is not obligated to release it. Stringer's agent, James Gould, said Stringer's family was still too overwhelmed with grief to be able to make a decision. The Star Tribune of Minneapolis said it has filed a motion in Blue Earth County District Court seeking the results. A hearing is scheduled for Monday. Head Coach Dennis Green, offensive line coach Mike Tice and five unnamed players will attend Stringer's funeral in Warren, Ohio, on Monday. The rest of the players will practice in the morning and hold a private service of their own at the residence hall where they stay during camp. After a special teams practice Monday afternoon, the Vikings will resume their normal practice schedule Tuesday. The team departs Thursday for San Antonio, where it will play New Orleans in an exhibition game Saturday. Kelly said the Vikings plan to re-evaluate their practice in light of Stringer's death and NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue's edict to all teams to do so. Dr. David Knowles, a Mankato doctor who supervises the team's medical staff during training camp, said he doesn't believe any major changes will be necessary. Stringer remembered in hometownWARREN, Ohio (AP) -- Hundreds of people filed into a sweltering high school fieldhouse Sunday to pay honor Korey Stringer, the Minnesota tackle who died Wednesday because of heatstroke. Some mourners walked by Stringer's open casket and cried as they saw he was wearing his giant, purple No. 77 Vikings jersey. "It's so hard to see a young man with so much talent leave us so early," said Reggie Wells of Niles, who followed Stringer's career from Warren G. Harding High School to Ohio State to the Vikings. Stringer, one of the Vikings' most popular and funniest players, was honored in his hometown with a five-hour public viewing at his high school alma mater. It was supposed to start at 2 p.m., but people were let in 25 minutes early because 110 people were waiting in line. The flow of people remained steady throughout the day.
White flowers decorated with purple and gold ribbons matching the Vikings' colors were hung in the fieldhouse, while flowers and sympathy cards extended along both sides of Stringer's casket. Gospel music played faintly in the hallway. Fans were set up to keep people cool. It was the same kind of hot, humid weather that cost the 27-year-old offensive lineman his life. He had to be hospitalized after practicing last Tuesday and died in the hospital overnight. His body temperature had risen to 108 degrees. "He was the best little big brother I had," said Noah Hutchinson, 27, of Cleveland, one of Stringer's friends from Ohio State. "I don't think that dude had an ounce of negative energy in him." Stringer's goddaughter, Briasia "Tootie" Wright, 4, of South Carolina, wore a T-shirt with Stringer's picture on it and the words "Legends never die, only their hearts can." Jason Flanigan, who played on the same high school offensive line as Stringer, wiped away tears as he talked about his friend, who "never had a down word to say to anybody." Mike Bradley, 33, of Warren, wanted to remember Stringer for donating so much of his time and money to his hometown. Stringer recently signed over his Pro Bowl check to a local youth football team. They money was enough to buy equipment for 110 kids. "Little kids wouldn't have played football this year without Korey,' Bradley said. "Everybody has their time, but I think maybe He took the wrong person this time." Amos and Rosie Webster of Cleveland, whose son, Lionel, played with Stringer at the high school, remembered that Stringer used to come by their house regularly. "He was so big, and our son was so tall and skinny. I told him, 'Don't fall on my baby,'" Rosie Webster said. Funeral services for Stringer are Monday at First Assembly of God Church in Warren.
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