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Stunned fans mourn Thomas' death
Posted: Tuesday February 08, 2000 02:55 PM
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Stunned Kansas City Chiefs fans mourned the death of linebacker Derrick Thomas on Tuesday. At Crown Center, the word was just making its way through shops. Shopkeepers who had televisions were passing the news along to those next door. People were stopping in their tracks, saying they couldn't believe what they were hearing. The mall turned silent. At Pro Image sporting goods, Eric Braden and Tavokeyius Stanley, both teens from Kansas City, Kan., were shaking their heads, muttering "that's messed up." "It's disappointing," Braden said. "I thought he would be all right." Stanley was shocked, saying Thomas was his favorite player and never thought he would die. "It's a tragedy losing a legend," said Mike McCown, a Pro Image employee. "He went way too early. "He was definitely a crowd pleaser -- not only on the field but off." McCown said a lot people were coming in asking about Thomas. Replica jerseys from the Chiefs linebacker were going for $150. Stephanie Rahn, of Kansas City, Mo., was walking through Crown Center on a way to a medical exam. She said she stopped in her tracks when she heard the news. "Kansas City's going to mourn. Everybody loves the Chiefs. It doesn't matter if they win or lose," Rahn said. In Jefferson City, the state capital, the Missouri House and Senate each paused for a moment of silence. Sen. Bill Kenney, R-Lee's Summit and a former Chiefs quarterback, announced Thomas' death to his colleagues: "Derrick Thomas was a true hero. He will be missed by football fans around the nation, but we will miss him in Kansas City for his attitude and his efforts he put forth in our community." Kenney called Thomas "a man in his prime, cut down at age 33. We will miss him. It's a sad time." Kenney also invited senators to co-sponsor his bill encouraging spinal cord research in Missouri, saying it would be a tribute to Thomas and countless others with spinal cord injuries. In Kansas, state Rep. David Adkins, R-Leawood, said, "Derrick Thomas was obviously an all-star on the field, his exploits on the football field will long be remembered." "He was also someone who took his celebrity and converted it into good works in our community. "His personal charitable works made a difference in the lives of a lot of young people in Kansas City. So with his passing we've lost not only a sports hero but a hero for a lot of people who looked up to him as a role model and an example." Thomas was beloved by many. "It's absolutely incredible the feeling toward Derrick Thomas that we've seen on a nationwide level," said Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt, who's received mail for Thomas at his Dallas home from across the country. "It's just indicative of the appeal and the personality and the vital life that he had."
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