More than the sacks, more than the trophies, more than the championships, Reggie White should be remembered like this: For a diverse mind every bit as unique as his raspy voice.

How many players could be equally comfortable addressing a locker room full of football players or the Wisconsin State Assembly?

Reggie White, who left us Dec. 26 at the age of 43, could.

On one day, as the evangelical minister he was, White could be preaching to his fellow man.

On the next, he could be standing in front of Brett Favre and LeRoy Butler and the rest of the Packers, inspiring them to the greatness they achieved in 1996, when Green Bay won the Super Bowl.

The Packers had no finer leader than White, including Favre. White was their leader and he was their closer.

White was the man who made the final telephone calls and closed the deals for free agents such as Sean Jones, Santana Dotson and Keith Jackson to sign with Green Bay.

But more impressive than his recruiting skills was his vast knowledge. White grasped social issues that some players today do not. White took his game, and his life, to places others haven't.

At the Wisconsin State Assembly, in March 1998, White talked about the need for fathers to hug or kiss their sons after the age of six. White told the masses how our sons need affection. He bragged to them how he kissed his son, Jeremy, almost every day.

And then he added, "My son, when he turns 50, he's going to have to finally say, 'Dad, stop kissing me. This is really embarrassing.'"

Sadly, Jeremy never got that chance. Their most recent kiss turned out to be a kiss goodbye.