Greg Couch reflects on the apparent suicide of Denver Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley and ponders the illusion of sports dreams shattered by painful reality:

“Football is the American Dream. At one point, football — and sports in general — was supposed to be about building character and learning about teamwork, personal responsibility and sportsmanship.

“Oh yeah, it also was about health. Are those the reasons now? Or is it the Tiger Woods Syndrome, the football equivalent of fathers cutting down golf clubs for their 4-year-olds? When families strap a football helmet on their young kids, is it about promoting physical fitness or becoming the next star?”

For Woody Paige, McKinley’s death hits close to home. Too close.