I can't believe some of you cranky old men are younger than me.

I was smoking pot with a friend in my freshman dorm before we walked to class, when the news came on TV.

I was waiting in line for a Florida/Kentucky basketball game that night which was like my highlight of the year. It was so jarring reconciling the dual emotions.

I was at work and did a decent amount of driving around town, so had sports radio on most of the day. It was before every single car had daytime running headlights, but it was kind of a thing that day.

I had just moved to Orlando and was coming back from lunch and saw a glimpse of the break room TV that showed a picture of DT and showed the years 1976-2000 underneath it. The volume wasn’t on and it first it didn’t click as to why they would be showing those dates. I immediately went to the old Star Chiefs board when I got back to my desk to check it out and it was completely down(23 years later and they still have fixed their shit). Just seemed completely unreal and still does now.

My second favorite Chief of all time. Just wish he could have been in the SB just once.

That felt like losing a close family member.

So was I, and I had already been in 10 years.....Jesus I got old fast.

I had just gotten OUT after serving my four shen this happened.

I refreshed ESPN.com while at work and the page was in plain text because the css wasn't working. As I was refreshing again, I glimpsed some text indicating DT was dead. I hoped it was wrong, but then the fully formatted headline appeared.

RIP DT.

He's my favorite Chief of all time.

I was at work and when I saw the news - I died inside. Man this is one of my FAVORITE Chiefs of ALL time. I actually could not believe it. I thought he would recover but, he unfortunately did not. I cried my eyes out and then again in the Arrowhead showing. I have an awesome mini helmet signed by him JSA cert. In my man cave, he is very well displayed and will always be remembered as my favorite Chief of all time. Yes, he was incredible. R.I.P.
On my anniversary, we went to a casino. They kept showing his HOF induction by his son on the TV and I just could not stop watching. My wife came up to me and said "Babe, they just gave us a bottle of champagne for our anniversary!" I actually tuned her out. Man what a terrible loss for Chiefs Kingdom.

So we bought our 2nd home in 2016 and my wife was out of town. In the background on the TV was playing - NFL Network A Football Life Derrick Thomas. Ironically, I was viewing an item of a Derrick Thomas signed mini helmet from a card shop in Kansas City. I was in discussion with the guy and the item was a circa 96, 97 signed. We haggled on the price and he was pushing because the item was JSA certified and had sticker as well as card of authenticity. So as we wagered back and forth. I won by saying $400 take it or leave it! He accepted my final offer. I went out to my mailbox to check the mail and HOLY SHIT! I had received a check in the mail for $400 for over paying my insurance! I watched the rest of the TV still showing NFL Network A Football Life Derrick Thomas and started crying.

Here are the pics of the helmet, the shrine and another of a sighed FB card by him...

such a sad day. He's definitely my favorite Chief of all time. He never should have died too.

I walked into a doctor's office that was playing KUDL right as they announced it over the air. The entire office just had stunned looks on their face, I remember it vividly.

I was in 4th grade. Crazy.