December 5th, 2013 at 5:09 PM ^
I traveled to South Africa last year, and the amount or respect people there and worldwide have for him is amazing.
December 5th, 2013 at 5:09 PM ^
I've spent a decent amount of time in South Africa. Imagine if we were around when George Washington walked the earth; that's the comparable magnitude of this man's importance to the country.
Rest in peace, Madiba.
December 5th, 2013 at 5:10 PM ^
That's terrible news as he was truly a special individual, RIP.
December 5th, 2013 at 5:11 PM ^
Probably OT ... even in the offseason.
December 5th, 2013 at 5:16 PM ^
I wasn't sure if this was Nelson Mandela the recruit or Nelson Mandela the world leader.
December 5th, 2013 at 5:19 PM ^
You're brilliant!
December 5th, 2013 at 5:46 PM ^
Your post makes no sense.
December 5th, 2013 at 5:15 PM ^
If anyone deserves restful peace it's him.
December 5th, 2013 at 5:15 PM ^
God Bless
December 5th, 2013 at 5:19 PM ^
Great man. Loved him in Invictus.
December 5th, 2013 at 5:19 PM ^
They knew this was coming for a while but still a landmark passing. You would be hard pressed to name a world leader whose death, and life, would carry as much significance.
December 5th, 2013 at 5:26 PM ^
"We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right."
He was remarkably quotable, but this is one of my favorites. In the modern era, Mandela really was one of the handful of individuals in the modern era whose very life and work made us a better planet and a better people. I still remember his release from prison being broadcast live all over the world and only realizing later (I was 12 at the time) how significant an event this was for the world at large - a great cruelty was about to end, one that Mandela fought to end many years before. He is widely considered "the father of South Africa", and rightly so, for he took what seemed like two separate worlds and helped unite them.
December 5th, 2013 at 5:30 PM ^
December 5th, 2013 at 5:40 PM ^
RIP president Mandela
December 5th, 2013 at 5:54 PM ^
December 5th, 2013 at 5:58 PM ^
I think he means a different movie, perhaps simply titled "Mandela." I've seen commercials for it recently. Not sure when or if it came out yet.
December 5th, 2013 at 6:00 PM ^
"Long Walk to Freedom" is a biopic which was just released or about to be released.
December 5th, 2013 at 6:39 PM ^
December 5th, 2013 at 6:02 PM ^
"Generations to come, it may well be, will scarce believe that such a man as this one ever in flesh and blood walked upon this Earth.”
December 5th, 2013 at 5:55 PM ^
sacrificed time spent with this family, his career, his life. He spent over a quarter of his life locked in jail. He took inequality and struggle and the fight and forged the greatness that was thrust upon him. Well done Nelson; you did your share, you earned your rest and your peace. May God bless you and yours...
December 5th, 2013 at 5:59 PM ^
""Of all the men I ever met, he seemed to possess more of the elements of greatness, combined with goodness, than any other.
--William Sherman in Memoirs of General William T. Sherman
I think this could be said of Mandela.
I do have to admit to holding some hard feelings about his comments about US foreign policy. While now I appreciate his statement I still think they were overly simplistic. But one need not agree with everything a man says to admire him.
I place him just behind Lincoln, MLK, Gandhi, and Churchill on my Mt. Rushmore of greatness.
December 6th, 2013 at 8:17 AM ^
is/was lightyears ahead of Churchhill....Churchhill would have been another nazi subordinate had it not been for FDR sending troops into occupied Europe to end the war....anyhow, RIP Nelson, you were a living legend and a great force of good in a world full of evil and bigotry.
December 5th, 2013 at 6:13 PM ^
but I'd suggest to anyone who enjoyed it to watch the ESPN 30-for-30 documentary "The 16th Man" (rugby is 15 a side, so this is equivalent to a "12th man" moniker for US football). It covers the same subject matter but in many ways is even more fascinating because you're hearing from the actual players. Embedded below.
Probably as great a historical example of how one man used sports to help unite a nation as there ever was, and maybe ever will be. South Africa was very, very lucky to have him.
December 5th, 2013 at 6:53 PM ^
December 6th, 2013 at 9:01 AM ^
My brother-in-law is South African and when I spent some time there I was able to visit Robben Island... it was shocking. These are the kind of things we would hear about from the 1800s, not 20 years ago.
Mandela's life was certainly an inspiration. When it comes to the 2 movies that are being discussed, I think both were very well done. My major issue with Matt Damon as Pienaar is even though he bulked up, Damon was not the physically imposing freak that Pienaar was. According to the internet the best person who could have portrayed him physically is probably Brian Urlacher.
December 5th, 2013 at 6:16 PM ^
December 5th, 2013 at 6:18 PM ^
RIP Madiba
December 5th, 2013 at 6:32 PM ^
RIP sir.
December 5th, 2013 at 6:43 PM ^
December 5th, 2013 at 8:37 PM ^
I took my kids to Robben Island three years ago. It is a very moving experience. The tours were given by former prisoners. They may not be able to keep that up much longer since it was closed as a prison in 1996.
The stories of Mandela's life there and the impact he has had in his own country and around the world are awe inspiring.
December 5th, 2013 at 8:56 PM ^
Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds and shall find me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul. - William Ernest Henley
December 5th, 2013 at 9:08 PM ^
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
-- Teddy Roosevelt
Which is the actual note Mandela gave Pienaar (thanks, Wikipedia).
December 5th, 2013 at 9:14 PM ^
Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo,
Yizwa imithandazo yethu,
Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo
RIP Mandela
December 5th, 2013 at 10:29 PM ^
Nelson Mandela lives on. A life that exemplified my deepest truth; 'Love is the only proper response'.
December 6th, 2013 at 1:18 AM ^
December 6th, 2013 at 3:40 AM ^
December 6th, 2013 at 9:56 AM ^
One thing I remember reading about that Nelson said. He was on a plane once that he felt was in at least in a dangerous situation. Everyone else on the plane was very freightened, but as the leader of his people, he felt it was necessary to project a clam and in control demeanor to set the tone. He kept reading his news paper despite the turbulence, even though he said at the time he was very scared.
Cool story from a cool cat.