The DC Defenders’ Eli Rogers played Saturday in the team’s win over the New York Guardians. Before the game he wrote a series of tweets explaining how he came to the decision to play for the XFL team rather than attend his mother’s funeral service. His mom, Tranae Jackson, died on Feb. 5 at the age of 50.
Today was one of the toughest decisions I had to make in my life. My Mother’s final service is today and I am not going to be there. After a long talk with God and her, I came to this conclusion… I know most people may think I am crazy. Selfish even..
— E L I (@__bELIeve17) February 15, 2020
I respect your opinion. But in life, Sometimes, it is not about doing what you feel is right, it is about doing what you know is right. It’s not about physically knowing someone. It is about know building a relationship with a person from the inside out.
— E L I (@__bELIeve17) February 15, 2020
I said said she then her but you get it. 🕊🕊 #RestEternallyPeaceful #MyEarth
— E L I (@__bELIeve17) February 15, 2020
I know My Mother is proud of who I am today and the decision I chose today. Without Her sacrifice and humiliation, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It is because of her I was able to be in a position to chase my dreams. That is all she her wanted from me. I Love You Ma 💜
— E L I (@__bELIeve17) February 15, 2020
The truth is grieving is private. No one can tell anyone how to mourn or what to do. All people can and should do is be supportive of the person and their friends and family who have suffered a loss.
Years ago the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette explained what it took for Rogers to overcome a challenging youth to become a Steelers’ draft pick.
Rogers’ upbringing was not pretty. His mom, Tranae Jackson, has been living with AIDS since Eli was 8. Brownsville, the suburb of Miami where Rogers was raised, is among the poorest and most dangerous in the country. Money was tight. Meals were missed. To avoid the trappings that surrounded him and attempting to chart a new path, Rogers spent much of high school voluntarily away from home, living with friends and family members and crashing on couches for weeks at a time.
…
Rogers might be tough, but he’s not arrogant or naive. He doesn’t pretend to know what it’s like to be his mom or feel what she feels. He has always admired how she prays every day and expresses gratitude for what she has, even if the situation sometimes looks bleak.
“She always says, ‘Thank you God for waking me up and giving me a breath to breathe,’ ” Rogers said in 2017. “Through what she’s going through, it’s amazing to me to find the strength to wake up every day, in the situation she’s in, and do that.
“I think that really sparked something in me that gave me a drive to always want to keep God first and always want to stay positive and work hard for her to create that change.”
