The higher you climb, the more devastating a potential fall is. As cliche as that sounds, it rings true. In fact, they’re pretty much words of gospel for athletes of a certain type. A type Deion Sanders certainly falls in. This cliche manifests prevalently on the field. How often do you see a superstar player come down crashing in the twilight of their career? Perhaps because father time caught up to them, or maybe an injury. Unfortunately, the same phenomenon is just as true outside the white lines.

Deion Sanders is unequivocally one of the greatest athletes ever. Across multiple generations and multiple sports. This inadvertently brings about substantial fame and reverence. However, traversing life while reaping the rewards of your success isn’t a linear path. The riches, persona, and lifestyle of these athletes, or at least the ones they exhibit to the masses, can perhaps smear a sheen on the surface level. Below the conspicuous surface are underlying issues that often stem from their success in the first place. Envy and jealousy can pierce through, and Deion is experiencing the worst of it.

A morbid side of fame has come to light, like it does ever so often. Deion Sanders shared an excerpt on IG, from his aptly named “Coach Prime” docu-series over on…Prime. The excerpt features Officer Michael Rhodes, part of his security detail or entourage. In the video, Rhodes is sifting through piles of letters while wearing latex gloves. Strange at first glance, however, the rationale is rather eerie. 

“Coach gets a lot of mail every day, a lot of packages, a lot of gifts,” he says. Something you’d expect for Deion, whose lore knows no end. The security personnel proceeded to say, “[Coach] gets a lot of death threats, gets a lot of hate mail. So just as a precaution, we go through the mail very carefully. Put on these gloves, just to ensure that we don’t come in contact with any type of hazardous material.” The diligence and professionalism are appreciated. But the cause is extremely lamentable. The safety measures don’t end there either.

The person proceeds to put the letters through a machine that contains hazardous material. “One beep means it’s good. If we get multiple beeps, that means that there’s a problem” he remarks. It is implied that he’s heard multiple beeps before, which is a travesty. So what happens if the letter is indeed a death threat?

“We make a copy of it. One copy will go to CUPD. One copy will go to the FBI. So they can analyze it for a fingerprints, or anything that may be helpful in identifying that person” The situation around Deion Sanders’ safety is particularly fragile at this juncture. This is owing to the tragedy that struck him and his security team mere days ago.

Deion Sanders lost a close confidant and protector earlier this week

It’s difficult to fathom for the everyday Joe how a member of security can become an integral part of your inner circle. The unfortunate reality is that these individuals spend more time with their “assignment” than anyone else. It’s a nexus built on immense trust and reliance. A key member of Deion Sanders’ security detail, Evis McGee, sadly passed away earlier in the week.

In a heartfelt post on X, a mourning Deion wrote “Lt. McGee was one of the most loyal and faithful men that I’ve had the pleasure of working with,” Sanders said. “His consistency & commitment to his family, friends, and faith was truly commendable. LT will be missed. God Bless his wife and kids.” McGee was a part of the Sanders’ entourage since their days together at Jackson State. So is the aforementioned person from the video, as he self-proclaims during it. 

The continuity of his security contingent goes to show a couple of things. One is how Deion Sanders keeps providing for those who have helped him along his journey. Two, and more resounding. How public figures such as him tend to keep those they trust with their lives in proximity, making sure they’re always safe from the cruel world. Faces in your entourage are not always a matter of choice. It’s a necessity. The dark side of fame is sometimes enough to deter people from clamoring for it.