The tragic death of Jason Collier, 28, over the weekend is a sad reality check to all of those involved in sports – from the fans, to the players, to the reporters and all the way up to management.

Collier, out of college for just five seasons, was a former first round pick (15th overall) of the Milwaukee Bucks and traded to the Houston Rockets. In the hyper-judgemental sports world Collier was labeled a bust, however he had begun to carve out a niche as a nice role-player for the Hawks.

It’s a sad day when anyone in the prime of their lives is taken away too soon, but almost as sad is that this is the kind of sobering reminder that people in the sports industry need to gain perspective.

Fans are so quick to judge and criticize athletes that it seems that sometimes they forget these people are human, just like the men and women sitting on the couch over the weekend watching the games.

We elevate athletes to such a high level that we expect perfection, and don’t think twice about booing them for even the most trivial of mistakes.

What people fail to realize is that these people aren’t superheroes. They are people who usually deserve better than the treatment they get, despite the millions of dollars they may make.

Collier was a man doing what he loved to do, making good money and raising a family.

He had an 18-month-old daughter.

This sobering reminder extends to those in the sports journalism profession as well.

Throughout the year, I have covered the Falcon football team and have focused on the big stories – Omar Jacobs, a MAC Championship, the special teams, etc.

But you know what never crossed my mind?

Aaron Richardson.

Richardson was the walk-on player for the Falcons who died tragically during his first practice last season.

I, along with colleagues and fans have been so obsessed with the admittedly trivial aspects of the sport that sometimes we forget that it is just a sport, just a game played by real men with real imperfections.

Sometimes those imperfections can lead to a tragic ending instead of the storybook finish we all aspire for.

It is a shame that it takes the death of a player to deliver the people involved in sports some much needed perspective.

Collier’s death, like Richardon’s last year, was a tragedy.

Even though neither player was a star on their team, or destined for the hall of fame, they were good athletes – well liked, with plenty of friends and loving families.

Hard to find something to criticize there.

And instead of being armchair quarterbacks or calling for people to be benched or fired, whether you’re a fan or in the media, we all must remember that they are people that almost always deserve our respect, praise, and in times of loss, our prayers.