taking on devastating hits

Good Morning,

On October 16, Rutgers University offensive tackle Eric LeGrand sustained a paralyzing spinal cord injury. The very next day, in the NFL there were at least four incredibly violent head to head collisions in which players wobbled off the field with concussions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYL5ltBZZlg&feature=related
(a link to one of these hits)

Last week the sports talk world exploded with debate over the culture of football and these devastating injuries. I am a HUGE sports fan. I watch and embrace college football and the NFL as a land of giants and heroes. I've also however experienced a "devastating injury"--a spinal cord injury delivered by the deadening impact of a large white station wagon! In this regard, I'm motivated to add my voice to some of the aftermath and discussion.

I really take issue with Mike Golic a former NFL defensive tackle and host of "Mike and Mike in the Morning" on ESPN radio's indignation when posed the idea of asking defensive players to aim lower in their tackles (and not to target the defenseless receiver's head).

Golic incredulously cried, "Now you want me to take a shot at the knee? If I get hit with a concussion, I’m out for 2 weeks. If I get hit in the knee, I’m out of the league!"

It was 5 in the morning. I listened still a bit numb to what I'd heard...I thought...

Try telling this to the guy on Rutgers who just broke his neck. Ask him would you rather blow out a knee or take a shot in the head? It only takes one hit. How arrogant to suggest that life begins and ends with “the League.”

Another voice I cannot get out of my head is James Harrison's. A Pittsburgh Steeler's linebacker who delivered two of these helmet to helmet blows. In a post game interview, he made a curious distinction, "I try to hurt people not injure them."

what???

According to merriam-webster.com, hurt means- to physically harm. syn. injure. Injure means- to inflict bodily hurt...

Isn’t it harder to mentally maintain this distinction than to adjust tackling technique? I say if James has the time to consider hurt vs. injure before leaving his feet he surely has the time to drop his shoulder and extend his arms.

Changes need to be made.

For the most part, the NFL agrees and is taking action. They've stepped up enforcement of existing rules and started handing out harsher penalties and fines.

Surprisingly, Mark Schlereth a 12 year veteran of the league who's racked up 29 surgeries for multiple injuries including several concussions argued strongly against disciplinary action.

http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/mark-schlereth/ (for full analysis of his screed)

A day after James Harrison received a steep $75,000 fine, Mark Schlereth went on ESPN to give a rant about the the NFL as the "national hypocrites league." I cannot remember any of his points only the thought why am I listening to this man whose nickname is "Stink?"...given to him for preferring to pee on himself rather than leave the field of play for a restroom break...which i'm sure his QB did not appreciate...

anyway...

Unfortunately, just greater enforcement of existing rules is probably not enough for real change to occur. ALL can agree the culture of the BIG HIT in football must change. This will require a change in the mentality of the NFL players.

I've given it some thought. Here are my 10 suggestions to the NFL for how this can take place.

1. Stop trying to re-label these hits as "egregious" and go back to calling them devastating. That’s really more encompassing of their potential result. Ask Eric LeGrand.

2. Put more So You Think You Can Dance dancers on Gatorade bottles!

+ = Athlete!

...expanding players' idea of athlete and what's cool. (okay maaaybe not...)

3. Try embarrassment. Stick a big testicle sticker on the player's helmet for each of the devastating hits he makes.

4. Unleash the injured player's mother on the offending tackler.

5. Have a repeat offender spend the day with Muhammad Ali reading him his books and helping him pen his autobiography.

6. Send the offending player to Spain to take part in the running of the bulls.

7. Issue everyone a single bar kicker's helmet. I don't know how anyone feels menacing in this.


Lastly 8,9...try a few cosmetic changes to the field: let the grass grow knee high and put out some orange barrels. This slows traffic waaay down EVERYWHERE...

AND if all else fails...

10. Allow every team to sign at least one unicorn at wide receiver.

Coming to blows with a pointy horn should do it.

Happy Monday,

Amanda