Spring Break
For the love of the game
Mark Powell
Issue date: 9/12/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 2 next >
After a few scary days and nights, it looks like NFL tight end Kevin Everett may walk again. But whether or not he gets back on his feet anytime soon, he could be considered a mere casualty of the style of play that makes us watch.
If you've tuned into the sports world lately, you may have heard that Everett, who plays for the Buffalo Bills, suffered a devastating spinal cord injury Sunday in his team's season opener against the Denver Broncos.
It occurred during the second-half kickoff, a time when two lines of 11 players dash aggressively towards one another, frothing at the jaws in search of the "Hooh!" that accompanies a vicious block or tackle.
Everett found that "Hooh!" when he lowered his head and collided with Denver's Domenik Hixon. But as quickly as the hit was delivered, Everett's body fell lifelessly to the turf.
The former University of Miami tight end and Port Arthur, Texas native is now lying in a Buffalo hospital with slight movement in his limbs, the Associated Press reported.
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Andrew Cappuccino told the press on Monday that it was unlikely Everett would make a full recovery, and his condition was life-threatening because of the chance for infection or respiratory failure.
On Tuesday, though, with Everett moving, Cappuccino said he expected the NFL player to walk again.
Good news.
Injuries like Everett's have occurred before, though they obviously don't occur all of the time.
But with Everett lying in a hospital bed, slowly trying to work his way back to his normal, walking self, it's worth thinking about why he's there.
Should Everett have positioned his helmet at such a low angle while making a tackle? I haven't played tackle football since eighth grade, so I don't think I have much to offer in the area of "safest ways to tackle someone." And players use their helmets as agents of tackling often.
I do know, however, that Everett was injured doing what he was supposed to be doing and while doing what everyone expected of him: playing hard, at full-speed, with the intent to execute a Sports Center-worthy de-cleating against his opponent.
If you've tuned into the sports world lately, you may have heard that Everett, who plays for the Buffalo Bills, suffered a devastating spinal cord injury Sunday in his team's season opener against the Denver Broncos.
It occurred during the second-half kickoff, a time when two lines of 11 players dash aggressively towards one another, frothing at the jaws in search of the "Hooh!" that accompanies a vicious block or tackle.
Everett found that "Hooh!" when he lowered his head and collided with Denver's Domenik Hixon. But as quickly as the hit was delivered, Everett's body fell lifelessly to the turf.
The former University of Miami tight end and Port Arthur, Texas native is now lying in a Buffalo hospital with slight movement in his limbs, the Associated Press reported.
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Andrew Cappuccino told the press on Monday that it was unlikely Everett would make a full recovery, and his condition was life-threatening because of the chance for infection or respiratory failure.
On Tuesday, though, with Everett moving, Cappuccino said he expected the NFL player to walk again.
Good news.
Injuries like Everett's have occurred before, though they obviously don't occur all of the time.
But with Everett lying in a hospital bed, slowly trying to work his way back to his normal, walking self, it's worth thinking about why he's there.
Should Everett have positioned his helmet at such a low angle while making a tackle? I haven't played tackle football since eighth grade, so I don't think I have much to offer in the area of "safest ways to tackle someone." And players use their helmets as agents of tackling often.
I do know, however, that Everett was injured doing what he was supposed to be doing and while doing what everyone expected of him: playing hard, at full-speed, with the intent to execute a Sports Center-worthy de-cleating against his opponent.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Ted Rudow III,MA
posted 9/13/07 @ 10:04 AM PST
The only escape for me, I thought was sports. So I practiced and practiced basketball until I received few athletic scholarships included West Point but I decided to attend the University of California at Berkeley, in 1970. (Continued…)
Ted Rudow III,MA
posted 9/17/07 @ 4:27 PM PST
only escape for me, I thought was sports. So I practiced and practiced basketball until I received few athletic scholarships included West Point but I decided to attend the University of California at Berkeley, in 1970. (Continued…)
Post a Comment