NFL Safety, Damar Hamlin, and “The Play Must Go On”
I’m not a football fan. I’m not, in fact, a fan of any game that involves disputes over the possession of a ball of any size or shape. I watch equestrian sports and auto racing. But I could not miss what happened to Damar Hamlin last night.
First of all, I give my prayers and best wishes to Hamlin for a full recovery, and also to his friends, his family, and every player on that field. I especially have to mention Tee Higgins, the other player involved in the accident, who must feel just awful right now.
And I have always been a little wary of American football. It seems that there are more injuries than in rugby, a similar game where players wear less protective gear.
But what happened to Damar Hamlin was…literally…unprecedented.
As a race fan, I have seen athletes die live on television. Ayrton Senna, Dale Earnhart, Sr., Justin Wilson.
I have also seen athletes walk away from crashes that only a few years ago would have been a closed casket.
When I get on a horse I always wear a modern helmet and a good pair of boots. (I can talk all day about the importance of a good pair of boots if you are going to be anywhere near a horse or, for that matter, a cow). I recently upgraded to a helmet with new technology that reduces lateral…