It's a really good day in the world, when a girl can stay at home on her birthday and watch football all day. That being said, it's been a month since I posted last. While there's been any number of interesting or titillating stories going on in the Wide World of Sports, nothing really caught my eye as being enough for me to write about. I had originally planned on coming on here today and writing something about the use of social media/technology in today's sports world, as there have been any number of instances lately where athletes have been caught with their proverbial pants down (you KNOW who I'm speaking of in that respect) and then realized, what really can I add? I can't reiterate any more than anyone else has how stupid the Favre thing is, and how IF it is true, how it tarnishes the on field legacy in a way that his mediocre play of late hasn't. I could write how silly I think it is that players insist on tweeting BS within the confines of the NFL rules for social media and then complaining they got fined 'two Bugatti payments' for it, when there are people here that can't fathom what it's like to own a vehicle that costs that much.
Instead, I'm going to write about something a little different from that. Yesterday, Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand lowered his head to make a hit against an opposing Army player. And just like that, his football career was over. Just like that, he was paralyzed from the neck down. Buffalo fans will remember how it felt to watch Kevin Everett lay on the field unmoving in 2007, and how wonderful it was to see him walk on the field again. Unfortunately, recoveries like that are anything but the norm. Sabres fans watched as Jason Pominville was leveled into the boards by Blackhawks player Niklas Hjarmalsson earlier this week. Luckily, he escaped with a cut and a concussion, but it's easy to see how that could have a had a very different outcome.
This isn't me writing about how players shouldn't play the games they love. Actually, it's the exact opposite. This is me writing about how grateful I am to be able to watch the sports I do. Each and every one of us has the right to do what we want, and that includes to continue playing a sport that is by definition dangerous. I know players play the games they play for many reasons, including money and fame, but I also know some play for the sheer love of the game. Without getting into the touchy subject of money, I can say there's nothing more amazing than feeling like you're a part of the game along with those players, whether it's by being in the stadium, or arena, or by sharing the time with friends, family and strangers. There is nothing better than sitting here on my birthday and watching football and honestly, feeling very grateful to the players for providing me with something I love.
Youth is fleeting. There will always be another player. There will always be the next up and comer looking to storm the sports universe. And then, there will always be those players that for whatever reason, don't get to play anymore. I don't mean to be sappy in any way because those who know me, know that is not the first or last thing that would come to mind when describing me. But I'd like to take this moment and say thank you to the players out there putting there bodies on the line in order to entertain me on my birthday. It's a good birthday to be able to do the things you love.
