We had the Rose Bowl on the TV yesterday. Ceil cooked beef stir fry (see bottom photo). Matthew joined us. We finished the dishes and it was after 8 pm when we plopped down on the couch. The Rose Bowl had ended. I think C was going to "watch" something on her laptop. She changed the channel to Bills@Bengals. I had stuff to do on my laptop so I didn't change the channel. I noted the teams' records, 12-3 and 11-4, both playing for a first-round bye in the playoffs. Announcers were Aikman and Buck, not my favorites. Former UGA RB James Cook was having another good game. Young Bengal QB Joe Burrow playing like a vet.
So I took notice when the game was delayed by the injury. At first they showed the replay a few times, but as the CPR continued past 9 minutes Buck and Aikman realized the severity of the situation. They cut to a commercial, and when they came back they admitted to having nothing to say. More commercials. Images of players in tears told the story. They switched back to the studio, where big Booger McFarland was all choked up. It was too much to watch.
We changed the channel. A couple of times Ceil asked me for an update. I was checking Twitter for up to the minute reports. The image of the ambulance leaving the field with the Bills kneeling in prayer. The ambulance didn't leave the stadium until Hamlin's mother came down from the stands to ride with her son. I took that as a good sign, though you never know. I looked up Hamlin's background. I was finishing up my blog post, and added a quick paragraph and photo of the Bills praying, something I rarely do for breaking news. The whole thing was unlike anything I'd ever seen.
Later I checked before bed, and when I got up in the morning. As good as social media can be to report up to the minute news, dummies posting insensitive comments at times like these is always a problem. Do so on Twitter and people will call you out, which can be a good thing.
Not so much on Facebook. A guy with zero interest in sports goes out of his way to put a damper on friends excited about sports, like UGA advancing to the championship. Then last night the Hamlin injury must've filled his news feed. The guy rushed to judgement, calling him "paralyzed" (wrong) and "cardiac arrest due to blunt trauma" (how did this music teacher determine the cause?). The guy commented "I fail to see how moving a ball across a line…is worth suffering severe injury" shows extreme narrow-mindedness. I may not want to skydive or devote my life to music, but I try to not badmouth those who do. Good for them.
Later the guy complained the lead story on the news "is a young man seriously injured in a violent sport that millions of Americans cheer on" ahead of North Korea, Russia, etc. He received no dissenting opinions, mostly because he's already blocked or unfriended most all the people who disagree with him. What someone posts can really reveal their character. Just look at me.
Some people are completely oblivious to all the good the NFL (and NBA and MLB) does in this country and around the world, particularly in the inner city. Of all the jobs that sports like football, baseball, and basketball provide, from high schools to colleges to the pros. Oblivious to the dreams and motivation football and basketball in particular provide to inner city youth in America, allowing poor kids opportunities for education and bettering themselves.
The injury rate in football is 100%. Play the game, and you're gonna get hurt. Most NFL players started playing before they were ten. They've seen the injuries. They know the risks. The chance, the dream for generational wealth, is a no-brainer for them.
Helmet Addict is a great follow on Twitter. Last night was the tenth Bills game he attended this season. He shared his thoughts on his in-person experience.
As usual, Jim Denison had more positive words to share about Hamlin, prayer, and the nation's response.
Turkey continues to target Christians and other minorities in an effort to kill them off.
Is atheism dead?
HANK AARON [SABR Bio] has played in more National League games than any other Hall of Famer: 3,298 games, trailing only Pete Rose [3,562] & Carl Yastrzemski [3,308]. Aaron was principally an infielder before he came to the majors. He played SS for the Pritchett Athletics, Birmingham Black Bears & Indianapolis Clowns; then switched to 2B for the Eau Claire Bears & Jacksonville Braves. His three Gold Gloves are often forgotten in the mix of his tremendous accomplishments. Won in 1958-1960, winning the first gold glove at his position, generally, the outfield.
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