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I don't get it.
May. 9th, 2002 09:04 amYesterday Curtis Williams died. He was 24.
Mr. Williams was paralyzed from the neck down. He broke his neck while playing for the University of Washington against Stanford. Reading the article, it became evident that since the October, 2000 game in which he was hurt, most of Mr. Williams' medical bills had been paid by university alumni and he had received hundreds of thousands of dollars from various fund raisers.
Why? This guy broke his neck while trying to spear a Stanford running back. That is completely against the rules for exactly this reason! The Stanford player put his head down to try to save his ribs from the incoming foul, and Williams lost.
So why is this guy, who did something that he knew was against the rules and stupid rewarded? Why did the Huskies dedicate their 2001 Rose Bowl win to him? Why give his death a six column story that makes him out to be a hero? If he had just tackled the Stanford player, he'd probably be in the NFL right now.
Maybe I'm just cynical because of the pain I see friends going through over deaths that were never trumpeted in the papers. Because my own battle for life never was a lead on SportsCenter. Because all the kids who play by the rules can only admire their picture in the media guide and hope that they might get picked in the 5th round and make the practice squad.
But this guy commits a 15-yard personal foul, and he gets benefit dinners.
Mr. Williams was paralyzed from the neck down. He broke his neck while playing for the University of Washington against Stanford. Reading the article, it became evident that since the October, 2000 game in which he was hurt, most of Mr. Williams' medical bills had been paid by university alumni and he had received hundreds of thousands of dollars from various fund raisers.
Why? This guy broke his neck while trying to spear a Stanford running back. That is completely against the rules for exactly this reason! The Stanford player put his head down to try to save his ribs from the incoming foul, and Williams lost.
So why is this guy, who did something that he knew was against the rules and stupid rewarded? Why did the Huskies dedicate their 2001 Rose Bowl win to him? Why give his death a six column story that makes him out to be a hero? If he had just tackled the Stanford player, he'd probably be in the NFL right now.
Maybe I'm just cynical because of the pain I see friends going through over deaths that were never trumpeted in the papers. Because my own battle for life never was a lead on SportsCenter. Because all the kids who play by the rules can only admire their picture in the media guide and hope that they might get picked in the 5th round and make the practice squad.
But this guy commits a 15-yard personal foul, and he gets benefit dinners.
