I did not pay good money for your company. I paid it so that I might profit from your death. And just as your mother was there at your beginning, I shall be there at your end. And when you die - and die you shall - your transition will be to the sound of... [claps his hands] - Proximo, Gladiator (2000)
Of fucking course they did. Don't be ridiculous or naive. The NFL churns through hundreds of bodies every season and has ground-up thousands in it's history... what's one more body on the pyre?
In the Monday Night Football contest between the Bills and Bengals, Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin collapsed after a seemingly routine tackle. After his collapse, CPR was administered on the field and he was driven away in an ambulance.
After a few short words from these commercial sponsors The NFL and Network prepared to resume play. And why wouldn't they? It's just another replaceable body carted off the field? 'Next Man Up...' as NFL coaches say... You've got 5 minutes to get warmed up before play resumes. But, apparently the players and the Bills and Bengals Head Coaches seeing CPR, which is most often unsuccessful in reviving a person, on the field decided they weren't going to play and the game was postponed. The NFL billion dollar media relations was caught flat-footed and didn't prepare any official response or have the league commissioner give a statement or handle this at all.
No, instead NFL executives and fans are livid because this MNF game was almost unique for a regular season game because of money. Tonight's match-up was the deciding game in the Championship Week of 95% of fantasy football seasons. As well as the regular betting which now is a major component of each and every game. And the old school ratings draw for a marquee match-up between two top teams.
Football is a brutal bloodspot and which has lead to a significant number of early deaths for it's players. It's just that those deaths are often far removed and the result of an accumulation of years of wear and tear and physical abuse as opposed to one flash traumatic event. But, there have been several "highlight reel" terrible impacts and injuries this season as well.
I think most fans, executives, and even players have allowed themselves to compartmentalize the terrible destruction this "sport" does to their bodies by imagining those effects will come years later or that they will be the lucky ones who live long and enjoy a great post-playing career as a coach or commentator.
I see that the "Died Suddenly" Anti-Vaccination ghouls have jumped onto Hamlin's event as further evidence of Vaccine Injury.
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