Remembering It’s Just a Game

The desire to win at all costs can hijack our humanity.

But not this time. Last Friday during the Lions-Falcons game, player Maurice Norris suffered a massive injury and needed to be rushed to the hospital. Players leaving the field for an injury is not unusual, but what happened next is rare for professional sports.

The two teams agreed to run out the clock (12 minutes, almost the entire 4th quarter). Instead of playing like nothing happened, the teams huddled in a circle in solidarity for Maurice.

This was the right choice, but I haven’t always lived this value myself.

I was so obsessed with the game that I neglected the well-being of an injured player at least three times in my athletic career.

During a high school soccer match, Ryan Kelly was catching a ball as a goalie when someone slammed him into the metal post. In a silly attempt to be “helpful,” I tried to pick him up and pull him off the field.

Another time, my friend Rob and another teammate collided so badly that he almost lost some teeth.

Finally, I collided with another soccer player, breaking his knee.

Yes, I cared about the injured person in each situation. However, not once did I think the game should be paused or ended right there. Looking back nearly 30 years later, I can’t believe how stupid I was. So what? These were meaningless high school games. One extra win or loss has had no bearing on life. Yet some injuries could have been permanent.

I’ve experienced this myself. In 2008, during my MIT alumni track meet, I broke my Lisfranc joint in my foot and went to the hospital. It took 9 months of crutches before I could put weight on my foot. This was hell living on the 5th story of a Boston building with no elevator. After a brief break in the meet to check on me, it continued and only one friend came with me to the hospital.

I still can’t play soccer, basketball, or ultimate frisbee due to this injury. However, I’m grateful I can still participate in almost everything else in life without restriction. In that sense, I’m blessed.

Anyway.

I’m encouraged to see two NFL teams willing to set an example. Yes, there’s a lot at stake, but a human life could have been lost that night. I’m glad they set an example for the rest of us. I could have used it when I was younger, when I lost sight that it was just a game.