Once and a while I sit back and reflect on this game which at times does not at all resemble a game. Games are supposed to be about fun and life lessons and all of that good stuff. And usual they are. But all of us get too wrapped up and forget that sometimes; maybe more often then not. This past week a few things happened that reminded us of that and I wanted to share and briefly comment.
LIFE
The Skyview Storm is not the “World’s Worst” but Keith Olberman would like to have us believe that this week in sports they are. He has this cutting piece he does every week about the biggest losers in sports in the World.
Not that I care Mr. Olberman what you think but you sir are a Buffoon.
These are High School kids who were celebrating what they thought was a win for their team “The Storm” after they all blocked a last second field goal attempt. Not waiting for the whistle the players, coaches, and fans rushed the field. But the ball was live and the Columbia River squad picked it up and took it to the end-zone for the win.
This is just Life right? We make mistakes and we learn. Tough way to lose and a great way to win and yes there are lessons people will never forget. But that does not make Skyview the “World’s Worst” Mr. Olberman.
It does however let us know that designation belongs to you and you prove that as your career continues to spiral downward! Good luck Skyview – keep your heads up!
Olberman go pound sand! Watch From 2:20 On
DEATH
Helmet to Helmet Kills Damon Janes- 16 year Old High School Player…
A 16 year old kid from Brocton Central High School in New York State has died from a Helmet to Helmet blow suffered in his last game. Janes, who was a running back, was taken to a local Hospital and died September 17th, 2013. If you read my articles I have covered this topic for years. And yet I hear fans, players, parents, and coaches too talk about how the new penalties for helmet to helmet blows are just terrible and ruining the game. This year I have already seen multiple helmet to helmet blows and a few of them were intentional by all accounts; designed to inflict max damage.
16 year old Damon Janes is gone after receiving a Helmet to Helmet blow.
Deaths like this and things like the Helmet to Helmet blow are marching us to the end of High School and Youth Football as we know it. Adults can take on the “assumption of risk” as it is known. School Boards and Youth organizations can too but insuring that risk is on its way out with fewer and fewer companies providing insurance for this sort of thing; and most of the worst injuries do not end in death but rather a life time of disability.
Damon Janes is gone. RIP running back. Our prayers go out to you and your family.
The following statement and photo are from the parents and family of Damon Janes:
Damon W. Janes, 16, a Junior who attended Brocton Central School, lost his fight and went to be with the Lord following his injury resulting from helmet-to-helmet collision during a Westfield/Brocton varsity football game.
His parents wish to express their gratitude to those who have supported and prayed for Damon and his family, and continue to request that their privacy be respected at this time.
Football
Colt Lyerla Was Thrown Under The Bus..and That’s Football I guess
The Twitter Universe and College Football world was set a blaze by a Coaches Statement and a Players Reaction. Colt Lyerla, the much celebrated and much maligned Oregon Duck Tight End, was missing from the game Saturday as Oregon dismantled the Tennessee Volunteers of the powerful SEC. Lyerla, who is up for the John Mackey Award, was not at the game and in his stead a Freshmen Tight End stepped up big. This led to the Media asking Freshmen Ducks Head Coach Mark Helfrich where Lyerla was? His response?
“Circumstances”.
The Media wanted more because that sounded bad, really bad, and that in College football means something like drugs, an arrest, or some sort of scandal usually. So they asked again.
“Circumstances”.
That led to this story by Jason Quick, a response by Colt, and a firestorm of epic proportions.
Now there is a lot going on here. Coach says he wanted to protect Colt’s privacy. But the sports anchors had already told everyone and it was common knowledge that Colt and several players had the flu. So that is not the entire story. Helfrich and others know that Colt and guys like DeAnthony Thomas will likely move on to the NFL or at least they can. And it is pretty clear there seems to be a rift there between the Star Tight End and the Coach just based on comments and other things like the non-verbal signals sent off by the coaches when they speak about Lyerla.
This sort of thing happens and the two have patched things up… reportedly. Colt will move on at some point to the NFL- he is way too good not to. The Ducks will make a run for the National Championship this year again. And all will fade away.
Hillsboro High School star athlete Colt Lyerla leapt over the opposing line against Thurston HS in the 2009 Playoffs and Landed on the football to blcok an extra point.
But there will be “Circumstances”.
One four star recruit who holds upwards of 20 offers from D-1 Schools including Oregon had this to say:
“What a strange thing to say….blows my mind as to why he wouldn’t just say “he’s sick”!”
The circumstances from my perspective is this. Top recruits who want to go to the NFL want to be at a winning program, want to have world class facilities, to get an education, and to be supported as they make that run. They are the talent that drives the Millions and Billions that is the NCAA College football scene. So for no pay ( yes tuition is pay but a lot of these kids starve), no benefits, and at great personal risk they move ahead and select a school. And a whole hell of a lot goes into that choice.
So they have to choose wisely and they have tremendous pressure to select a school that someone else wants them to select; believe me this happens to all of these top recruits.
The one thing that top recruits do not want and frankly can not afford is to become a Victim of “Circumstances”.
Right or Wrong Helfrich made a mistake and to the man on the street and certainly from the standpoint of a Top Prospect & his Family the Oregon Coach threw his player under the bus and hurt him. Bottom line. No doubt the Ducks will be fine, players will make their decisions, but this will have a lasting effect and that is being proven out already on the recruiting boards across the Nation.
Life… Death… and Football
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