At least twice a week, we have a kid brought in to our nurse from the gym with a bump or bruise or scratch and the explanation is almost always that they ran into another kid, the wall or the floor "going for the ball". 99% it's a boy but we do get a couple of girls. It's a competitive nature that I think is inherent in boys. They play hard. The want the ball and go for it. I'm not saying girls are not competitive but we are more cerebral about it.
I tell this because there is a 22 year old named Robert Griffin III, or RG3 as they call him. He won the Heisman Trophy last year for Baylor University, is a pretty good quarterback and from all accounts, a pretty good guy. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins and had a pretty good year. He had a knee injury a couple of weeks ago, then injured it again early in the game last Sunday and even then allowed to continue to play. He played with heart. And he went down hard and ugly. His knee gave out in an extremely ugly way. And his coach, Mike Shanahan is getting grief from all sides for not pulling him. The Redskins were behind and it would take a miracle to win the game. But for some reason, Shanahan let him play on. I know RG3 wanted to play. He's competitive. He would never be the guy who would not play because his leg hurts. He wanted the ball. But even though he's 22, he's still the boy who wants the ball. And he is playing for a veteran coach who should not have let him go on. The Redskins were not going to win this game. Shanahan knew it. We all knew it. And his decision to let him play could cost him career or leave him with a permanent injury. What the heck?
I know with guys football is king but too many football players play with injuries and we are just now seeing the consequences. Players from the past have filed a class action suit against the league for injuries. Heads, arms, legs. They can't think, they can't walk. And still we have to wonder if the league or coaches care. Winning at all costs? Are you a winner Shanahan? Nope.
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