It's probably not necessary for them to undergo more rigorous testing. This may sound awful, but from a cost/benefit analysis, it's probably not worth it. You read about this stuff too much because it's very uncommon. Many kids are playing sports all the time. If any significant number of them were dying, you wouldn't hear about it as much.
Well, this is a sport forum whose subject matter usually pertains to the local area. Why was this thread worthy? http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=183526 Or this? http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=186710 Or this? http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=187634 Or this? http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=188753
Unfortuanately, that's pretty much unrealistic and impossible to achieve. The only way to get to zero deaths from sports is stop playing sports completely. In terms of this particular case, I don't think it's even physically possible to stop all seizures.
Really? Do stories about a single teenager dying in a car accident regularly make the national news in the US? No. Why? It's not because the story is any less tragic, it's because it happens all the time. If lots of kids were dying playing sports, you might hear about the trend in general, but the individual stories like this kid's would never make anything other than local news (if that). The fact that this kid's story was a top article on CNN this morning is a sign of how rare this type of event is.
It is threadworthy. Dealing with death is a part of this life. Denial, empathy and black humor are all just different mechanisms.
Once again to get us back on topic, my prayers and thoughts are with the Garrett family and the players and coaches at WOS. I did not sleep well last night because of this and it had a pretty dramatic impact on our team. A young man with a bright future passed away last night and regardless of if it is thread worthy or news worthy it still puts things in perspective to those that knew of him or have shared experiences. And once again the select group of morons we hold dear here at Clutchfans never disappoint in sinking to an occasion.
It actually does. That's pretty much the reason for local news. And in the general discussion portion of a message board for a geographically-based sports team; well, just connect the dots, mojambo.
I don't have much knowledge on this subject at all, but I think it's a good idea to have some sort of tests (rigorous or not). However I think this should be in all forms of sports, not just amateur, but professionals too. At the very least have tests on the most common causes of deaths in sports. It seems like I've read plenty about heart problems. I think that should be one. I don't know how much that will cost the team, but maybe have a player get tested at least once before they join the team for those major symptoms is enough.
Everyone gets a physical, on rare occasions death still intrudes. It's unavoidable yet always tragic. You honor the individual because his death occurred serving an institution we love. The reason it is a national story is because we all identify with the innocence of youth and the vitality of sport as the antithesis of old age, frailty and death. This story will almost universally evoke a strong response in people and that sells papers and puts eyeballs on the screen. And, it gives people a shared experience; even grief can be bonding. It's the same as the puppy in the river story.
This stuff rarely happens. Not worth the cost or effort to implement this on a wide scale. Student athletes who are known to have these conditions from birth are the only ones who should be more closely monitored.
I lived in Orange for about three years, and there is a ton of pride around West Orange-Stark football. It's a big community event that exemplifies what's great about Texas High School football. I am certain that the school and the community will do their best to comfort the family. I'll pray for them.
