Injuries on the football field aren’t uncommon. But the events of January 2nd were enough to shake the sports world. A player collapsed on the field. So, fans began wondering, what happened to Damar Hamlin?
The injury to the Buffalo Bills player affected other players and American football fans.
What Happened to Damar Hamlin?
Buffalo Bills took on Cincinnati Bengals in an NFL game on January 2, 2023. The Monday Night Football game saw Hamlin tackling Tee Higgins in the first quarter. Hamlin, despite standing up, collapsed a few seconds later.
The medical personnel quickly made their way to the ground. It was diagnosed that Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest. So, the medical team administered CPR for almost 10 minutes. Once his heartbeat revived, they transferred him to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. But his condition remained critical.
Hamlin made his worldwide fans worry for his safety. Fortunately, he became stable in a few days. Later, doctors discharged him on January 11th after a thorough medical evaluation. Now he will continue his rehabilitation at home with the help of his family and team.
Hamlin’s life-threatening injury made headlines across the country. NFL declared the game abandoned and the sports world prayed for his quick recovery.
The Incident Has Reignited the Debate
The game of football has long been criticized for the potential risk of injury. But so is the case with all contact sports. The risk of concussions, muscle injuries, trauma, and cardiac arrest persists. Now, the recent events have reignited the debate about the dangers of contact sports.
The View co-host, Alyssa Farah Griffin weighed in with her point of view that now she doesn’t want her boys to play football.
On the other hand, players such as Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mason Cole acknowledge the dangers. But they believe that the positive impacts of sports far exceed their dangers. “We understand the risks that come with it. But we love this game. We love the life it’s given a lot of us. It’s a job that we’ve chosen.”
Engaging in sports opens opportunities to many and they can lead a productive life. Athletes get scholarships to study at their dream colleges and universities. It’s a great advantage for those who can’t afford higher education due to limited financial resources.
Another critical point that arises after such events is that whether the business of football overshadows players’ safety.
Soon after Damar Hamlin’s collapse, there were questions on NFL’s response. As per some sources, the organizers took longer than they should have to cancel the game.
But Joe Buck, ESPN correspondent, suggested that such questions are trivial. As per him, it’s unfair to let such narratives overshadow the efforts of the medical team. It was due to their quick response that the player survived after a severe cardiac arrest.
Conclusion
Damar Hamlin recently experienced cardiac arrest during Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals game. Thankfully, he is better and discharged from the medical center. But it may take time for him to fully recover and get back to his routine life and sports.
But such incidents give way to debate about the game itself. It’s common for media and fans to question safety measures for players. Also, there’s a notion that monetary aspect of the football business is more important to organizers than anything else.
While questions remain about these important matters, it’s important to look at both sides of the coin.
So, what’s your take on the incident? Do you think the business aspect of American Football tends to overshadow such incidents?