Reacting to Damar Hamlin’s on-field cardiac event
Ed Stein
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By now, most of America has seen Damar Hamlin collapse on the field in Cincinnati. Our staff shares our reactions to what happened.
Usually, on Tuesdays, we run our Seattle Seahawks Dud and Stud of the week. But after last night’s events with Damar Hamlin, doing that seems cold.
Everyone who writes for Pacific Northwest Sports is here because they love sports. What happened in Cincinnati last night sent a shock through all of us.
So today, the PNWS staff expresses our opinions and well wishes to Hamlin.
Dan White
A pretty surreal moment in sports history, and really puts things in perspective. Perfectly healthy (as far as we know?) and only 24 years old. Again I go back to perspective; you never know what is going to happen.
The fact that both teams formed a giant circle around Damar Hamlin and just started praying shows how much love and support there is in the game, and there are bigger things than just the game.
I am shocked it took as long as it did for the NFL to officially postpone the game. In my opinion, it should have been much quicker. However, I understand they need to contact the NFLPA and get them to sign off on it and such.
Nobody can have a playbook for such a sensitive subject. I hope nothing but the best for Hamlin, never mind being able to play again – I hope he can simply just LIVE his life.
Teresa Powe
Watching Damar Hamlin‘s mother run across that field, I held my breath for her. I can’t even put this as a football experience. How often have I seen that thumbs-up from a player being carted off the field or court? How many times have I seen players leave in tears because they were hurt so badly?
This is not football. This is life! This is a mother holding on to her 24-year-old baby for dear life!!! How can some people be so heartless as to discuss B/S football practices? “This one or that one looked like they wanted to continue the game.”
Who cares at this point!!! That kid may not live! A mother could lose her son. A son she helped, she supported so he could have his dream. Like one of the analysts on tv who played the game said…”we play the game to take care of those who take care of us while we realized our dream.” I bet that dream seems like a nightmare right now.
Rob Ryan
There is a human element to being a sports fan that often gets overlooked by some people. When we hypothesize trades or complain about how a player performs, it’s easy to start viewing them as if they are trading cards simply to be moved around, upgraded, etc.
We forget there are people under those uniforms. People with parents and siblings and children who love them for the human being and not the player. Terrifying moments like this should remind us to appreciate the human beings beneath these uniforms for playing the sports that entertain us.
Whatever energy we spend giving thoughts and prayers for Damar Hamlin and his family, maybe we should give a little bit of that to all sports entertainers right now.
Ed Stein
Never in my experience have I seen anything like Damar Hamlin collapsing on the field in Cincinnati and going into cardiac arrest. And it’s not just me; players, coaches, and journalists who have been around football for decades haven’t seen it either.
I’ve worn several different hats when it comes to sports. As a former official, the first thing we kept in mind is player safety. Rules are in place for a reason. Forget about trying to gain an advantage. For example, without pass interference, there would be nothing to stop a defensive back from plowing a receiver when the ball is in the air. Fans forget about that aspect of the game.
As a former lacrosse coach, I read that it was possible the ball could a player in the chest at the exact moment between beats could stop someone’s heart. I had no idea and was damn glad I knew CPR.
Most importantly, I’m a dad. I remember things like my son struggling with noise and lights while dealing with PCS. and how my wife and I hurt inside watching him go through it.
Then there was a football game when one of his teammates had his leg snapped while trying to make a tackle, and selfishly thanked God it wasn’t my kid that happened to, all while watching the medical staff attend to the young man.
What really snaps this whole situation into perspective is Hamlin’s mom being at the game. As parents, we are proud of our kids and what they’ve done to reach certain milestones.
How absolutely thrilled she must have been to see her boy take the field on National television. And then, in a matter of seconds, after he made a tackle, live out what has to be her worst nightmare.
She not only saw it happen in person but went with him to the hospital and has been there since. I can’t imagine the pain she’s going through, and my heart goes out to her.
As a society, we look at sports as an escape. There is no escape from what’s happening to Damar Hamlin. What’s happening to him is also a lesson in perspective for all of us. I pray for him, his family, and his teammates.
Joe Swenson
It’s such a sad day for the NFL, regardless of how this turns out for Hamlin. A fluke incident that 99.99999% of the time would never happen. Nothing but love and thoughts and prayers for a good kid, and hopeful this turns positive in the end.
To the idiot social media warriors out there that are 1) attributing this to some political agenda or 2) calling for the NFL to put in safeguards against an extreme outlier scenario. Y’all make me sick.
I’ve been following since the moment the incident happened. When you see someone die or come close to death, it changes you. It takes away the invincibility you feel and the comfort of not having to bear witness to someone going lifeless.
Hoping that Hamlin gets to the other side of this and can continue his life journey
Andrew Elderbaum
I’m mostly with Joe. All the Vax stuff and politics are just garbage. Everything you read and learn about Damar Hamlin indicates what a quality person Hamlin seems to be, and his health is all that should matter.
There’s no way to prevent a freak hit timed at the worst possible moment, it just happened, and that’s it. Tee Higgins also can’t be lost in this discussion. This is going to affect him as well, and
I have no idea how these guys are supposed to go play again anytime soon after what they saw on the field. We all hope Hamlin comes out as close to whole as possible, and who cares about football.
Please share your thoughts about Damar Hamlin in the comments section or on social media.