Spring Break
Another side of football
Terry Horstman
Issue date: 1/20/09 Section: Sports
It doesn't get much more historical than that. Are the Arizona Cardinals seriously in the Super Bowl? Yeah they are - and supposedly Phil Knight's a Beaver fan. Regardless of whether or not you think you're still dreaming, the Cardinals will be playing in their first Super Bowl - ever! Their opponents are none other than the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have not only played in the Super Bowl, but won it… five times!
This game is going to get overhyped, overanalyzed, over talked about and over everything. I'm going to be sick to my stomach before the game's opening kickoff, so it is not my intention to contribute to the media hierarchy regarding Super Bowl XLIII. In fact, my focus is not on either the conference champions or their players. My focus is on the health and safety of Baltimore Ravens running back Willis McGahee.
Late in the 4th quarter of the AFC championship game last night McGahee caught a pass over the middle, where he quickly was met by a fierce hit from Pittsburgh safety Ryan Clark. Both players collapsed and lay motionless momentarily, creating a moment not seen very often in professional football.
The Ravens and Steelers - who publicly hate each other - ceased the smack talking. They ceased the hitting, the game, the competition… they ceased it all. For just a minute or so, the hatred between the two teams was put on hold, while they all gathered together at midfield to pray for the uncertain safety of their injured teammates.
Clark rose off the field moments later, walking with the help of the team trainers. It was apparent Clark would be fine, but Willis McGahee still wasn't moving and there wasn't only talk of him possibly not playing football again, but him leading a normal lifestyle hung in the balance as well.
Luckily this morning McGahee was walking and talking - a full recovery is more than expected according to team doctors. Still the good news for McGahee and Clark doesn't shake the terror from anyone watching the game, and who should've felt terror when the future of two young men was held in doubt.
This game is going to get overhyped, overanalyzed, over talked about and over everything. I'm going to be sick to my stomach before the game's opening kickoff, so it is not my intention to contribute to the media hierarchy regarding Super Bowl XLIII. In fact, my focus is not on either the conference champions or their players. My focus is on the health and safety of Baltimore Ravens running back Willis McGahee.
Late in the 4th quarter of the AFC championship game last night McGahee caught a pass over the middle, where he quickly was met by a fierce hit from Pittsburgh safety Ryan Clark. Both players collapsed and lay motionless momentarily, creating a moment not seen very often in professional football.
The Ravens and Steelers - who publicly hate each other - ceased the smack talking. They ceased the hitting, the game, the competition… they ceased it all. For just a minute or so, the hatred between the two teams was put on hold, while they all gathered together at midfield to pray for the uncertain safety of their injured teammates.
Clark rose off the field moments later, walking with the help of the team trainers. It was apparent Clark would be fine, but Willis McGahee still wasn't moving and there wasn't only talk of him possibly not playing football again, but him leading a normal lifestyle hung in the balance as well.
Luckily this morning McGahee was walking and talking - a full recovery is more than expected according to team doctors. Still the good news for McGahee and Clark doesn't shake the terror from anyone watching the game, and who should've felt terror when the future of two young men was held in doubt.
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