In the span of 24 hours, the sporting world lost the NFL’s defending defensive player to a torn ACL and baseball’s greatest closer to a torn Achilles. While it’s not uncommon for athletes to get injured, the way these two got injured is mind-blowing.
It has been alleged that Terrell Suggs tore his achilles tendon playing basketball, although Suggs has come and said he was “running conditioning tests” for the Ravens. Mariano Rivera suffered a torn ACL while shagging a fly ball in the outfield during batting practice. Two superstars doing things they (probably) had no business doing, ended their seasons, or worse, their careers in the process.
Sometimes, “staying in your lane” is good for everyone involved. Unfortunately, two players might’ve just learned that lesson the hard way. Here is your pertinent reading material for Friday.
SLAM Online: Rajon Rondo Aims to Continue Being the ‘Best Point Guard in the NBA’
Smoking Section: On Derrick Rose’s Injury, The Fallout & 10 Potential Losers
Los That Sports Blog: NY Post writer publishes racist article about Jay-Z and Brooklyn Nets
Life & Times: James Franco Reflects on “The Dangerous Book Four Boys”
Grantland: Hunter S. Thompson's 'The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved'
Hardwood Paroxysm: Hand Down, Man Down
Grist: 30,000 bees found in New Jersey attic
Bull City: Calipari Has Big Hopes For Ryan Harrow
Esquire: How a Man Should Dress for the Kentucky Derby
Gamma Squad: 20 Awesome Lego Sets You Can Help Make Real
Hoops Authority: Charlotte Bobcats Offering "Pay-the-Pick" Season Ticket Packages
Eddie Maisonet is the founder and editor emeritus of The Sports Fan Journal. Currently, he serves as an associate editor for ESPN.com. He is an unabashed Russell Westbrook and Barry Switzer apologist, owns over 100 fitteds and snapbacks, and lives by Reggie Jackson’s famous quote, “I am the straw that stirs the drink.”
I hear what ur saying but Mariano (and tons of pitchers) shag fly balls regularly as a way to stay active. It's a legitimate baseball activity and I wouldn't say he had no business doing it. Suggs playing basketball...again, athletes take part in other sports as a way to stay in shape. His might be a bit more questionable but i'd still understand. The alternative is to only allow guys to train in the weight room? or have pitchers only jog between the foul poles?
Good post
Ryan is correct. We criticize the player who sits on his rump and gets out of shape in the offseason. Well, exercise brings an injury risk. You can only run on a treadmill so much. Playing a competitive game is a great way to make exercise more interesting. It's a tough break but a bit unfair to say that they had no business doing it.
Mariano had been shagging fly balls in batting practice for the majority of his career; going so far as to say that he'd want to play center field in a game before he retires. It's one of those unfortunate fluke injuries that happens in baseball every year.
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