SteelDad
11-17-2010, 09:46 AM
Over the last decade, the face of the Pittsburgh Steelers has been Hines Ward. A man who obviously faced much adversity as a child who was born to a Korean mother and an African-American father. As Hines has detailed on several occasions, Korean society does not look fondly upon those of mixed races and because of this, he has spent many hours and a lot money for programs to help children who are similar to him. Ward can be a very polarizing figure who is not afraid to call out his teammates or cry on national TV following a playoff loss, but there is one thing about Ward that is very hard to not respect and find refreshing about him and that is his brutal honesty and willingness to speak his mind.
So here we find ourselves still numb from a humiliating loss to the Patriots who are pretty much now the bane of our existence, but we are also troubled that our icon in Ward had to sit most of the game with what team doctors called a concussion. Ward states today in USA Today that he could have played and that the decision to go back in the game should be his and his alone. It’s his brain and his body and he knows if he can go back in or not. Many people will see this as Hines being Hines and again being the ‘difficult’ person he can sometimes be but doesn’t this issue raise some very pointed questions about the National Football League? Ward claims that had he not stumbled coming off the field, he probably would have been allowed back in. No way of knowing, but in the wake of the Eagles’ Stewart Bradley looking punch-drunk several times back in Week 2 he could be right. What Hines raises is a fair question regarding just who should make the call on whether a player can return to a game. He claims as many players do, that he was fine within a few minutes and could have easily re-entered the game. Like so many boxers who return to the ring well after their prime, Ward is built in this same mode. Imagine the gut-wrenching feelings he must have had standing there for 3 plus quarters being and feeling helpless to his team’s cause. So often we use terms in the game of football that are inspired by war and Ward is no different. He is a warrior who was removed from battle whether it was warranted or not. But look deeper here folks and what you’ll find is the complete and utter hypocrisy of Commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL.
There is no secret that the owners and league offices are pushing hard for an 18-game schedule to which the players are open to if the owners are willing to shorten the pre-season, shorten off-season time, add a second bye-week, add to the roster and pro-rate current salaries. You know and I know the 18-game schedule is coming, but just how much will the owners give? Not much in my opinion. I would bet my life you’ll still see at least 3 pre-season games and the off-season training will remain virtually untouched. Yet while all of this is coming, the league continues to ‘get tough’ on violent hits and even tougher on the issue of head injuries. So riddle me this Goodell…. You’re going to expect the same if not more from players, but at the same time want to keep the game as safe as possible even though you and the owners will be resistant to increased rosters. What exactly is the message you are sending to the players? People will crush Hines Ward this week for speaking out against the concussion policy telling him the league is protecting his future and his health for his days after his career is over. I’m pretty confident Hines knows that, but isn’t it his body and his decision? I’m an educator. My school tells me that if I get sick, to stay home, but only I know just how much I can tolerate and handle if I’m not feeling well. That’s fair, but then why do so many businesses then complain if I miss too much time? This is what the league is doing by keeping these guys out. “Oh yeah, we’ll keep them safe and healthy, but we do need them back for those big prime-time games.” Don’t think it doesn’t happen, because it does.
Hines will no doubt hear some criticism this week, but he won’t care and neither will I. Until the league comes clean and ends the hypocrisy, these issues will continue to exist as will Hines Ward’s penchant for speaking his mind.
Marc Uhlmann
www.steeleraddicts.com
So here we find ourselves still numb from a humiliating loss to the Patriots who are pretty much now the bane of our existence, but we are also troubled that our icon in Ward had to sit most of the game with what team doctors called a concussion. Ward states today in USA Today that he could have played and that the decision to go back in the game should be his and his alone. It’s his brain and his body and he knows if he can go back in or not. Many people will see this as Hines being Hines and again being the ‘difficult’ person he can sometimes be but doesn’t this issue raise some very pointed questions about the National Football League? Ward claims that had he not stumbled coming off the field, he probably would have been allowed back in. No way of knowing, but in the wake of the Eagles’ Stewart Bradley looking punch-drunk several times back in Week 2 he could be right. What Hines raises is a fair question regarding just who should make the call on whether a player can return to a game. He claims as many players do, that he was fine within a few minutes and could have easily re-entered the game. Like so many boxers who return to the ring well after their prime, Ward is built in this same mode. Imagine the gut-wrenching feelings he must have had standing there for 3 plus quarters being and feeling helpless to his team’s cause. So often we use terms in the game of football that are inspired by war and Ward is no different. He is a warrior who was removed from battle whether it was warranted or not. But look deeper here folks and what you’ll find is the complete and utter hypocrisy of Commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL.
There is no secret that the owners and league offices are pushing hard for an 18-game schedule to which the players are open to if the owners are willing to shorten the pre-season, shorten off-season time, add a second bye-week, add to the roster and pro-rate current salaries. You know and I know the 18-game schedule is coming, but just how much will the owners give? Not much in my opinion. I would bet my life you’ll still see at least 3 pre-season games and the off-season training will remain virtually untouched. Yet while all of this is coming, the league continues to ‘get tough’ on violent hits and even tougher on the issue of head injuries. So riddle me this Goodell…. You’re going to expect the same if not more from players, but at the same time want to keep the game as safe as possible even though you and the owners will be resistant to increased rosters. What exactly is the message you are sending to the players? People will crush Hines Ward this week for speaking out against the concussion policy telling him the league is protecting his future and his health for his days after his career is over. I’m pretty confident Hines knows that, but isn’t it his body and his decision? I’m an educator. My school tells me that if I get sick, to stay home, but only I know just how much I can tolerate and handle if I’m not feeling well. That’s fair, but then why do so many businesses then complain if I miss too much time? This is what the league is doing by keeping these guys out. “Oh yeah, we’ll keep them safe and healthy, but we do need them back for those big prime-time games.” Don’t think it doesn’t happen, because it does.
Hines will no doubt hear some criticism this week, but he won’t care and neither will I. Until the league comes clean and ends the hypocrisy, these issues will continue to exist as will Hines Ward’s penchant for speaking his mind.
Marc Uhlmann
www.steeleraddicts.com