It was bound to happen.
When Damar Hamlin, safety for the Buffalo Bills, collapsed on the field Monday night during a football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, it was a scary moment for everybody. His colleagues, friends, family, and fans all waited with baited breath to find out if Hamlin would be okay.
Hamlin had tackled Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins and, immediately afterwards, crumpled onto the field, suffering from a version of cardiac arrest.
It was, quite possibly, one of the worst, scariest things to have ever happened during a Monday Night Football game.
But that’s not the real story. The real story is what happened afterwards.
What happened afterwards is the fact that all of Hamlin’s teammates and coaches surrounded him while paramedics offered oxygen and CPR. They all got down on one knee, praying for Hamlin and shielding him from cameras.
What happened afterwards was the fact that the NFL suspended the rest of the game, at players’ and coaches’ behest, because football didn’t matter at that point. What mattered was human life.
What happened afterwards was the fact that fans, friends, coaches, players and more offered their support and well wishes, with one voice, to Damar Hamlin.
Hamlin had to be intubated with a feeding tube but, eventually, he regained consciousness. His first question? “Did we win?”
It was a welcome relief, a brief respite from the seriousness of the situation, and it offered a little bit of levity in a very scary situation. The Bills have reported that Hamlin is showing “remarkable improvement” and the NFL has reported that the game between the Bills and the Bengals has been cancelled outright.
“And so,” the Hollywood Reporter wrote, “With the major change to the league’s schedule, [NFL Commissioner Roger] Goodell also said that the NFL will consider hosting the AFC Championship Game at a neutral site, depending on which teams make it that far. On Friday, a special league meeting will discuss and vote to approve the different scenarios, some of which will see the Championship being played at a neutral site, and others that could see the game being played per standard scheduling protocols.”
It was a difficult decision, Goodell said, but the league is doing their best to find a fair solution.
“As we considered the football schedule, our principles have been to limit disruption across the league and minimize competitive inequities,” Goodell stated. “I recognize that there is no perfect solution. The proposal we are asking the ownership to consider, however, addresses the most significant potential equitable issues created by the difficult, but necessary, decision not to play the game under these extraordinary circumstances.”
These were extraordinary circumstances but, for much of the country, a football game was the least of their concerns. Most everybody involved – from the players themselves to the fans, realize that the important thing is that Damar Hamlin will be okay.
Monday night, and the days thereafter, showed how powerful it can be when people come together with a common purpose; that purpose being lifting up Hamlin, either in prayer or in thoughts. This week has been a beautiful example of humanity; of knowing that there are more important things in life than a football game.
So, of course, leave it to the Disco Inferno to offer up the absolute worst possible take regarding the situation.
Disco (real name: Glen Gilbertti) has made a habit of offering up the most inane takes on wrestling twitter. Some people believe it’s a bit; others just believe he’s a miserable human being who relishes the negative attention. Whether it’s a bit or not, Disco knows exactly what buttons to push to alienate fans and non-fans alike. His latest take is just further proof of that.
Yes, a man named Disco Inferno believes the Buffalo Bills were ‘rewarded’ because their teammate almost died. Disco was channeling his inner Skip Bayless with this tweet, and the response was unsurprising.
And so on.
In the world of professional wrestling, it’s important to remain relevant. Some people try desperately to cling to relevancy and, when they have no actual charisma or any other redeemable qualities, they resort to “hot takes,” simply to get a reaction. Disco is a master at that, at least in his own mind. In fact, his tweet was so popular, so controversial that, as of the time of this writing, he’s gotten 49 ‘Likes’ on it.
Follow Nick at @WrestlePerks
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