If you listen to former professional athletes who were active between the 70s through the early 90s, you will hear them talk about the way the game has changed. Guys used to be “tougher,” and there are a lot of stories of players competing with broken bones and the thought of not being on the field or court and complaining never crossed their minds.
Fast forward to the world of today’s athlete, and it’s pretty easy to understand why these old school athletes are frustrated by what they see. Players are getting paid more than ever before and they are also missing games and talking about injuries to the media and fans like never before too.
But to be fair to today’s athletes it must be noted that guys are bigger, stronger and faster and the beating they take every game adds up. Add that to the travel schedule and off the court responsibilities they have and there isn’t too much down time. Their teams do a great job of providing players with top of the line medical software to prevent injuries and help them recover though.
Still, some players would rather sit out games when they have an injury as opposed to trying to tough it out and play through pain because teams have been known to release players in order to save money. Everybody has a better understanding that it’s a business first and foremost.
I think back to a game years ago when Emmitt Smith, the running back for the Dallas Cowboys, dislocated his shoulder when he got tackled but returned to the game and continued to play. The trainers put some extra padding on his arm but the pain was so excruciating that tears were rolling down his face as he played. The game was longer than usual because it went to overtime and he continued to push through it and he led the team to the win.
Smith didn’t run to reporters and talk about what he had been through. He played through it for the team because he didn’t want to let his teammates down.
Today, guys get injured and they sit out of games and practices and talk to the media repeatedly about what they’re going through. The blame is really on the media though for constantly asking the same questions and giving injuries so much coverage.
Arian Foster is the running back for the Houston Texans and while he’s definitely a great player he ruffled some feathers when he turned to social media to discuss his injury.
Foster Tweeted a picture of his MRI and short message basically saying he wasn’t 100 percent. The team’s medical staff and coaching staff had been saying it was a minor injury. Part of not discussing injuries has to do with not tipping your hat to the other team, and Foster had gone even further than that.
Sometimes pressure is added to players to return to the court or the field before they’re healthy because people pay big money to see them compete. A few athletes have ruined their careers by coming back too early and doing further damage to themselves.
As a fan it can be frustrating when the team is losing and the best player is standing on the sideline in street clothes but we can’t really judge them. Athletes put their bodies on the line daily and injuries are a part of the game.
Social media and all access sports networks take fans into the game like never before, and give players another platform to voice their opinions. Sometimes they choose to share more than their team owners would like, but it’s still a dynamic everyone is figuring out.
Megan Brown is both a sports and social media addict. Currently, she is a social media networker at Slingshot SEO. When not tweeting with athletes or yelling at referees, Megan enjoys cycling, going to techno concerts, and shoe shopping.
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