Readers of my blog know that I am a Buffalo Bills fan. Since opening day I have wrote a couple of posts about Kevin Everett. Little did I know that a few weeks ago I would have my own Kevin Everett experience. Mine was nothing as sever as his. I never stopped breathing and was in no danger of dieing. I was able to get up, but I could not stand. I could not walk. Like Kevin Everett I did have surgery. Unlike Kevin Everett my life was never in danger, but it was scary all the same. The funny part about it was that the day I came home from the hospital my copy of SI with him on the cover was in my mailbox. I guess that was a sign to me that I should write a something about it. Something about my own experience.
My accident happened on December 7th, Pearl Harbor Day. For some strange reason that seems to fit. If you have been watching The Weather Channel lately you saw that winter hit here in Upstate New York early. Right after Thanksgiving we got snow. It was that wet, rainy, slushy type of snow. We call it heart attack snow here in the east. Because it is so heavy when you shovel it. I got stuck out in it for awhile because my wife’s car broke down while she was on her way to work. This caused me to catch a pretty good cold. So I guess I used that as an excuse not to shovel a good as I should have. The problem is that if you don’t get this type of snow off the ground immediately, it freezes. There is nothing you can do to get it up. No matter how much you chop and pound it doesn’t come off. You have to wait for it to warm up and thaw. To make matters worst when the fresh show falls the old frozen stuff is still there. It just gets covered up. So it is easy to forget about it. Especially this time of the year. When you have other things on your mind like Christmas, New Years, and getting to work.
Well, I’m guessing that you have a pretty good idea what happens next. What happened to me on Friday, December 7th, 2007. I fell!
I came down on my left knee and ruptured the quadriceps tendon. My operation took place on Tuesday, December 11th. I have staples in my leg. My leg has a wrap on it and a large brace. I need crutches, or a walker, to help me get around. I will have to do rehab for three months to about a year.
A couple things surprised me about all this. First, is how fast it happened. How quickly my life changed. Even if it is only temporary. The second is when I was describing to people how it happened. I kept using the example of when I played football in high school. When I was on the kickoff team. How I would be running downfield and the only thing on my mind was tackling the guy with the ball. Next thing I know I’m on the ground because I got blindsided by one of the blockers. You may find this hard to believe, but I thought of Kevin Everett while I was in recovery. The TV was on and I heard somebody say that he was going to be the cover story in that week’s Sports Illustrated. That was when I realized the example I was using to describe my accident.
After I got home it took me a couple of days before I could open that SI magazine. When I finally did I could relate to some of it. Like how we take for granted just getting up from the kitchen table and going to the refrigerator just to get a drink out. After reading the article I though a lot about him, my favorite team, and the blogs that I had written about them in the past. How I wrote in the grand scheme of things it really does not matter who wins or loses a football game.
Still, I can admit the weekend before my operation I watched my Bills beat up on the hapless Dolphins. For a couple of hours I did feel better! Hey, any Bills fan who is as old as me remembers the decade of the 70s. When the Dolphins beat my Bills twice a year for ten straight seasons. So a winning season to an old Buffalo Bills fan like me is when we beat Miami twice in one year. No matter what! No matter how good or bad these teams are. It does not matter if the quarterbacks are Bob Griese and Joe Ferguson, Dan Marino and Jim Kelly, or Cleo Lemon and Trent Edward. Beating Miami twice in one season makes the off-season in Western New York less cold.
When my Bills have lost to the Dolphins it is not be the end of the world. The sun would come up the next day. And at the end of the December I have family and friends around to celebrate the holidays with, and that’s what is really important. But with that being said the sports fan in my loves when my Bills beat the Dolphins twice in one season. I guess that is why we love sports so much. Because for a couple of hours a week we can forget all about our cares and worries. Even when one of them is an operation on your leg in a few days.
Kevin Everett and I do share something in common this season. That is the out pouring of love and support we received from people since our accidents. You may have read about how people have sent him cards. Also bought t-shirts and jerseys with his number 85 on it. That money went to charity. To help others walk again like Kevin and I will someday.
I too have been overwhelmed by the love, help and support I have received from many friends and family members. Leading this charge is my wife. It is a very humbling experience when someone has to help you put on your shoes, or wipe your ####. Others have stepped up to the plate, big time, to help out. And the old saying is true; it is the little things that matter. From just doing things like sending a get well card, bringing over a hot meal, going to the store, walking my dogs, and shoveling and snow blowing my driveway. I now know how George Bailey felt at the end of It’s a Wonderful Life.
Today is the final week of the NFL season. A lot has changed for Kevin Everett and myself since the season started. One of them is that up till my accident I have faithfully blogs most weeks. Not that writing a post about who I thing is going to win NFL games is any big deal, but at least I stuck with it. That is a big accomplishment for me! Next up will be sticking with my rehab! From what I have heard from others this will not be easy, and very painful.
Finally, as the curtain comes down on the 2007 NFL season and we get ready for the playoffs I hope you will join me for my 2008 resolution. It is to be patience. Don’t always be in a hurry. Don’t wait for an accident to happen to make you stop and smell the roses. To appreciate those around you and all the things we talk for granted, like taking a walk around the block. I’m sure anyone that got hurt during the war that began December 7th, 1941, or any other conflict since, knows what I am talking about.
I apologize to anyone reading this who is in a wheelchair or lost a limb. I can’t be a spokesperson for you. Still, maybe I can share my experience with others. Hopefully by telling people about what happened to me will teach them to please try and be patience and understanding. Ask yourself “what’s the hurry” before you try to get by someone that may have to use a cane, crutches, walker, or in a wheelchair. Imagine what it might be like for them when they are running late. Also remember that they really hate those aids that they must use to get around. They are forced to use them as a by product of circumstances that they can’t control. Whether it is by age, or an accident. Having part of your independence taken away from you is a very emotional experience. An experience that Kevin Everrett and myself shared this past football season. An experience that I know we will never forget.
There has been talk since week two that the New England Patriots are good enough to go 16-0. It heated up more this past week since the Pats knocked off the Cowboys last Sunday. So could it happen? Could the New England Patriots go undefeated and break the 1972 Miami Dolphins record for a perfect season. The answer to that is NO. The Pats could lose their first game in a few weeks when they play the Colts. Indy is flying under the radar this year and is enjoying the spotlight being on their arc-rivals. Instead of media focusing on them the Colts must be enjoying not being asked if they could go 16-0 or repeat as champs. The Colts are good enough to knock off New England in a few weeks. If they don’t then I still don’t believe that New England will go perfect for the year. The Patriots could have the AFC east wrapped up by week 11 or 12. Then they have back-to-back games against Baltimore and Pittsburgh. If they win them they will have the home field for the playoffs. Look for Bill Belichick to rest his starters for the last three weeks of the season. Belichick cares more about championships then he does records. Would you risk Tom Brady, and a few others starters, on a bunch of meaningless games at the end of the season. Face it, as great as it is going for New England this year this team is still just one injured quarterback away from becoming an average team. I think that the Miami Dolphins have a better chance of going 0-16 than the Patriots do of going 16-0.
With that being said here is my six-pack for this week. Remember, I like my beer straight up. The 16oz Icehouse make the best six packs. So my picks don’t include the points. New England will destroy Miami this afternoon. Don’t listen to all that talk that you heard this week about how the Dolphins always play the Pats tough at home. Miami has no defense. Their starting quarterback is Cleo Lemon, and his best weapon Chris Chambers was traded this past week. I smell a shutout. Look for the Patriots to send the Dolphins off to London with a bloody nose.
A tale of two quarterbacks; The Cardinals are down to their third string quarterback-Tim Rattay. He was just signed two weeks ago. Today, he goes up against a Redskins team that should still be angry for giving away another game. Washington is 3-2, but could easily be 5-0. They didn’t lose to the Giants and Packers. They lost to themselves. They won’t lose today. The Redskins at home are the pick. Atlanta is going to start Bryon Leftwich this afternoon. Another quarterback who was signed late, but did anyone really think Joey Harrington would last the season? Atlanta is coming off a short week and still licking it wounds from the Giants. They go in New Orleans who beat Seattle last week. The Saints need this game if they have any chance of getting back into the race. New Orleans at home is the pick.
I have three road warriors picks this week. I like Indy over Jacksonville on Monday night. On Sunday night I’ll take Pittsburgh over Denver in Mile Hiigh. My upset of the week is the Bucs over Lions in Detroit. Tampa Bay running game is still hurting, but I love Jeff Garcia’s mobility. I love the Buc’s defense too. This should make for an interesting game. Detroit’s head coach Rod Marinelli was the Bucs defensive line coach for ten years. Think he knows their personnel?
So much for upsets. Last week I went 1-5. I am 21-13 for the season. Speaking of upsets here are my final thoughts on the upset of the season that could have been. My beloved Buffalo Bills against the Dallas Cowboys two weeks ago on Monday Night Football. (No I didn’t take the bridge.) It was a great game, but the Cowboys deserved to win. My Bills didn’t seal the deal in the end. They let the Cowboys hang around. When you do that you get bit in the end, and the Bills did. Still, I thought that the Bills were going to lose by 20. Instead they lost by only one, and I am happy for Wade Phillips. He is a great coach and an even better man. Everyone knew how much he wanted that game after being fired seven years ago. The team game him the game ball. Wade showed a lot of class at the post game press conference. He could have bad mouth the Bills. Instead he thanked them. Wade said that he would not be where he is today if it was not for Ralph Wilson giving him a chance all those years ago. He would not have his dream job as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Something he wanted back when he started coaching at a Texas high school. Still, the Bills should have never fired him. Phillips should be celebrating his tenth year as Bills coach instead of his first season as the Cowboys.
Also, Happy Birthday to Ralph Wilson jr. Last Wednesday he turned 89 years young. Just when you think you have seen it all that Monday night game came along. Sure a victory would have been a nice, but I guess it was just not meant to be. Still, thank you for bringing football to this area all those years ago. As one of the original owners of the AFL. Fall in Upstate New York would not be the same without football. Yes, even with the heartbreak. Because there has been more good times at One Bills Drive instead of bad. Like the last two times Dallas came here. I was at both those games. In which those underdog Bills teams pulled the upset. So it is my fault that they lost this time. I’ll take the blame as my gift to you. So thank you Mr. Wilson for everything you do on and off the field. Just ask Kevin Everett. All that money that you have donated to the Miami Project sure paid off for him. This past week we heard that he took a few steps with the help of a walker. The news just keeps getting better. As I wrote after week one losing a football game on a last second field goal is not the end of the world…enjoy the games everyone.
I Love Sports, all Sports! I also love Words. My dream is to become a writer, but I lack confidence in my writing. So I'm hoping that blogging will help me out, and maybe even get me noticed. My teams are the Bills, Sabres, Lakers, and all NL Baseball teams. I don't hate the DH rule, but I don't love it either. I live in Upstate NY with my wife, 2 dogs, and cats. I am very lucky because besides major league pro-sports I am surrounded by lots of minor league sports. Everything from hockey, soccer, indoor and outdoor lacrosse, arena football, and baseball. (Single A ball to triple AAA) Plus tons of great high school and college sports. Most nights you can find me at either a stadium or an arena. I love the passion and sportmanship I witness, and hope to share those stories with you. Enjoy!
