What the fuck is going on? I’m not going to pretend to compare a suicide to torn ligaments. The impact of Junior Seau’s suicide is way more significant than a torn ACL by Mariano River or a torn achilles by Terrell Suggs. It's devastating to lose anyone to suicide, much less a future first ballot HO Famer like Junior Seau and this loss once again brings the discussion of concussions to the lime light. Torn pieces of collagen connecting bone means months and even years of rehab but the implications of what occurred to Junior Seau are permanent. There is that superstitious theory that bad things occur in threes and, while in no way similar in severity, I have decided to group these three recent disasters together in the same article for a few reasons. First, this superstition does not necessarily delineate between the type and degree of issues that occurred. Second, this theory is based more on timeframe and all three occurrences happened within a few days of each other. Finally, the three are all sports figures who are or were gods. Now, while there is an obvious difference between where the three are/were in their careers, they can still be compared and their effects on professional athletics correlate.
Awards (Pro-Level)
Junior Seau- 12x Pro Bowl, 10x All-Pro, 1x AFC Defensive player of the Year, 1x NFL Defensive player of the Year, 1x AFC Player of the Year, NFL Alumni Linebacker of the Year, NFL 90’s all decade team, San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame
Mariano Rivera- 12 time American League All-star, 1x ALCS MVP, 1x World Series MVP, 1x Thurman Munson Award, 3x Player of the Week award, 1x Babe Ruth Award, 4x This Year in Baseball’s closer of the Year Award, 3x Delivery Man of the Year Award, 2x Delivery Man of the Month Award, 1x Sporting News Pro Athlete of the Year Award, and 6x Sporting News Reliever of the Year Award.
Terrell Suggs- 5x Pro bowl, NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (By Both AP NFL and PFWA), 1x NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 1x AFC Defensive Player of the Year, 1x First Team all Pro, 1x Second Team all Pro, 2x AFC Defensive Player of the Month.
Stats
Junior Seau- Tackles-1849, Sacks 56.5, Interceptions-18, Forced Fumbles-3, Pass Deflections-21
Mariano Rivera- 76-58 (Wins-Loss Record), 608 Saves, WHIP 1.00, Strikeouts, 1,119,
Terrell Suggs (Since the End of the Regular 2011 Season): Tackles-565, Sacks-82.5, Interceptions-7, Forced Fumbles-27
Overview
Junior Seau brought an undeniable fire and passion to the game of football. He decimated opponents and played hard every down. He helped his team win the AFC championship in ’94, leading them to Superbowl XXIX. He bounced around the Dolphins, then ended his career with the New England Patriots where he was a integral contributor to the undefeated team that lost to the G-men in the Superbowl. A goddamn helmet catch away from being a world champ. He was an animal and probably one of the most feared Chargers defensive players in their history. He was a hometown San Diego legend, starting in his career as a well known high school athlete from Oceanside, Ca, just a little north of San Diego. The town shits lightning bolts which made his being signed by his home team that much more legendary to the Charger faithfulls. He moved to Oceanside after his playing days were over. Before his untimely death at the ripe age of 43, this man-child held local fundraisers and started business ventures in and around the area. As the 8th person to die from that Super Bowl Chargers , there is a thought that they are cursed as bad as, if not worse than, the Poltergeist Movies.
Mariano Rivera (shown at top) might be the most accomplished of the three as he has the rings and the records to prove it. Like Seau he's a first Ballot HOF and is synonymous with his team and city, tough in a city of legends running about 12 million deep. While he was not considered a blue chip athlete growing up, he switched positions and roles. He started as a shortstop, then switched to pitcher after scouts saw his lack of future in the infield. They noticed his fluidity on the mound and somehow knew he was bred to be the game changer. How the fuck they could tell this raw piece of work was a potential great is beyond me. Bought by the Yankees, he established himself as a true pitcher but, after dismal performances as a starter, he was relinquished to a reliever role. Eventually, he became comfortable, became the best closer in baseball history. What did this fucker do, you ask? He set countless records, most notably saves (608), WHIP (1.00), and the highly coveted ERA (2.21). For the sake of time, I have decided to leave out the several pages of both MLB records and Yankee records that he's set, but I recommend you take a look. It’s fucking epic. Might I add that he has reached the pinnacle of his sport 5 times (5x world Series champions). He is a true Yankee.
Terrell Suggs has the swagger that has made him a Baltimore Fan favorite. It's never easy to build a name for yourself when living in the world of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed but Suggs certainly has done this. While this freak of nature hasn't yet established a legacy like the other two, he's also a lot younger and has been a professional for a shorter period. That said, he's already become the Raven’s sack leader and ranks eighth among all active players. He plays with a pursuit that leaves blockers and opponents in his dust and just truly loves playing the sport of football. He loves the shit talk but is able to back it up. His mouth looks like an alien and spews comedic genius, including his now infamous "Sizzle from BALL SO HARD UNIVERSITY". He's a devoted Baltimoron and, even with all of his flair, is a true team player who understands his role and appreciates his organization. He recognizes his fans and reciprocates the devotion. He was one of the youngest defensive players ever drafted when he was taken in the first round by the Ravens before he could even drink legally and has proven his worth. In 9 seasons, he's been to the playoffs 6 times and has been to two AFC championships. He's still seeking that bling made for the champs, but once he gets it, the world will know. Skip Bayless will finally bend down and kiss Sugg’s proverbial ass.
What we have learned from Three
Mo, Tsizzle, and Junior have had such success that each has ingrained himself into his respective home town. When something terrible occurs to these athletes, not only do the family and players feel it, but the fans do too. All three played or play their sport because of a dire passion for the game, of course a paycheck, and respect. All three respect the games which have led them to stardom. Obviously, they are in three different phases in their career. Suggs will play again, the “Sandman” in my opinion is done, and Seau is now a man of history, which stings the most. It goes to show what players mean to their fans and when they give it all, we give everything back. Personally, I would sustain from alcohol for two years if it meant that the Ravens would win the Superbowl. Other pros can learn from these guys what it means to play with heart (I'm looking at you, Carmelo Anthony).
Seeing these three individuals and comparing what has occurred with each also exemplifies how these mechanical engines who are plowing into each other or are contorting their bodies at such a high level are opening themselves to a world of hurt. The ramifications of messing up as a pro are more severe then forgetting to send out that invoice or respond to that email. I’ve always thought that NFL rookie contracts are slightly inflated, but besides this I feel like pro athletes are paid their worth and even, occasionally, less. Events like this serve as reminders that these titans are still human and are susceptible to high end pain. And while anyone can get injured, we don't necessarily need a healthy leg to do our jobs. It is their livelihood which, because of the physicality, can come to a halt quicker than Charlie Sheen’s acting career. Joe Theisman never played another down, Terrell Suggs might never play the same, and Mo might have to end his legendary career on the DL. Financially, the amount of revenue these gladiators generate means they're proving their worth. I don’t get paid a multimillion dollar paycheck but my job also doesn't bring in billions. Isn’t that capitalism at its most basic?
Finally, these three have proven that no matter what you do, cough Roger Goodell cough, you cannot stop injuries from occurring no matter what fines or policies you implement. There's one constant for all retired NFL players, which is that retirees have sustained PTS from head related injuries. The consistent shell on shell hits have been shown to cause depression and recently these players have either spoken out, acted out, or committed suicide. It’s fucking deep and is causing me to side with rules in place to decrease a head hit. More of these players are coming out and will continue to, but the goal is to eliminate these effects for future players. This can be controlled and although I disagree with some of the commissioner’s new rules, another suicide by an ex-player has proven that something needs to be done. Progressing equipment can only do so much. Besides the head injuries, cutting down on fair hits when it looks too “vicious”, which does occur, softening the NBA by calling more fouls, or limiting a baseball player's pitch count does not mean these players will always be healthy. The Sandman was knocked out going for a fly ball, a pre-game ritual he's done throughout his career to warm up. The cause of Tsizzle’s injury is still not solidified but from what I gather, he was playing a pick-up hoop game with his boys. Another Raven, Sergio Kindle, fractured his skull while sleep walking and Amare Stoudemire required stitches and had to sit out game three of the NBA playoffs after engaging in a boxing match with a fire extinguisher after a drubbing by the hands of the Heat. The fire extinguisher won by unanimous decision. So essentially, these three have taught us that the neck up needs to be coddled and for the rest of the body, shit happens and there's nothing you can do about it so let the men play.
While we hurt for Mo and T-sizzle, we mourn for Junior.
- Kyle
That being said, think of how memorable LT's hit on Joe Theismann will always be.
(Do not look at the picture below if Squeamish)
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