? Of The Day - Thursay, October 13, 2005 - Freeze-Frame Radio

Jeremy Riggs · 2011 Super Bowl Champions!

? Of The Day - Thursay, October 13, 2005

1maple · Chairman Of The Board

Jeremy I can't find the photos even by trying to open them thru favorites.

Jeremy Riggs · 2011 Super Bowl Champions!

Oops, sorry about that.

1maple · Chairman Of The Board

For me his being thrown out for even part of a game brings up visions of other Zero Tolerance Nightmares.

TOTALLY STUPID!!!!

confuzzed · Permanent State of Confusion

You can't throw a guy out of a game for not complying with the uniform (which is an offense that you can be ejected for or you are forced to forefeit the game if the team is not in compliance) when it is clear that he can not be subject to those requirements. It is a physical impossiblity. Duh.

Everyone is given the opportunity to play. I will give the kid credit. He works hard to play the game and be a part of the team. If anything he must work harder to prove to all the nay sayers that he does indeed belong there. His coach and teammates apparently feel that way.

I am sure that when there is cross gender in any sport it is the same sort of discrimination issue. There is that boy that plays field hockey, people had issues with that. Or the girl that wants to play ice hockey. Such silliness. Everyone is given an opportunity.

Jeremy Riggs · 2011 Super Bowl Champions!

Alright.

Now. AGAIN, puttng aside this guys grit & determination. I have to ask you all this question.

Should this guy be playing in a regular football league? Or should he have to play in a handicapped league?

Putting aside his own safety (because he can make that decision for himself), is this fair to the other players?

Are they going to conciously or subconciously lessen their play because they feel a certain internal guilt over the fact they're coming up against a guy with no legs?

JD The Jazz Doctor · Grand Poobah

its football. I think they'd be happy to stomp on him; much less any other opposing player. Gotta pay if you want to play.

KD7URF · Senior Member

I agree with "confuzzed" The boy must of worked harder than his peers. I give him allot of credit for what he can do. Here are my His parents must be proud of him. As a parent it think the only concern besides getting hurt, would be weather and field condition for the boy to play. but looking at the pictures he is doing super. Great Job!!

KD7 out

WebGuy · Doesn't Do Windows

Exactly JR. I felt the same way when the story about the female high school wrestler was going on. As an opponent, you are going to lose no matter what.

If you beat him, you are a jerk for picking on a guy with no legs. If you lose to him, you are a wuss for getting beat by a guy with no legs.

confuzzed · Permanent State of Confusion

They may feel that way JR. That if they give it their all, it is one of those things that are heard "well, you beat up on a guy with no legs. How hard is that?" But is their a handicap league or team? Probably not.

I had a similiar experience. One year we played in a 3 vs. 3 soccer tournament. It has been run ever year for quite some time now. Naturally, there are different age groups and competition levels. We were playing co-ed recreational, which is nice way of saying people were over 22 years of age and just playing around. Our last game of the second day was against a team that had not won a game all weekend. They were a team that was composed of players that had prosthetic legs, which normally be an issue. However, when it came to be gametime, they all removed their artifical legs and put on their crutches. This is how they played the game. It was like playing keep away from a kid. I know I flet bad, if not kind of guilty. It didn't seem fair that I was able to play and they had to struggle so bad. However, they knew this. They were making a point to the directors, organizors and sponsors of the tournament, which was simply how about having a handicap division. I understood their point, but I still felt bad for playing against a team that was not evenly matched. I felt that I had to drop my level of play in order not to embarass them. But somehow, when you do that it can't make things worse.

JD The Jazz Doctor · Grand Poobah

ITS SPORTS! THERE IS TO BE NO EMPATHY!!! YOU ARE THERE TO WIN! DESTROY YOUR OPONENT!! No QUESTIONS ASKED.

DONT MAKE ME GET ALL VINCE LOMBARDI!

Jeremy Riggs · 2011 Super Bowl Champions!

I'm glad to see some of you understand my point.

I guess I'm thinking the league is for EVERYONE, and it almost seems unfair to have to play against this guy.

I mean, what if some running back gets tackled by him. He wraps his arms around his legs and the guy runs 80 yards for a touchdown, how crappy would you wind up feeling about that?

And again, WHAT THIS GUY HAS DONE IS AMAZING. ALL THE CREDIT IN THE WORLD TO HIM. But it just makes me think about the other angles.

1maple · Chairman Of The Board

I think that the first time an opposing player comes up against him there might (and I stress Might) be a tendancy to not hit as hard.
Once they see he is out there to play as hard as everyone else I don't think they will continue to treat him any better or worse than any other player.

confuzzed · Permanent State of Confusion

JD - Don't be confused. I am a competitor. I am out to win no matter what the situation. I want victory, blood and the feeling of being a champion. But there has to be a level of empathy when facing this situation. Maybe not when kids are 10 but things change as we age. Like I said, I didn't know what to do.

It can be a no win kind of situation.

ray925 · Darth Raydar

I believe all guilt goes out the window when a kid lets his guard down and is firmly planted by #99. Also I don't care who you are if your helmet goes in my crotch all bets are off!

JD The Jazz Doctor · Grand Poobah

fuzzy, I'm not really yelling at you, darling.

I'm just playing devil's advocate!

confuzzed · Permanent State of Confusion

Now JD, I did not accuse you of yelling. I would never do that. And I know and understand your point. Play ball! You play hard and kick a$$ on the field. What happens between the lines, stays on the field.

Great, now I am all riled up and feel the need to go play ball. Thanks JD. I can't do that in the middle of a workday, let alone the middle of a rainy workday. Let's see. Who can I take this pent up sports readiness out on? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Jeremy Riggs · 2011 Super Bowl Champions!

Ok Ray,

But now REALLY dig deep. REALLY REALLY DEEP.

This is all hypothetical right now. But lets say you actually joined a football team on the weekends. A just-for-fun in the park kind of league.

Now imagine you're lined up across from this guy.

Can you HONESTLY say you'd play all out and it wouldn't affect your game?

If you can, then you're probably a better man than I am. Because I GUARANTEE that kid would WANT you to play him like he was any other player. He'd be insulted if you pulled back. But could you REALLY hit him full bore? Could you REALLY stiff arm him and knock him over?

I just think this is a fascinating situation to ponder. There is no right or wrong answer here.

JD The Jazz Doctor · Grand Poobah

I think you'd have to find out the right amount of power and technique to effectively contain him. You'd conserve your energy; once he was contained you perhaps could be a part of the tackle.

hey what position does he play anyway? wide-receiver?

JD The Jazz Doctor · Grand Poobah

apologies, that was bad....

Sparky · Phat Cat EL Presidente

The way I look at it, even if you did hit him hard, he wouldn't have as far to fall and probably wouldn't hit as hard. Again I am not making fun of his hadicap but the laws of gravity would definatley be in his favor. Unless you picked him up and tossed him....

ray925 · Darth Raydar

Ok, this kid is on the field because he can play. This isn't a rec league it's high school football. I would guess that Ohio high school football is very competitive. You might hold back for a while but when he gets the best of you I'm sure you would respond in kind. If not your coach will put someone in there that will.

CP · Lord of the Lair

I admire his spunk, but I don't think he belongs on the same team. I know I would be reluctant to hit him as hard. Having played a little football, I cannot see where he would really fit. I can hear it now, and don't get me wrong, kudos to him, the moment he gets tackled and is out for a few moments, the player that inflicted the tackle will be booed.

I see everyone's point, but in a contact sport the rules are different. We are not talking about fencing, swimming. It is a brutal sport.

1maple · Chairman Of The Board

ray925 wrote:

I believe all guilt goes out the window when a kid lets his guard down and is firmly planted by #99. Also I don't care who you are if your helmet goes in my crotch all bets are off!

I think if I caught his helmet in my crouch, as soon as I could move again, I would try to drop him like a webble and to heck with the boos.

CP · Lord of the Lair

Weebles wobble, but the don't fall down. I am going to hades for that one.

Jeremy Riggs · 2011 Super Bowl Champions!

It's one of those issues where you ask yourself "Ok, you CAN do it, but SHOULD you do it".

I appreciate everyones view, and can see it's pretty much divided downt he middle.

I was a pretty bad athlete as a kid, but if I found I could have competed fairly well in a handicapped league should I be allowed in? If not, why not?

JD The Jazz Doctor · Grand Poobah

why wouldn't they let you in riggs? *HAHAHA

Molly · The Mediator

I think, even as an opponent, you have to trust that the coach will only put a player into play that is competitive and qualified. But at the same time, can he really do all the things the other players have to do to be on the team? Can he run laps? I say if he is as qualified as any other player out there, he can play, but although he has grit and determination, I am doubtful that he is qualified enough to play competitively.

Date: Thu Oct 13 10:19 2005

I know I am late to chime in, but I am swamped- my secretary's last day was yesterday!

Anyway, I am with Riggs on this one. I am a Christian and believe in treating everyone the same, but this is not life- this is a sport. What position could he play? I just do not see it. I cannot imagine anyone truly feeling comfortable tackling him or even difficult to get away from. I just do not see how he could play. I guess I would need to see to believe. Because of my mom's paralysis, I obviously admire all he has overcome and I am glad that he feels comfortable enough to play sports, but I think it is a bad idea. Form a league for handicaps, but I do not think he has a place on a regular team.

Sparky · Phat Cat EL Presidente

So, if they were to let this guy play SOCCER, would he be penalized for using his hands? Or would they make an exception because he is handicapped. But then would that be fair to the other players?