IT'S TIME FOR IMPROVED HELMETS

Hardly a week goes by that one or more of the
NFL players suffers a concussion. Yes, pro
football is a violent sport, not for sissies, and
hard hits and collisions are the norm, as well
as injuries of various natures, but the blows
to the head are too many.
Some of the head injuries are as a result of
tackles and head-to-head encounters, while
some are the result of hitting the ground
hard, but nevertheless, there ought to be
a better way to keep from threatening the
playing careers and lives of the players.
THIS IS A CALL TO THE LEAGUE TO SET
THE EXAMPLE FOR FOOTBALL AT ALL
LEVELS TO IMPROVE HEAD PROTECTION!!
Once the pros take the lead, college and
high school commissions on down will
follow by requiring safer equipment to
protect the heads of all players.
THIS IS A CALL TO HELMET MANUFACTURERS
TO WORK HARDER, OVERTIME, OVERNIGHT,
WEEKENDS, HOWEVER THEY CAN, TO COME
UP WITH A BETTER, SAFER DESIGN FOR
THE PROTECTION OF THE PLAYERS.
More foam? More air-bubble packs? More
thickness to the helmet? A padding on the
outside of the headpiece to help cushion the
blows or falls? Something. Anything!
The health and life of each player is valuable
and important, we dare not "play games"
with them. Let's step up, commissioners,
leagues, owners, coaches, players unions,
players and parents, doctors and trainers,
AND INSIST ON BETTER HEADGEAR NOW!!
How many more men and teenagers have
to suffer before we do something significant?
Hopefully none, if we move on this issue NOW!

About That 17-Year Losing Streak

What a feat!? The local "professional" baseball team
has managed a record - seventeen consecutive losing
seasons. A dubious honor, no doubt, but one that
causes a fan and scribe to ask, "Does anyone really
care?" Do you? Does the city of Pittsburgh? Does
the management? Does the owner?
Recent press reports stated that Pirates' owner,
Mr. Bob Nutting is fully supportive of his team's
management staff. While decrying the sending
of quality players to other major league teams in
recent years, his assertion is that the organization
is "building for the future" by securing players
with a lot of potential. Huh? Potential for what?
Potential to bring in more gate receipts?
Potential to bring a higher trade or buyout value?
Potential to help the team to continue its futile
efforts?
Whose "potential"? It appears obvious that owning
a big-league team is financially profitable. Whether
that squad finishes "over .500" or not does not
seem to matter, as long as the fans, the city, the
advertisers, and the investors are content. Huh?
Ghosts of Clemente, Kiner, Face, Stargell and
company, why can't or don't the paying public
have a team that they can be excited about?
What is the plan for improvement? Nutting.
What are the reasons for "dumping" players that
were performing and exciting fans? Nutting.
How many farm team prospects appear to be
almost ready for "the Bigs" move? Nutting.
What are the chances that we'll soon see a
Pirates team worth fielding? Nutting.
What price should Mark Cuban pay for an
organization that doesn't seem to care? Nutting.
BOYCOTT? PROTEST? PICKET?
CHANGE ALLEGIANCES TO ANOTHER TEAM?
Maybe since we are a "small market" city we
should lower the classification of the Pirates to a
AA or AAA level?
Maybe the Pirates should be moved to a city that
is better equipped to support them?
We back our Steelers and Penguins when they're
not doing as well as we think they should, but they
haven't gone an "eternity" without at least showing
signs of potential and making watching them a
delight.
WHY CAN'T OR WON'T WE HAVE A WINNING
PIRATES BASEBALL TEAM?
P.S. - My sympathy for the announcers who have to
feign interest and excitement year after year, and who
also have to try to make losing efforts sound as if
their team is in the World Series every game. SIGH!

What's "Excessive" About Celebrations?

This treatise is intended to be read and mulled
over by coaches, athletic commissions, and fans
of all levels of sports participation. I particularly
address this issue to the state high school entities,
the NCAA, and all professional sports governing
bodies.
WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION
"WHAT IS EXCESSIVE CELEBRATIONS AND
HOW DO WE ALLOW ATHLETES TO PROPERLY
ENJOY SUCCESSES?"
Formed in the image of God, human beings are
multi-plex, in that in addition to our minds, wills,
and bodies, we have this thing called EMOTIONS.
Emotions, if you will, are those feelings of despair
or sadness when we fail to achieve certain goals
or successes, and exhilaration or joy when we
reach particular deeds or levels of achievement.
Athletes of all levels strive to do their best, and
sometimes succeed to their amazement and ours,
but the crux of the issue is that completing an
especially good play on offense or hindering or
stopping an opponent from reaching their intended
progress mark or goal is worth feeling happiness
about, and expressing that emotion is important
to the continued efforts of those athletes.
Sane, sensible, intelligent deliberations and
guidelines need to be established in each of these
victorious occurrences, enabling the proper moments
of celebration to take place.
Not only is the participant important in these
considerations, but the fans of both the individual
athlete and his or her team want and need to share
and express their exuberance at the moments of each
success or accomplishment!
What is "acceptable"?
What is "excessive"?
Perhaps we need to include and involve professionals
of the psych fields in our discussions and decisions -
after all this what they are trained for and what they
know best.
My unprofessional opinion, having been an athlete,
coach, and official as well as a sports fan and reporter,
is that the individual warrior and the entire team
needs to be allowed due consideration to celebrate
successes. LET THE GIRLS BE GIRLS, AND LET
THE BOYS BE BOYS, no matter what their ages!!
As long as the players don't endanger their physical
health or that of others, whether teammates or
opponents, LET THEM CELEBRATE!!
Put a 30-second time limit on celebrations if you must.
Disallow all "taunting" of the vanquished opponent.
Inform all concerned, whether advertisers, television
networks, producers, athletic directors, governing
boards, or whoever, of the "move to emote" rule.
There will be plenty of additional celebrating on the
sidelines, on the benches, in the stands, in the locker-
rooms, in the media interviews, and elsewhere.
IN THE MEANTIME, ALLOW PLAYERS, AND
FANS (whether in attendance or watching on TV)
to ENJOY THE MOMENT!! Make proper provision
for proper celebrating at all levels and in all fields
of athletic endeavor.
"GAME ON!"