By Sonny Jones
It was a scary scene Monday night in Cincinnati when Buffalo’s Damar Hamlin collapsed after making seemingly a routine tackle. Hamlin had a cardiac arrest and reportedly twice was revived after his heart stopped, once on the field and once either on the way to or at the hospital. He remains in critical condition.
Whether you want to offer prayers, well wishes, thoughts or whatever works for you, do so. Hamlin and his family needs it and so do doctors treating him. The advances in medical care will give him a chance to survive, but he faces a long road.
Thankfully, Monday’s game was postponed. Who wants to play after a teammate or fellow competitor collapses and has to be rushed to the hospital?
However, the game did go on in 1971 when Detroit receiver Chuck Hughes collapsed with 62 seconds remaining to play against the Chicago Bears. The teams finished after Hughes was taken from the field. He died at the hospital. An autopsy reported Hughes died from heart disease.
Monday’s game was in the first quarter. Times are different. Media coverage is different. The right call was made to postpone the game. Maybe it will be resumed, maybe not. That’s for others to decide.
Right now, it’s time to pray for Damar Hamlin.
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
• 2000 — Top-ranked Florida State, the preseason No. 1, holds off Virginia Tech 46-29 in the Sugar Bowl to finish 12-0 and win the national championship. Florida State is the first team to go wire-to-wire in The Associated Press’ poll since preseason rankings began in 1950.
POTATO PICKS TO WATCH TODAY
• SOCCER: Tottenham Hotspur at Crystal Palace, 3 p.m., USA
• HOCKEY: World Juniors – United States vs. Canada, 6:30 p.m., NHLN
• BASKETBALL: Duke at N.C. State, 7 p.m., ACCN
• NHL: New Jersey at Detroit, 7 p.m., TNT
• NBA: Milwaukee at Toronto, 7:45 p.m., ESPN
• BASKETBALL: Wake Forest at North Carolina, 9 p.m., ACCN
• NHL: Tampa Bay at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m., TNT
• NBA: Miami at L.A. Lakers, 10:05 p.m., ESPN
Sonny Jones can be reached at wibbyj@gmail.com.
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