By Sylvester “Nunnie” Robinson
In America today with the proliferation of gun violence, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to write about sports. The Mississippi governor shamelessly participated in an ad parodying a Clint Eastwood movie celebrating and promoting gun violence, and a young lady playing hide and seek in her yard was shot in the head with a 22 pistol by an angry neighbor. America has lost its moral compass if it ever had one. Disrespect, distrust, fear, and hatred for anyone different in all manner of life rule the day. Pardon me for digressing.
When Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins quarterback, was brutally slammed to the ground in a game last season that placed him in concussion protocol, eventually ending his season, and seeing the replay over and over, my immediate reaction was that that kind of tackle against a defenseless player should be banned and outlawed. As tough a call as it may be, once the quarterback is in the grasp of a defensive player, even with only a scant possibility of escaping, the referee should immediately blow the whistle, ending the play. The referee should be given the authority and discretion to make that judgment, especially if the league is truly interested in protecting high profile players like Tua and all quarterbacks in unprotected, vulnerable positions. I’ve seen insanely strong players grab and hold quarterbacks, running backs and receivers up in air instead of slamming them to the surface, thus avoiding an untimely penalty or serious injury. Regrettably, I don’t think the concept has ever been discussed or considered. It would have spared Tua the indignity of being slammed to the ground head first like a rag doll.
As serious as concussions are, l must digress. Seeing the young man choked to death on the NY subway train brings it full circle.
We’ll talk!
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