While I understand why sports officials need to strengthen the rules on player safety in games, there is very little proof that these professional sports actually cause death (which is what you ultimately want to avoid).
First, let's start with the National Basketball Association, in the 65 years that the NBA has been around, there has never been a death related to a game play/injury. But that is pretty much expected and because of that, there has not been too much publicity about special precautions that are being taken by the NBA.
Unlike in basketball, in baseball, there have been a few players killed in the game. Ray Chapman was killed as a result of getting hit by a pitch thrown by Carl Mays on August 16, 1920. Like most players at the time, Chapman was not wearing a helmet when he went up to the plate to bat so as a result of this tragic accident, players now wear helmets when ever coming up to bat. Only four years ago, Mike Coolbaugh, Tulsa Drillers first base coach, was killed by a hit ball striking his neck and impacting his vertebral artery. As a result of this accident, base coaches are now instructed to wear helmets when standing in their boxes. Alfredo Edmead was playing right field for a triple-A affiliate of the Pirates in 1975, when he and the second baseman collided in an effort to catch a short pop-up. In doing so, the second baseman’s knee hit Edmead's head causing massive brain injuries which later resulted in death. These three deaths are the only game related baseball deaths in the 100+ years. And in an effort to eliminate injuries, rules have been made (players and coaches on field must be wearing a helmet) as a result of two of these deaths.
Chuck Hughes of the Detroit Lions was running back in for the huddle when he collapsed on the field due to a severe heart attack in 1971. To this day, Hughes is the only NFL player to die while on the field for a game. The only other person who might be considered for this list would be Korey Stringer who played for the Minnesota Vickings. He died of a heat stroke during a team practice. But as a result of this, the NFL has new regulations on heat stroke prevention (excess available water supply, shade, light colored uniforms, doctors at practice, etc.) and it also brought about questions on the topic of player weight; Stringer was 335 pounds when he died. The NFL started questioning whether or not they should continue to urge players to "bulk up" in order to play.
So as you can see, deaths related to sports do occur; but not regularly and they are always reciprocated by new rules and regulations. The NFL is making such a big deal about the new tackling rules but as you can see there are no deaths related to the issue (however, I do understand that serious injuries can be sustained by brutal tackles). Are sports really as dangerous as people make them out to be? In my opinion, no. I appreciate and appalled the safety measures that these authorities are taking but I do not feel as though people need to worry and claim that professional sports are extremely violent and can cause death.
http://www.slide.com/r/J3gzFUw86D9h1MHwfJDJLV6YLBj7j9D4?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original
First, let's start with the National Basketball Association, in the 65 years that the NBA has been around, there has never been a death related to a game play/injury. But that is pretty much expected and because of that, there has not been too much publicity about special precautions that are being taken by the NBA.
Unlike in basketball, in baseball, there have been a few players killed in the game. Ray Chapman was killed as a result of getting hit by a pitch thrown by Carl Mays on August 16, 1920. Like most players at the time, Chapman was not wearing a helmet when he went up to the plate to bat so as a result of this tragic accident, players now wear helmets when ever coming up to bat. Only four years ago, Mike Coolbaugh, Tulsa Drillers first base coach, was killed by a hit ball striking his neck and impacting his vertebral artery. As a result of this accident, base coaches are now instructed to wear helmets when standing in their boxes. Alfredo Edmead was playing right field for a triple-A affiliate of the Pirates in 1975, when he and the second baseman collided in an effort to catch a short pop-up. In doing so, the second baseman’s knee hit Edmead's head causing massive brain injuries which later resulted in death. These three deaths are the only game related baseball deaths in the 100+ years. And in an effort to eliminate injuries, rules have been made (players and coaches on field must be wearing a helmet) as a result of two of these deaths.
Chuck Hughes of the Detroit Lions was running back in for the huddle when he collapsed on the field due to a severe heart attack in 1971. To this day, Hughes is the only NFL player to die while on the field for a game. The only other person who might be considered for this list would be Korey Stringer who played for the Minnesota Vickings. He died of a heat stroke during a team practice. But as a result of this, the NFL has new regulations on heat stroke prevention (excess available water supply, shade, light colored uniforms, doctors at practice, etc.) and it also brought about questions on the topic of player weight; Stringer was 335 pounds when he died. The NFL started questioning whether or not they should continue to urge players to "bulk up" in order to play.
So as you can see, deaths related to sports do occur; but not regularly and they are always reciprocated by new rules and regulations. The NFL is making such a big deal about the new tackling rules but as you can see there are no deaths related to the issue (however, I do understand that serious injuries can be sustained by brutal tackles). Are sports really as dangerous as people make them out to be? In my opinion, no. I appreciate and appalled the safety measures that these authorities are taking but I do not feel as though people need to worry and claim that professional sports are extremely violent and can cause death.
http://www.slide.com/r/J3gzFUw86D9h1MHwfJDJLV6YLBj7j9D4?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original
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