In
the last couple of weeks, there have been two significant deaths in the world
of sports. First, 25-year-old Australian
cricketer Phillip Hughes was killed when a ball struck him behind the ear where
his helmet did not protect. Second,
famed Montreal Canadien hockey player Jean Beliveau died after a long and
impactful life at the age of 83. Mr.
Hughes’ death and M. Beliveau’s life have raised questions about modern sports
and the athletes that play them.
Phillip
Hughes was a rising star in the world of cricket, scoring 198 in his very first
test match when Australia played Sri Lanka.
He was setting records and turning heads as a potential superstar in the
field of cricket. Mr. Hughes was batting
in a match against a rival team in Australia when a bowler’s bouncer struck
just below the ear. He was placed in a
medically induced coma before finally losing his life. It has engendered a discussion on the safety
of sports. The sport most analogous to
cricket in the U.S., baseball, is going through a similar soul-searching
phase. The question is whether such a
campaign necessary?
When
you consider the benefit of sport, many will bring up the challenge it poses
for its athletes, the spirit of competition, the development or revelation of
character and teaching the importance of endurance. The possibility of injury also teaches the
importance of preparation and playing the game correctly. So, to what extent should we make the game
safe? Certainly, there should be some
efforts to prevent obvious possible injuries.
However, sports cannot be made safe-proof. Whether talking about cricket, football,
hockey or whatever, we can do many things but if the changes alter the nature
of the sport, I’m not sure I’m in favor of it.
We cannot regulate against the rare, freak injuries. While the world mourns the death of Phillip
Hughes, cricket associations should not over-react to something that has
happened twice in a hundred years.
On
another issue, there is a concern on the kind of athlete we are creating. Jean Beliveau began his career with the
Montreal Canadiens in 1950 and retired from the team and hockey in 1971. Not only was he a prolific player, earning
Hall of Fame honors in 1972 and having his name adorning the Stanley Cup 17
times, he is known equally and to many, more so, as a great human being. At the end of his career, he set up a
foundation that later morphed into the Society for Disabled Children, working
his entire life for the betterment of such children. He rejected two Canadian prime ministers who
offered him prestigious government positions to be with his family and saying
such positions should be elected, not appointed. He was made a knight of the National Order of
Quebec and has been awarded several honorary doctorates. He spent his life in service to others.
What
type of athletes do we create today? We
are creating single-minded individuals who are taught that their way through
this world is athletics – indeed, they are taught it is what makes them
special. So, there efforts go to that
and nothing else – they are willing to do anything to strive and succeed to
win. However, in doing whatever it takes
to win, some athletes not only misunderstand what it means to participate in sports but
they misunderstand the value of winning.
One certainly would be hard-pressed to find the like of Jean
Beliveau. In short, most of today’s
athletes are not impressive partly because we don’t expect them to be anything
else.
Over
the last few weeks, two deaths have taught two lessons. One is how fleeting life is and the
importance of embracing what we have and the experiences we seek. Mr. Hughes’ death does not speak to sports
and its dangers, it speaks to the frailty of life. Mr. Beliveau’s passing speaks to the
potential of a man committed and compassionate.
Sports can teach what it means to live a full life and to live a
purposeful life. Both of these men were
widely followed and adored by their respective countries. Let’s hope their deaths prove as meaningful and
impactful as their lives.
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