“History? What do I care about history. I AM history!” — Dan Buerge, channeling Wayne Fontes just before he was fired by the Detroit Lions
I got a phone call this morning from an old friend, Jon Gambee. He was outraged by TV broadcast color man Troy Aikman, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, who said, “This is unprecedented!” in response to the horror of the serious injury to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin on Monday night football.
For those who didn’t see the game or just didn’t know, Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on the field during a routine tackle and required cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. As of this morning, he remains in a hospital in critical condition.
But the terrible event was not unprecedented.
Gambee angrily commented, “I’ve got two words — Chuck Hughes.”
Indeed, something just like this happened 51 years ago. I remember it well.
It was on a Sunday afternoon on Oct. 24, 1971, when the Detroit Lions were trailing the Chicago Bears late in the fourth quarter. The Lions were faced with fourth down and sorely needed a touchdown.
But the game was stopped because there was a man down, face first. Of all people, it was the Bears’ Dick Butkus who frantically motioned Lions emergency personnel to come to wide receiver Chuck Hughes’ aid.
Medical personnel feverishly worked on Hughes and it was erroneously reported by a broadcaster that he had swallowed his tongue. It seemed like the game was stopped for an eternity, even requiring commercial breaks, before Hughes was transported hurriedly off the field.
I personally watched Hughes’ arm put back on his chest and saw it flop back down on the side of the cart. That’s when I started to be believe he was no longer alive.
About and hour later we all were told he had died in the hospital, but research showed he had a massive heart attack on the field and his death came not long afterward, in fact before he left the field.
Interestingly, the game was not suspended. Lions QB Greg Landry threw an incomplete pass into the end zone and Detroit lost 28-23.
Landry later admitted that it just didn’t seem all that important to win the game while a teammate may be dying.
Fast forward to Monday night in a game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, during which Hamlin got up after making a tackle and then keeling over. It was said that old film footage showed Hughes was trotting back to the huddle after a third down play and suddenly clutched his chest and fell face first onto the turf.
But Hughes was only 29 years old and Hamlin is 24.
What didn’t set well with Gambee and me was the notion that this was unprecedented. TV football broadcast personnel should know their history a little better than that. It was almost as if Aikman was just phoning it in to his job.
Frankly, Aikman is no worse than most of the bozos doing the play-by-play and color commentary for football games. They too often do not illuminate us poor unwashed masses of consumers and even worse stick us with insufferable interviews with players and coaches during and immediately after the heat of battle. In the end, we learn virtually nothing from these warriors and mentors.
To be clear, I join with all other fans, players and coaches in wishing the best for Damar Hamlin.
