Face to Face With Death
In a previous blog entry, I wrote about how coaches and athletes are not immortal. Truly, I never really believed anything could actually happen to me. I had my blood pressure checked yesterday, and it was 113/68 Very good for me. My weight is down almost 50 lbs...my blood work is normal, my heart is good, and I still have all my hair. Maybe I am not as ugly as I think I am. Things were looking pretty decent (for a change) until I decided to take a short ride on my motorcycle last night. I had a quick review of my life flash before my eyes.
Map of Area...Not to scale obviously
Its was getting late into the evening, but I had left my phone charger cord in my office...so I decided to get on my bike and take a little ride and retrieve it. I had on a pair of coaching shorts, a tee shirt, and a pair of Nike's without socks. I did strap on my helmet however....mostly because it looks cool when I ride....it had nothing to do with my idea of safety at all. Afterall, I am invincible....
I hit the starter button on my hand-built bike and the engine immediately came to life. I loved the way my engine sounded as I headed up the road to meet my destiny. My bike sits very low...I feel like Jesse James with the high handlebars and low seating height. I stopped at the corner of Riviera and Roseland Road then made a right hand turn heading South. I cracked the throttle and the engine came to life...I accelerated through first gear, popped second gear and continued to accelerate toward the light on the corner of Roseland Road and 512. Everything was clear, and nothing unusual about it....or so I thought.
I remember staring down the car heading in the opposite direction from me....why I don't know. Suddenly, this car decides to turn directly in front of me into his driveway. I was about 10 yards away going about 35-40 MPH I would estimate. I was staring down the side of his SUV ...I remember seeing his woman screaming (illuminated by my headlight) as I bore down on them. I tromped down on my rear brake pedal hard. I pulled my front brake lever just as hard, and the bike started to throw me over the handlebars. The rear end started to skid as if she was wanting to lay down on me... I released the front brake lever and put down my leg in an attempt to push off the asphalt and try to right the bike. I felt my knee bend backwards and inward as I tried to support the weight of the bike going 35 mph. Why, I don't know...I just did it. it was nothing I planned. I do remember thinking: "There goes my ACL" ...Stupid right?
I am sure the whole episode took mere seconds...but to me it seemed like it lasted forever and everything was moving in slow motion. People say before you die, your life will pass before your eyes...I can tell you it is true...everything slows to a crawl.
For some reason, the bike righted itself before the collision, and it suddenly took off across traffic..Somehow, someway, I threaded two cars coming in the opposite direction...if one of the cars hit me I would have been dead instantly. They would have hit me broadside and crushed me. My bike hit the ditch in front of the trees...and I went over the handlebars. Now, here is where it gets weird. I clearly remember thinking: "So, this is how I am going to die!"...as i was flying through the air. I could see the ground rapidly approaching....I dipped my shoulder and tucked my head. My right shoulder took the brunt of the fall and I landed in the ditch against the treeline. I sort of rolled onto my back and ended up against a tree. That was it I thought....death wasn't so bad. I opened my eyes and realized that I was still alive. My first thoughts were: "GET UP NOW"
I attempted to stand up...but my foot was pointing in a weird direction opposite of my leg. I knew the knee was dislocated...I have seen this many times on the football field. I braced myself against the tree and twisted my body toward the direction my foot was facing. I felt the knee go back into gear...it actually felt better...but I knew the injury was significant. I thought one of the people who stopped to help me was going to throw up...it was pretty gross. But, at least I was alive.
The guy (and his woman) came running across the street to see If I was OK. He said: "I am so sorry, I just did not see you" "Why were you riding without lights?" I attempted to make a move toward him, but my leg was having none of that...I let out a barrage of F-Bombs and "Stupid SOB" and so forth. By then, a group of bikers had stopped to help me...then a group of then started yelling at the guy. I started walking on my leg and made it to my bike.
After we cleaned up the mess, I eventually rode the bike home and parked it. It was a long night of pain and swelling. Today I went to the surgeon and found out I probably have a torn ACL and MCL. The swelling was too bad to do the MRI today...so they treated me, and put me in a immobilizing knee brace. MRI on Friday afternoon at 1 PM. At least I am alive...I wont be riding anymore.
PS. Special thanks to my friends for rallying around me today. Jeff Kagan (A former player's father) bought me over an awesome knee brace used by college linemen. Jeff has always been a great supporter. Thanks JEFF. Also, I started out with no crutches...but now I have a two pairs. I also have an additional knee brace. The football community is pretty tight.
I hit the starter button on my hand-built bike and the engine immediately came to life. I loved the way my engine sounded as I headed up the road to meet my destiny. My bike sits very low...I feel like Jesse James with the high handlebars and low seating height. I stopped at the corner of Riviera and Roseland Road then made a right hand turn heading South. I cracked the throttle and the engine came to life...I accelerated through first gear, popped second gear and continued to accelerate toward the light on the corner of Roseland Road and 512. Everything was clear, and nothing unusual about it....or so I thought.
I remember staring down the car heading in the opposite direction from me....why I don't know. Suddenly, this car decides to turn directly in front of me into his driveway. I was about 10 yards away going about 35-40 MPH I would estimate. I was staring down the side of his SUV ...I remember seeing his woman screaming (illuminated by my headlight) as I bore down on them. I tromped down on my rear brake pedal hard. I pulled my front brake lever just as hard, and the bike started to throw me over the handlebars. The rear end started to skid as if she was wanting to lay down on me... I released the front brake lever and put down my leg in an attempt to push off the asphalt and try to right the bike. I felt my knee bend backwards and inward as I tried to support the weight of the bike going 35 mph. Why, I don't know...I just did it. it was nothing I planned. I do remember thinking: "There goes my ACL" ...Stupid right?
I am sure the whole episode took mere seconds...but to me it seemed like it lasted forever and everything was moving in slow motion. People say before you die, your life will pass before your eyes...I can tell you it is true...everything slows to a crawl.
For some reason, the bike righted itself before the collision, and it suddenly took off across traffic..Somehow, someway, I threaded two cars coming in the opposite direction...if one of the cars hit me I would have been dead instantly. They would have hit me broadside and crushed me. My bike hit the ditch in front of the trees...and I went over the handlebars. Now, here is where it gets weird. I clearly remember thinking: "So, this is how I am going to die!"...as i was flying through the air. I could see the ground rapidly approaching....I dipped my shoulder and tucked my head. My right shoulder took the brunt of the fall and I landed in the ditch against the treeline. I sort of rolled onto my back and ended up against a tree. That was it I thought....death wasn't so bad. I opened my eyes and realized that I was still alive. My first thoughts were: "GET UP NOW"
I attempted to stand up...but my foot was pointing in a weird direction opposite of my leg. I knew the knee was dislocated...I have seen this many times on the football field. I braced myself against the tree and twisted my body toward the direction my foot was facing. I felt the knee go back into gear...it actually felt better...but I knew the injury was significant. I thought one of the people who stopped to help me was going to throw up...it was pretty gross. But, at least I was alive.
The guy (and his woman) came running across the street to see If I was OK. He said: "I am so sorry, I just did not see you" "Why were you riding without lights?" I attempted to make a move toward him, but my leg was having none of that...I let out a barrage of F-Bombs and "Stupid SOB" and so forth. By then, a group of bikers had stopped to help me...then a group of then started yelling at the guy. I started walking on my leg and made it to my bike.
After we cleaned up the mess, I eventually rode the bike home and parked it. It was a long night of pain and swelling. Today I went to the surgeon and found out I probably have a torn ACL and MCL. The swelling was too bad to do the MRI today...so they treated me, and put me in a immobilizing knee brace. MRI on Friday afternoon at 1 PM. At least I am alive...I wont be riding anymore.
PS. Special thanks to my friends for rallying around me today. Jeff Kagan (A former player's father) bought me over an awesome knee brace used by college linemen. Jeff has always been a great supporter. Thanks JEFF. Also, I started out with no crutches...but now I have a two pairs. I also have an additional knee brace. The football community is pretty tight.
No much to say about football today. However, It was very important to me that the kids actually see me make my way to the football field while injured. I wanted them to see the brace, and see me in pain. Afterall, how can we (as coaches) ask the kids to fight off injuries and return to the field if we are not willing to do it our self? I take this very seriously. I would never ask a player to do something I could not do, would not do, or haven't done myself.
Home Game on Friday. I WILL BE at practice tomorrow.
Be safe and coaches don't miss practice.
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