“The quickest way to earn the respect of your teammates and coaches is to play through injuries”
This quote struck a chord in me because this is the most unbiased and truthful statement in the article, coming from someone who has done this I can tell you Hasselbeck is 100% right. When I broke my elbow in practice three days before our playoff game versus Elder I was devastated; I wasn’t rolling around in pain from my elbow, although it did physically hurt, the biggest pain of that instant to me was that I knew I broke it and that would mean I couldn’t play the next game, I couldn’t finish the season, I couldn’t play the last and most important game of my career. I remember sitting there not being able to support my left arm under its own strength begging him to let me play. He looked at me and laughed but acknowledged my perseverance. When I walked into school the next day in a cast from my finger tips to my arm pit, and a note signed by the doctor clearing me to play everyone was surprised. I was a celebrity for a few days. Students AND teachers came up to me and told me how brave I was how tough I was but most of all how much respect they had for me. My coach before the game used my arm situation to inspire kids in his pregame talk and every single varsity kid signed my cast before the game willingly as a sign of respect. The greatest moment for me out of all of this was when I made a tackle in the elder game ,because I still started, and when I went to the sideline my coach shook my hand (the one that wasn’t casted) and told me he had the utmost respect for me. To this day whenever I go to the trainer’s room or when talked about in wrestling or football people all recognize me as someone who fought through adversity and someone who might be quiet but will always try to play. They respect me.
You’re brave alright, DG, but maybe a little bit crazybrave, too!