Injuries can end careers at any moment
Injuries are the worst. They are unpredictable, unavoidable and straight up unfair. If enough players on a team get injured their season is ruined. An injury can alter some athletes’ careers. Bulls fans will always wonder what could have been had Derrick Rose stayed healthy. Robert Griffin III looked ready to take the NFL by storm before he rushed back from his ACL tear. Bo Jackson might be the greatest athlete to ever live (seriously) and instead, he’s now talked about in almost a mythical way after his career was cut short. Injuries are the worst thing about sports, besides of course the referees. ‘Tis the Halloween season, so let’s take a look at the most gruesome injuries of all time. A simple internet search can lead you to see these injuries with your own eye but be warned, they are not for the faint of heart.
Kevin Ware
This injury was the talk of sports when it happened. Top-ranked Louisville was playing the Duke Blue Devils in the elite eight back in 2013. There were around six minutes left in the first half when Louisville’s Kevin Ware went up to block the shot of Duke’s Tyler Thornton. Ware went flying by Thornton, and landed awkwardly and got his right leg twisted underneath his body. A bone in Ware’s leg could actually be seen sticking out of his leg. The game stopped for several minutes. “I look down and I see my bone sticking out. It wasn’t a hurt feeling. I just went into shock. At the moment, you don’t know what’s wrong with you. You’re just looking, thinking, How did this happen?” Ware said later. Ware had a two-hour procedure to fix his broken leg. Inspired by Ware, Louisville went on to win the game on the National Championship that year. Kevin Ware did indeed fully recover, and even played college basketball again, this time at Georgia State.
Joe Theismann
If you’ve seen ‘The Blindside’ you know all about Joe Theismann. Theismann’s injury is the reason the left tackle is one of the most important parts of a football team. The Washington Redskins were playing against the New York Giants on Monday night back in 1985. The Redskins had the ball at around midfield and decided to run a flea-flicker. After Theismann got the ball tossed back to him, he didn’t have much time before he was surrounded by defenders. Lawrence Taylor, perhaps the greatest defensive player in the history of football, was the one to bring Theismann down. Taylor jumped on Theismann’s back, but Theismann’s right leg got caught beneath Taylor’s body. His leg snapped like a twig, instantly ending his career. Theismann would go on to recover, but playing football again was not in the question.
Anderson Silva
Oof, this one is tough to watch. It was December 2013 when Anderson Silva was squared off against Chris Weidman. The 38-year-old Silva had his sight set on capturing UFC middleweight title. It was early in the second round when Silva went for a kick on Weidman with his left leg. Silva’s kick was deflected, and his leg turned into jelly. Silva collapsed in a heap when he tried to put weight on his leg. The fight was over, but at the moment that’s not what mattered. Silva had snapped his fibula and tibia, basically separating his lower leg from his body. Luckily, Silva did make a recovery. Today, at the ripe old age of 44, Silva continues to fight.