We see sadistic headlines fronting newspapers every morning, we hear of corruption everyday as we turn on the news, this harsh reality is nothing new to viewers- we've been trained to numb the emotions the world curveball's us. Often times, we use sport as a way to escape our bleak reality, looking to rectify the heart-tugging headlines. But often, in hopes of rallying behind a team in search of happiness, we neglect to realize that sports are not institutions immune from reality. Sure, we see plenty of headlines regaling Mr. October, and the winner of this game or that, but all too often our sports heroes do something to shock us, and humanity as a whole.
Terrifying tales of NFL hero's turned villains are a story too frequently revived. From OJ's infamous isotoners, to the damming elevator footage of Ray Rice knocking out his girlfriend. Especially in recent news, NFL Public Relations teams have been working overtime trying to fix each scandal before the next one erupts.
Society holds public figures to extremely high expectations. Creating the ideal that public figures are perfect, untouchable, untarnished--super humans, ultimately setting them up for failure when the athlete makes, eventually, an inevitable human flaw.
But alas, there is always a silver lining if you look a little deeper. As a journalist, I think the media tends to prey on the drama the public figures of the NFL bring. I get it, the public feeds off of drama and corruption because it creates stories and conversations and often promotes revolution or change. However, there are plenty of stories where athletes go above and beyond their role on the team. There are athletes who give millions of dollars to charities, or to help promote something they believe in.
Then there are those athletes who, unbeknownst to many, are actually human. And like most humans, they are sometimes smacked in the face by life herself.
Just like Bengals defensive tackle, Devon Still. Recently cut from the Bengals due to injury, Still got the shock of a lifetime when he heard the words every parent fears the most, "your child has cancer".
His daughter, 4-year-old Leah, was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma. A devastating diagnosis, leaving Still unable to express to his child that she had a 50-50 chance of survival.
Then, the Bengals did something unexpected.
They hired Still back for practice team. This is absolutely the single most amazing thing the organization could have done for Still and his family, because this meant Leah would have the teams health insurance to cover the amounting medical bills that cancer unfortunately brings.
Even more? The Bengals are donating 100 percent of the proceeds from Still's #75 jersey to Pediatric Cancer research, and to date, these jerseys have raised more than $1 million dollars. In in the Patriots/Bengals game last week, Patriot cheerleaders did a little bit more than cheer up the crowd. They unzipped their jackets, not to reveal sparkly new bra-lets, but instead- every cheerleader was wearing that number 75 jersey.
The thing that really gets me, is that it's not just the Bengals who've been participating in the welfare of Still's family; it's the entire NFL organization as a whole. The Texans have sent Leach 'Frozen' packages while she was in the hospital, there have been tweets from multiple team all baring the hashtag, #LeahStrong, so many people and teams have shown their respects for this tiny fighter. It's the simple fact that teams from all over the country came together to support someone, despite rivalries.
It's stories like this that should take precedent over spousal abuse or child neglect. I'm not saying those stories need to be swept under the rug or brushed off, I think they're very serious issues that need to be addressed in a court room and not by NFL rules or commissioners. Stories of hope shouldn't be the exception- they should be the lead.
Cancer is an un-necessary evil, and I want my children to grown up in a world where cancer, especially pediatric cancer, is only discussed in textbooks and not in a doctors office. So donate here, to help kids like Leah, fight the battle.
Devon Still's Story is truly incredible- #LeahStrong
For The Kids, always.
Society holds public figures to extremely high expectations. Creating the ideal that public figures are perfect, untouchable, untarnished--super humans, ultimately setting them up for failure when the athlete makes, eventually, an inevitable human flaw.
But alas, there is always a silver lining if you look a little deeper. As a journalist, I think the media tends to prey on the drama the public figures of the NFL bring. I get it, the public feeds off of drama and corruption because it creates stories and conversations and often promotes revolution or change. However, there are plenty of stories where athletes go above and beyond their role on the team. There are athletes who give millions of dollars to charities, or to help promote something they believe in.
Then there are those athletes who, unbeknownst to many, are actually human. And like most humans, they are sometimes smacked in the face by life herself.
Just like Bengals defensive tackle, Devon Still. Recently cut from the Bengals due to injury, Still got the shock of a lifetime when he heard the words every parent fears the most, "your child has cancer".
His daughter, 4-year-old Leah, was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma. A devastating diagnosis, leaving Still unable to express to his child that she had a 50-50 chance of survival.
Then, the Bengals did something unexpected.
They hired Still back for practice team. This is absolutely the single most amazing thing the organization could have done for Still and his family, because this meant Leah would have the teams health insurance to cover the amounting medical bills that cancer unfortunately brings.
Even more? The Bengals are donating 100 percent of the proceeds from Still's #75 jersey to Pediatric Cancer research, and to date, these jerseys have raised more than $1 million dollars. In in the Patriots/Bengals game last week, Patriot cheerleaders did a little bit more than cheer up the crowd. They unzipped their jackets, not to reveal sparkly new bra-lets, but instead- every cheerleader was wearing that number 75 jersey.
The thing that really gets me, is that it's not just the Bengals who've been participating in the welfare of Still's family; it's the entire NFL organization as a whole. The Texans have sent Leach 'Frozen' packages while she was in the hospital, there have been tweets from multiple team all baring the hashtag, #LeahStrong, so many people and teams have shown their respects for this tiny fighter. It's the simple fact that teams from all over the country came together to support someone, despite rivalries.
It's stories like this that should take precedent over spousal abuse or child neglect. I'm not saying those stories need to be swept under the rug or brushed off, I think they're very serious issues that need to be addressed in a court room and not by NFL rules or commissioners. Stories of hope shouldn't be the exception- they should be the lead.
Cancer is an un-necessary evil, and I want my children to grown up in a world where cancer, especially pediatric cancer, is only discussed in textbooks and not in a doctors office. So donate here, to help kids like Leah, fight the battle.
Devon Still's Story is truly incredible- #LeahStrong
For The Kids, always.
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