Finally a "Good Samaritan"

ESPN's Andy Katz broke a story today about Pittsburg's basketball coach, Jamie Dixon, helping people out after their car crashed on the highway saturday night. A car had flipped over and the passengers were trapped inside. Dixon pulled over and helped the passengers reach safety, injuring his hands in the process. The state trooper on the scene called Dixon a "good samaritan".

Courtesy of Google Images

To me this is an awesome story. With all the negative press surrounding pro athletes regarding their stupid decisions, with all the negative press around coaches cheating (Bruce Pearl, Jim Calhoun), and with all the press about agents illegally talking to collegiate athletes, it is refreshing to hear a story about a public sports figure doing it the right way. Dixon has been a successful coach since he has come to Pittsburg, always putting the Panthers in contention for a Big East title, this year being no different, and it is awesome to see him displaying good character also. Dixon could have easily drove by the scene like everyone else, but he took the time out of his surely busy day to help some people in need. This is the kind of example that needs to be set by more athletes and coaches. Their ability to influence others is so great that if they set a positive example many people will learn from them. However, if they set a poor example people will still be watching. Athletes and Coaches have a lot of responsibility whether they like it or not, and it is awesome to finally see one of them doing the right thing. 

What's Next? Two-Hand Touch?

According to ESPN, the NFL will now be suspending players for "devastating hits" and "head shots". This new rule comes in response to some truly terrible hits over the weekend. It is awful to see people get nailed in the head during a game. It is terrible when players miss games due to concussion, and may end up sustaining brain damage, and it is the absolute worst when a player is paralyzed from a hit in a football game. However, to begin suspending people for tackling someone too hard is dangerous for the NFL. This will result in players slowing up, which is potentially more dangerous than hitting hard in the first place. It will also greatly reduce the quality of play. Getting hit is part of the game of football and if players are not allowed to hit, it gives even more advantage to the already favored offenses in the NFL. Receivers will be free to run over the middle, running backs will no longer fear the hard-hitting linebackers. Most players in the NFL are not intentionally trying to hurt themselves and others. The sad fact is that when you play a game where you run full force into other human beings, sometimes people are going to get hurt. To suspend players for hits that are most likely accidental is turning the NFL into something it should not be. What's Next? Two-Hand Touch?