Cleveland Browns Punter Andy Lee had 8 days with his daughter and it changed his life. Meanwhile, the NFL continues to mettle with its fluid version of the “integrity of the league” in this edition of the Friday Sports Dump.
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To say the NFL had a bad season last year would be an understatement. The NFL bathed in controversy last year and it seems this season is no different. The league started off the year with Deflate-Gate (which has still yet to be resolved over 6 months later), went slopping in the dirt with Ray McDonald last month and now, the worst run professional league is starting to alienate its stars.
Last weekend Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo announced the NFL canceled his fantasy football event in Las Vegas.
The NFL has a longstanding rule that prohibits its employees from participating in promotional events or advertising for casinos, yet in 2012 the NFL said the league “will allow teams to accept advertisements for casinos and other state-licensed gambling-related establishments during the next two seasons.” Just a few weeks ago, the Detroit Lions and MGM Grand signed a 10-year sponsorship deal.
“It’s a disappointing week or so because we thought we put something together that was a great opportunity for fans to meet up with the players of the National Football League. Obviously the NFL didn’t feel that way,” Romo said. “We thought we were in the right and we took some steps to ensure the convention would be a resounding success and in the process we didn’t realize the NFL had trouble with the venue and some other things that they eventually came up with. When we looked at it, they had plenty of opportunity back in March and April to do these same things.
“We’re just disappointed for a lot of the fans and people who got tickets, got hotels booked and had their hard-earned money used for this event.”
Romo’s convention wasn’t the only player-included event. The Fantasy Sports Combine (FSC) takes place the weekend of July 17th at the Wynn in Las Vegas. While the conference is still scheduled to go on, current players like Von Miller and Brandon Marshall had to pull out.
The NFL also emailed Dolphins players A.J. Francis, Jason Fox and Jordan Cameron to tell them their promoted appearance at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek would be in violation of NFL rules against promoting casino activities.
The NFL in the current era gives off the impression that it operates like the mafia. Unless the league and its owners get their envelope of money, the integrity of the league is in jeopardy. The visual evidence appeared last year when it wasn’t until league sponsors threatened to bolt did league officials take a harder stance against domestic violence and child abuse. Now, players are also learning that the leagues integrity has a value.
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It may be a cliche, but the value of one’s life is immeasurable. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a tragic event for us to realize this.
Andy Lee wore the number four for 11 years with the San Francisco 49ers. Last week, he was traded to the Cleveland Browns and changed his number to eight.
Lee’s daughter, Madeline Lee was born via C-section and swallowed some fluid during birth. She was given a breathing tube and sent to the neonatal intensive care unit. Madeline came down with an infection on the fifth day of her life.
She did not see day 9.
Lee’s new number is for the number of days Madeline lived.
“I think sometimes, not necessarily by me and my wife, her life can get overlooked. She was here, she was a person but nobody got to meet her, nobody got to see her. She was really alive and really a person. It’s a way to honor her and kind of just give her some glory she deserves.”
Through tragedy we sometimes find the silver lining that gives us strength and hope to continue. Lee found that in both the death of his daughter and the lives of his two other children.
“It’s just kind of changed the mindset of, say, your son’s outside and you don’t feel like getting up and throwing the ball with him because you’re tired. Well, get your butt up and go out there and do it because who knows?” Lee said. “You give everything you can to them because it shows that sometimes you don’t know if something is going to happen. It’s crazy how life is. In a way, that’s one of the positive things to come out of it. Life is really fragile even though sometimes you don’t think about it that way.”
Every time Cleveland gets ready to punt, (which in a moment of humor, will probably be a lot knowing the Browns) I will be reminded of Lee and Madeline. I will think of Lee’s words, step away from the game on TV and spend my time with my son, I’m sure Lee would do the same, if he could.
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Photo Credit: David Goldman
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