An Obituary for a Man we Analyzed, but will Never Know
As we talk about who the Lions should draft, who other teams are looking, etc. etc. as we close in on the draft, we become removed from the reality of it all. The names becomes stats and highlight clips. Cars, or boats, or pieces in the puzzle that either fit "perfect" with your team, or you can't understand where they would go -- people wondering whether an OT piece, a RB piece, or a Defensive Piece is needed, and presenting arguments, stats, and logic to back up their argument.
But what we forget is that these are not just names -- they are people. Men with parents, siblings, cousins, wives, children -- people like you and me.
We've had lively debates about certain players on this board in regards as to how they would fit in with the Lions, and when would be a good time to take them -- would they fit? What round is value to pick them in? Wait or reach? Can they make it in the NFL? Can they help the team?
Today, I read something that brought back to reality that while we talk about pieces of the puzzle, sometimes, puzzle pieces go away.
I wrote a blog about a young O-Lineman that seemed he would fit in with the Lions, as an example of the talent that was available in later rounds. Wednesday evening, that young man's name was sadly erased from every NFL draft board.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/ncaa/03/27/bc.fbc.playerdies.ap/index.html
As we go back and forth, looking at who we want the Lions to draft, or who we think they will -- please stop and take a moment of silence and prayer for the man whose life was tragically short - the man who was already drafted by a higher power. And as we continue into April, let us stop and remember that we are talking about people, not puzzles, and afford the proper respect to those we are analyzing as such, along with those who are more than Anonymous, BakerStreet, jreffy, chief, paul, streetworm, jjlions, nobsnubber and others.
Rest in peace, Mr. Benedict. This blog at least will keep you and your family in our memories, and in our prayers.
Sincerely,
Joshua W. Pung
aka Detroit Fan 1979.
10 comments:
Very well put detfan. I couldn't have said it better myself.
All too often upcoming players in the draft are dehumanized as if they're cattle being plucked up by ranchers. We interview them, rigorously test them at the combine and pro days and scrutinize their numbers (most of which are completely irrelevant in the long run) to a ridiculous degree. And for everything that's wrong about it we all take part in it, myself included.
I'm glad you alluded to the fact that these are more than just players on a field. They are individuals who have families and needs and desires completely seperate from what happens on the field.
Here's to Heath Benedict and all of his counterparts in the draft.
-Streetworm
Well put guys. I remember the first article I read on Benedcit (walterfootball.com) back in December. The kid came into his own after being a redshirt frosh at Tennessee, and transferring.
What caught my attention originally, is I had just moved from Newberry, MI. about four years ago (to the land of Nub's Nob) and our school mascot was the Indians. Newberry High School has the same unis as the college. The more I read about the kid, I learned that he was a very hard-working blue collar kid, like his name-sakes in the land of the Tahquamenon River some 2000 miles away.
This kid seemed to be the meat grinder in a large hoagie sub that ran the ball repeatedly and at-will. He blocked for two 1,000 yard rushers and was a constant and mainstay in the school's weight room.
Just as he was getting ready for his life to change, it did so permanently. Here's to you, Heath. Where the grass is green, the field never needs more chalk, and the run game is always going down hill.
To each of you. May the wind be at your back, may your journey be downhill, and change always be in your pocket. Cead meile failte.
nobsnubber
Well put guys. I remember the first article I read on Benedcit (walterfootball.com) back in December. The kid came into his own after being a redshirt frosh at Tennessee, and transferring.
What caught my attention originally, is I had just moved from Newberry, MI. about four years ago (to the land of Nub's Nob) and our school mascot was the Indians. Newberry High School has the same unis as the college. The more I read about the kid, I learned that he was a very hard-working blue collar kid, like his name-sakes in the land of the Tahquamenon River some 2000 miles away.
This kid seemed to be the meat grinder in a large hoagie sub that ran the ball repeatedly and at-will. He blocked for two 1,000 yard rushers and was a constant and mainstay in the school's weight room.
Just as he was getting ready for his life to change, it did so permanently. Here's to you, Heath. Where the grass is green, the field never needs more chalk, and the run game is always going down hill.
To each of you. May the wind be at your back, may your journey be downhill, and change always be in your pocket. Cead meile failte.
nobsnubber
very true
we think because they make there millions we have evry right to slam them,call them names you name it-some of us almost make our favorites out to be gods and those we dont like out to be garbage. the truth is there just men-not all that differnt than any of us except they have god given tallant to play a game we all love. the game they play is a big risk in itself and we forget about that until we see one of them lying on the field and unable to get up.
hope mr benedicts in a much better place now and thoughts and prayers for comfort for his grieving family and friends.
"Take a moment...." said DetroitFan1979...... so I will.
A few days ago I needlessly worried about how you guys would react to my observance of the Saturday Sabbath and by choice, not being able to watch college football. I worried about what mockery and persecution you folks might post my way. I worried about starting a new thread that wasn't on the topic of football. So I take this moment now to digress in this thread.
It's indeed a mystery of God why a life is cut short. In football we had the DB in Denver, then the Skins player earlier this year and now this, plus others previously. Tragedies all, and I pray God will provide comfort to the families and loved ones of all involved.
"Take a moment," thats what I do every Saturday and worship God minus any earthly distractions. Ask your pastor where in God's Holy Writ does it say to formally worship God on Sunday? It doesn't. The Bible repeatedly says to observe the Sabbath, which is the Sabbath Commandment. Your pastors will uniformily implore you to obey the Commandments while simultaneously breaking the least of the Commandments, the Sabbath Commandment, by worshipping on the 8th day, Sunday rather than the 7th day, Saturday which is God's rest.
Take the Passover Sacraments ONLY on Passover, this year at sundown (even) the night of 4/19/2008. Easter is the worshipping of the pagan god Ishtar. In humble prayer ask yourself what deity are you worshipping. Choose to repent.
Borrowing from one of Homer Kizer's articles from the link I posted here a couple of days ago:
Those ministers who claim to be Christian and who actually do great works in the Name of Christ Jesus, but who teach disciples to be lawbreakers, sinners, will not be resurrected to life but to condemnation. Matthew 7:21-23 ~ Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven – only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do many powerful deeds?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!
And these ministers are everywhere: they’re on television; they’re in pulpits on nearly every street corner; they’re in city council meetings; some have even run for the presidency of the United States. But they’re not sons of light. Rather they’re the fat sheep that trample lean sheep, the fat sheep that would rather have the acclaim and respect of this world than of God. They’re spiritual cowards, the cur dogs of the synagogue of Satan, and they’ve made Christianity a stench and a loathing in this world. If they’re able to repent of their lawlessness, they need to do so forthwith, for they are presently scheduled to be the spiritual livestock sacrificed when the house of God is dedicated in the heavenly city of Jerusalem upon Christ’s return. And great will be their wailing and the gnashing of their teeth when Jesus says, “I never knew them.”
Sincerely, your brother in Christ and Lions football,
5Bakerstreet
5bakerstreet
WHAT A SCARY POST
fortunately the god i worship and spend time with is much more forgiving than the one you worship,even forgave the robber hanging next to him, in fact he didnt get along too well with those who tried to push all those strict laws on people.
5bakerstreet
dont mean to offend it took guts for you to put that out there and i know that relegion is very personnel and believe me i have no business critising yours
That is a sad story. The thing about the Draft is it is filled with hope. Every kid drafted has a chance to make it. You never know which kid is the sleeper that makes it big. Even if you would have liked a different selection there is always hope. But with this kid (and sadly many others) hope just disappeared.
We sometimes criticize picks or players, and some people say some pretty mean things about them. Read the posts about Kalimba on MLive. Some people just rip Kitna, and lets not get into what was said about Harrington. But they are all just people. They all have parents. If any of us had a son that had a chance to be drafted, we would be so proud. And, we would be very upset if we had to read people ripping our kids. But when you step back and realize these are just people, then it is truly sad how “fans” treat these people. And at any time, their number could come up. Just like this poor kid. Sad.
Chief - thank you for the apology to BakerStreet; FDR has a good quote on Respect that I used in the Miami/Indy/Det blog.
Bakerstreet - Keep true to your faith, and may you be able to help those without guidance from above. Awesome respect for your adherence to your beliefs.
BTW - Appreciate your posts and insight on the Lions. I also checked out that link you posted the other day, and it has some intersting articles.
I've also read through the Torah, the Bible 3 times (different versions), Buddha Lore, and parts of the Koran (english translations are hard to come by.) I believe that knowledge is the key to understanding and respect. (In a non-existential kind of way.)
Keep up your great comments everyone -- your additions are what make this Blog great!
I am not one to chat religion on football talk groups, but since we're on the topic, I thought you may like this one.
ONE MINUTE EACH NIGHT During WWII, there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every night at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people and peace. This had an amazing effect as bombing stopped. There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America. If you would like to participate: each evening at 9:00 PM Ea stern Time (8:00 PM Central, 7:00 PM Mountain, 6:00 PM Pacific), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the up-coming election, and for the revival of compassion in this great country.If you know anyone who would like to participate, please pass this along. Someone said if people really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have. Thank You. Please pass this on to anyone who you think will want to join us.
-nobsnubber
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