I found out that I had a clavicle this week. Then, I found out that is was broken. Really broken, actually. Like snapped in half and sticking out all over the place broken. Like Owen Wilson in Act III of the movie “Wedding Crashers” broken.
It turns out that, after defying injuries while dropping into the Fenwick shore break for the past 15 years, fate (or Poseidon or Tom Cruise or whatever other mystical forces of the universe and the ocean that were supposed to be watching over me) finally dropped the ball.
The good news is I’ll be back in action in about four to six weeks. The bad news is the Little League World Series gets under way on Sunday and, while my photo-shooting arm should be alright, my mustard-spreading arm is hanging in a sling.
But like all great athletes — or at least sports reporters who write about great athletes — the show must go on, mustard-less hotdogs and all. So, in a misguided attempt to alleviate some self-pity, I decided to take look at a few other tough guys (or girls) who have successfully battled through injuries over the years.
Brett Favre, QB, Green Bay Packers (various injuries)
Former Green Bay Packers QB and current Wrangler Jeans spokesman Brett Favre and I have a lot in common. He’s known as one of football’s toughest signal-callers after making 297 consecutive career starts, and soon, I’ll be known as one of journalism’s toughest reporters after writing an article about myself being one of journalism’s toughest reporters.
While even after this article hits newsstands I’m sure my toughness will continue to be considered a subject of question, I don’t think anyone is questioning Favre’s. He’s played through tendinitis, a broken thumb on his throwing hand and even… getting traded to the Jets.
Rachel Hudson, P, Indian River Indians (broken jaw)
While this one may not have taken the national stage, it certainly should have.
Before she ever became the Indians’ star pitcher, and before she ever took the field at Flagler College, Rachel Hudson’s playing career was nearly cut short by a line drive softball that cracked apart the bridge of her upper jaw.
But despite the horrific injury, Hudson was back in the dugout with freshly wire champers just a couple of weeks later. Not much longer after that, she took the field. And not much longer after that, she took the mound again. The rest, as they say, is history… much like Tom Cruise’s sanity.
Adam Banks, C, the Mighty Ducks (broken wrist)
Just as Hollywood has shown us since the original “Bad News Bears,” every team of misfits destined for greatness first needs a ringer in order to get there. The Bears had gun-slingin’ Amanda Whurlitzer. The Washington Sentinels had gun-slingin’ Shane Falco. The team from “The Waterboy” had terrible actor Adam Sandler and the Mighty Ducks had Adam Banks.
So when Banks broke his wrist, he had no choice but to not tell anyone about it and keep playing through the pain. It was either that, or actually let that Abraham guy out on the ice — a truly heroic decision that, just like in all sports movies, ended up working out just fine in the end, as the Ducks skated past Iceland and that “We are the Champions” song by Queen somehow started playing in the background. Or was that “Might Ducks 3”?
Nancy Kerrigan, USA figure skater (knee)
If you aren’t reading this on a cell phone, then chances are you remember Nancy Kerrigan and “The Whack Heard Round the World,” at the 1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. But just weeks after rival figure skater Tonya Harding orchestrated the attack, which resulted in an injury to Kerrigan’s right knee, Kerrigan was back out on the ice, skating to what she considers the best two performances of her career and earning a silver medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer.
While I certainly have my suspicions as to whether or not Point photographer Chris Clark similarly tampered with my fin setup on the day I broke my collarbone, finally fulfilling his evil plan to take over writing “Tripple Overtime” once and for all, I’m still currently seeking an attorney willing to take on the case.
Yeah, yeah. I know, I know. I forgot about Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich being dragged with a broken leg to the line of scrimmage by his lineman against Akron. I could have certainly included pro surfer Bethany Hamilton, who to this day continues to paddle out, even after a tiger shark took her left arm.
And who could forget my pal Phill, who — despite eating a medically concerning amount of Royal Farms fried chicken on free chicken day last week — still managed to suit up for the SoDel slow-pitch softball team afterwards, just in time to strike out right when they needed him the most.
But whether they were playing through broken thumbs, clubbed knees or even just partially-digested fried chicken, I can only hope that I can muster even half of the toughness of any of these iron athletes when the concession stands open up at the Pyle Center this Sunday and teams from all over the world show up to play ball.