Fernando Gallo:

Joe Theismann

One thing that is always a given in sports is injuries. Almost every player will get injured at some point, especially in the ultra-violent game of football. When highly skilled athletes, who spend hours in the weight room, are slamming into each other at full speed as they do in the NFL, somebody is bound to get hurt.

One of the most memorable injuries in all of sports, remembered as both stomach-turning and sad, is Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann snapping his shin in half on Monday Night Football in 1985. The injury is so sickening that just thinking about it has me reaching for my Alka-Seltzer.

In 1985, Joe Theismann was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, having won the 1983 MVP award and been named to two Pro Bowls. His Redskins won a Super Bowl in 1983 and played again in 1984 (where they got creamed by the Raiders, thank you very much).

It was a Monday Night Football game against the New York Giants on Nov. 18, 1985, where Theismann suffered his horrific injury.

On a “flea-flicker” play, Theismann received the ball from his running back and scanned the defense for an open receiver. Giants linebacker and renowned quarterback-killer Lawrence “LT” Taylor sacked Theismann from behind, and as he brought the quarterback down, he fell on the back of Theismann’s calf. Theismann’s lower leg broke in a way that can only be described as unholy and unnatural. His shin bent at a 45-degree angle and he almost looked as if he had two knees in his right leg. If you have never seen this footage, you might not want to eat before watching it.

Once Theismann was down, Taylor found his previously undiscovered conscience. The man who can best be described as vicious and punishing immediately jumped to his feet and waved over the Redskins medical staff in a panic. If the craziest and most feared linebacker of his era is concerned, you know it was ugly. As the medical staff tended to the fallen quarterback, the primetime television audience was treated to slow motion replays of the gruesome injury.

When the dust had settled, Theismann was taken to a local hospital where it was determined he had broken his tibia and fibula. The injury would prematurely end his career at the age of 36 and earn him a place in the gross-out hall of fame.

Andrew Eggers:

Napolean McCallum

By far the worst leg injury I have ever seen has to be that of Los Angeles Raiders running back Napoleon McCallum. The injury came on Sept. 5, 1994 in the Raiders’ season-opening game against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.

I remember watching the game specifically because Jerry Rice broke the all-time touchdown record before McCallum’s injury. Millions of people were tuned in that night and saw the injury because it was a nationally televised game.

I remember McCallum ran the ball up the middle of the defense where he was stood up by 49ers linebacker Ken Norton Jr. and defensive lineman Bryant Young. Norton Jr. grabbed McCallum and swung him to the ground. As he did, McCallum’s cleat stuck to the ground, trapping his leg as his knee bent the entirely wrong direction. You can imagine how your knee bends as you walk to support your body. Well, McCallum’s knee bent the opposite way, making for one of the most painful looking leg injuries I have seen.

While McCallum laid there being attended to by the training staff, the replay was on TV a couple of times. I can still remember the announcers groaning while watching the initial replay, telling viewers to look away from the TV.

McCallum’s career ended abruptly since he suffered a ruptured artery in his left knee, tore three ligaments, and tore the calf and hamstring from the bone as well as suffering severe nerve damage. I wonder if he ever walked again. Check it out for yourself on YouTube if you can handle it. When I saw it again I tasted vomit in my mouth, but I still couldn’t look away.

Alicia de la Garza:

Steve Yeager

It was such a breath-taking event that my dad remembers the day like it was yesterday. “The shattered bat flew, and pieces of it just stuck into his throat,” my dad said.

Steve Yeager played baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1970s. It was the 1976 season that changed Yeager’s career.

When he was in the on-deck circle, Yeager’s teammate Bill Russell swung at a ball. The bat shattered and nine pieces of the bat flew into Yeager’s esophagus.

When my dad told me he was at the game when this happened, I’m pretty sure my exact words were, “What the hell? How would you even react to something like that?”

I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m not sure if I would just start screaming or stand there in complete shock instead.

Most people know that the on-deck circle is not far from the dugout, and occasionally there are seats that are only a few feet from the dugout. I could not even imagine what it would be like to see bat shards fly into someone’s neck.

It took 98 minutes of surgery to remove the pieces of wood from Yeager’s neck.

What I don’t understand is how the guy managed to come back to the game after recovering. He became famous after his injury for inventing the throat protector that hangs from a catcher’s mask.

It took a couple more years of play and a couple more injuries – an injured knee and broken wrist in 1982 – to cut Yeager’s playing time enough to where he was getting ready to retire.

The throat protector that Yeager invented has shielded many catchers from stray pitches and possibly saved their lives.

Too bad Yeager didn’t have one on when he was standing in the on-deck circle.

Galen Kusic:

Bo Jackson

I can still remember it as one of the most vivid memories of my childhood, maybe my life.

It was a cold, overcast day in January of 1990 and Bo Jackson and (at the time) the Los Angeles Raiders were playing the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC divisional playoff game. Bo Jackson was my favorite player by far in any sport – watching him was exciting no matter what the situation of the game or whatever sport he was playing, baseball or football.

On the fateful day of that game, Jackson had just broke out for a nice 15-yard gain or so when he was dragged down from behind on the sideline by a Cincinnati defender.

It looked like a normal tackle, no problem; the Raiders had just put together a nice drive and were about to score in what was a close game. Instead, Jackson didn’t get up and the trainers came out to look at him.

The on-field reports were saying it might be a slight sprain or even just cramping and that he might return later in the game. To hear that was reassuring because I figured he would be fine and I would get to see him play many more football games.

Instead, Jackson’s femur was dislocated and he had to have hip replacement surgery. One of the best running backs to ever play the game, and an up-and-coming center fielder for the Kansas City Royals, was out of commission. It was one of the worst days of my life as a child.

To look up to one particular player in the way I did Jackson, it really hurt to see him not be able to compete any longer in either sport. No one thought he would ever come back and play Major League Baseball, but he did.

Jackson was just that type of person. He never quit and gave it all his effort on every play. He was the most exciting player in sports at that time – period. On the football field, you never knew if he was going to run someone over or just break out for one of his many 50-plus yard runs.

On the diamond it was even better. You were always in for a treat. Jackson made unbelievable catches in centerfield, hit huge bombs to all angles of the park and broke bats over his knee consistently. My favorite was when he broke a bat over his helmet like it was a toothpick.

The intangibles that Jackson brought to the game were more than anyone could ask for when watching an athlete. If he didn’t get injured, Jackson might have been the first player to ever make the Hall of Fame in two sports.

He has in my mind, anyway.

Lamont Weaver:

Kevin Everett

Kevin Everett’s horrific injury on NFL’s Sunday opener was tragic in every sense of the word.

The Buffalo Bills young tight end was delivering a textbook tackle playing the game he loves. Then, in an instant, his life would never be the same. The tackle caused him to break his spinal cord, leaving speculation as to whether the athlete once gifted enough to make it to the NFL and make an impact will be lucky to ever walk or play again.

Throughout the past few decades in sports, there have been a few memorable moments when a player has been hurt so badly that you know his or her career is basically over.

Last year, I remember when Los Angeles Clipper guard Shaun Livingston went for a lay-up and right after landing, his left leg snapped like a twig. It was as if a ghost appeared and used a sledgehammer on his leg (Casper must be a Lakers fan). No one was around him, he wasn’t that high off the floor and no matter what ESPN says, he didn’t land awkwardly. Every bone in his left leg just gave out.

I felt for him, but I know he will play again. Even if he will never realize his potential, he will at least be able to play the game he loves, and most importantly, walk and run normally.

Some call Theismann’s career-ending injury on Monday Night football 20 years ago tragic, but while his career ended early, he had already accomplished more than most: winning a Super Bowl for the Redskins and being named MVP.

Even Theismann said the injury was the greatest thing that happened to him because his life off the field was out of control. Not being involved in the fast life of the NFL made him a better man.

I pray for Everett because what happened to him was worse than a horrific injury, it was a tragedy. He has to face the chance of no longer playing the game he loves, but he will also be lucky if his life will ever be somewhat normal.

The State Hornet staff can be reached at [email protected].