My son is a very good high school football player and loves the game. He was seriously injured during last season and had to have his spleen out. This was his second hospitalization for a spleen injury. The first time, his spleen was saved but he had to sit out of sports for 3 months. My dilemma is that he wants to play football again, his senior year. I don't want him to, his dad disagrees . The doctors have said that there are plenty of football players playing without spleens.  I feel that this could really damage the relationship between my son and me, if I do not allow him to play his last year. The fact that my husband is not backing me is also making me really angry. I think there will be a huge fallout from all of this. My son has very good grades but I don't think he will be able to maintain them if he is depressed or really upset. His football team has a fantastic record with a good chance to go all the way to State,another reason for him wanting to play. Please advise.
125482
Well you sound like you are giving into peer pressure anyways. So just let him play.
441717
I have two teenage boys and they had to have physicals by 12 yrs old w/ their Pediatrician, and I was right there w/ them in the exam room, it didn't bother them at all. Because it's important that they feel comfortable even if it means having Mom there, I just turned my head when the Dr. examined each one of them, no problems. Then it was done, the Dr. asked them how they would like to be examined for their "maturity" exam. It was a positive experience, don't think of it as losing the modesty, but rather retaining your health.
539165
Whether women should or should not be referees or ar's in mens football....... No matter his feelings, the way he expressed them should not have been done that way. I feel he would have said something if the call, or non call, was made by men. He lost a game and wants to put the entire game into that one second of football. How many chances did his team have that they did not take advantage of? \nAnyway, this is a good question and I am excited about the possible answers you will be getting on this subject.\nTake care.
246695
If the team looses without you will it hurt the team, ie. make the playoffs ect...  If the answer is yes, explain it to your father.  Take your mother with you to the game.  Also are you going to play?  In the end which is more importaint?
582534
ok try playing a season of football then tell me if you wanna sign up to play another one two months later there bodies need time to heal and relaxa little otherwise the second season would be all bench warmers cuz all the stars would be hurt
551447
To those with the thinking of "he has two arms", go ahead start writing everything with your non writing hand and it better be as clear, concise and fast as you write with your normal hand. Hell, switch off and do anything with the "other" hand.  All knowing that you may never have full use of your usual hand again. Now imagine doing something like concentrating on following blockers, see openings BEFORE they open, stiff arming tacklers and also knowing if it is that bad, your career is over before it got started, and carrying the rock for your team. Certain things only happen certain ways. They worked it out, figured out that it was not a serious injury, only a pinched nerve and got him going again. I think it took great heart and determination for him to go back in at all. At some point, lose this one and live to win another day, is not a bad way to do it.\n\nThat's my take on it
601932
here are my vview on things:\nI'm reading through some of the comments about this situation "I hope it's not serious", "gee that's too bad, we hope he'll be all right"..."he's a great player, hope he can still play"... but I can't help thinking "what a waste."\n\nHow many of us would love to be living a dream, to be a pro football player, making millions? This kid is already on record as the youngest QB ever to win a Superbowl, he's got his whole life and career in front of him, and he doesn't care to protect all that he has to live for?\n\nOne article I read mentions how players past and present, as well as his coach have appealed to him to reconsider his celebration of freedom in not having to wear a helmet. Fellow Americans presumably equally in support of "freedom" yet were also able to consider what he potentially had to lose if he should meet in an accident.\n\nAnd here we are. The article I read said "injuries do not appear life-threatening." Will he play again? Sheesh, we are not out of the woods of whether he'll have a sound mind again, let alone make critical decisions with a blitzing linebacker zeroing in on him.\n\nAs a fan, this player attitude has always bugged me. The discussion issue to which I'm referring is whether athletes, paid by fans, should have some obligation to the fans. Ticket prices go up when big name players are signed, and if they are injured - especially preventable injuries - why shouldn't ticket prices go down and let insurance pay their salary, or refuse it if they insist on taking unnecessary risks?\n\nCase in point - at the beginning of this last NHL season, Toronto Maple Leaf captain Mats Sundin gets hit in the eye. He refuses to wear facial protection, and he's out for the first month. Duh.\n\nLike everyone else in the sports world, I join in wishing Big Ben a full recovery. I hope we get to see him continue what many are now confident must be a hall of fame career. Do I feel sorry for him? Sure...but, for crying out loud, at what point do we hold people accountable for taking unnecessary risks? Wearing a helmet might have rendered this a great story about how he had the accident yet was ok.\n\nThis may not be a popular position, but heck, don't we as parents get upset with our 7 year olds for playing near the stairs or not looking both ways before crossing the street? If we expect kids to make smarter decisions in the interest of their own safety, why is it so easy to make excuses for "adults"?
131439
I HATE football....come on, burn a cross on my yard, whatever...I am a football widow.  The boyfriend is a football fool but he can have it.  It is a complete and total waste of time...Please send all hate mail to eddopson@yahoo.com.
611425
If your sons want to be in the UFC it can't hurt anything.  In fact it could help them build confidence and learn self-defense.  If your boys DON'T want to be in the UFC encourage them to go ONCE and see if they like it.  If they don't, oh well.  There are more important things.  If they do...great!  But kids shouldn't be pressured to do things they don't need to do.  Chores are understandable, but things like sports activities should be your child's choice.
385398
The only Upward program we have in our area is basketball. My son has never played it because I don't agree with the "non-competitive" format. Sports is about winning and losing. Life is about winning and losing and I think kids need to learn that. I'm assuming you were "put off" by the religious aspect. I'm also assuming you knew, or should have known, about that going in. I have absolutely no problem with the faith aspect of Upward. My kids get that every Sunday at church. Every team he's ever been on, football, baseball and basketball prays before every game. I have no problem with the religion, I just want real sports.\n\nEdit\nThe Y does the same thing up to a certain age, so I'd stay away from that also. I just don't get the concept of playing any sport and not keeping score?
153322
If all this is really true, then yes I believe that an investigation should happen, and everything that he has built himself up to should also be looked into. If the investigation turns up true then yes he should have to forfeit his Heisman trophy. There are reasons why there are these rules for Collegiate players, for instance, do you really think Bush could have done the same things he did at USC at some other school. I doubt it. Sure he is a great player, but look at USC, they have had a stacked team for the past 3 or 4 years in a row. I bet everyone of their players families live in huge houses and are all getting a little more on the side. Like I said before, there is a reason that this rule exists it is supposed to keep fair play between teams and leave it strictly to scouting and luring players to schools minus all the money. It is unfortunate that this happens because it takes the smaller schools with not as much alumni money or NFL scouting power out of contention early. What ever happened to people playing for the love of the game and worrying about the money later... If you're good enough it will come.
405760
Your spleen is an organ that is part of your blood filtration system.  Lots of blood flows through the spleen, and it holds a lot of blood (like a sponge).  Because of its structure and where it is located in your body, it can easily be torn (or ruptured) in a car accident.  If the tear is bad enough, you can bleed to death internally from the injury.  The tissue the spleen is made of can't just be sewn back together in surgery to fix it.  The whole spleen needs to be removed in order to stop the bleeding.  If it is just a really small tear, it may be able to heal on its own.  It sounds like John's tear was bad enough that the doctors had no choice but to take out his spleen.  It wouldn't have healed and he could have bled to death if they didn't remove it.  You can live a healthy normal life without a spleen.  I hope John is going to be OK.  Ask his doctors if you are still unsure of why they took out his spleen.  They'll be able to give you more of an explanation than me!
458325
all depends on the coach, it also depends on your excuse for not trying out in the first place, if you were a former player and a good one at that then maybe, only if you were sick for tryouts or injured or at a funeral or somethin, but you cant just say oh i want to be on the varsity basketball team and bam your there, it takes a lot of hard work.
394769
Well CookieMonster my advice may not be that ethical but I would suggest that you enroll your son in some sort of self defense course.  As a parent and previous kid yourself you most certainly must realize that if you get too involved that it will only work against your son and he will get the beats more often.  It is very sad that he was beaten so badly that he had to be hospitalized and I would hope that the school he attends has a zero tolerance on violence and that any child who becomes physically or emotionally abuse towards another is suspended.  My advice for self defense course is because it will help to build your sons self esteem as well as better prepare himself in case of future attacks.  He might really enjoy taking boxing lessons and actually get to meet some new friends also.  I cannot speak of this other young man who is suppose to be a friend and whether or not he set your son up, but if he did then it would be wise for your son to stay away from him also.  But if he is sitting with one of the bullies as a measure of his own self preservation then he just isn't mature enough at present to understand the meaning of being a true friend.  Hopefully by involving the police in this latest incident you have somehow put some fear into these others who might want to attack your son and so this will cease and desist.  Kids can be very mean and think they are so tough by beating on younger or weaker kids.  But Karma has a way of balancing things out and hopefully in time they will learn that what they have done has consequences.  Best of luck to you and I hope that your son is going to be alright and gets many well wishes from his real friends while he is in the hospital.
264186
Many fathers want more for their children then they have had for themselves.  We see this in the dad that never made it in sports being proud of his son when he is the winning quarterback on the team.  \n\nMuch of your husbands reactions has to do with pride but his son needs his unconditional love more then anything else.  \n\nI do not think this is something that can be overcome with just an easy answer but I would like to invite you and your family to a support group that will help give you ALL support in learning to care for each other.  Although the focus is on abused men, this group is for anyone that is hurting and we do try to help each one build a good relationship with others.
422188
a lot of folks don't finish in four without the rigors of playing football.  then again, a lot of players are in grad programs when they've got that 5th or 6th year.\n\nLook at it another way.  Player gets injured, out for the year first or second game in.  Is it fair for him to lose an ENTIRE year because he got hurt?  I know it happens, but that's why the extra years.
604892
My son wrestled in Junior high and High school 7 years. And yes you do get injured sometimes. And it does not matter if you follow the safety guidelines. Things happen he has had concussions, seperated ribs, broken fingers and more. Also depends on your coach. My sons coach was a jerk who only wanted trophys and nothing less. So my sons eating habits changed and so did his attitude. I was glad when he got out of school just because of the things that happened. If you want to wrestle look into it more do some research on your coaches and the school wrestling team. Personally I think it is a great sport if it is taught right. But be aware you can and will be injured wrestiling. Sit down and have a heart to heart with your parents but do what they say. You will look back as you get older and thank them. Besides maybe there is a local boys and girls club that you can wrestle at?? But this is my personal experience with wrestling. I can tell you a lot about junior high and high school wrestling. At least what happened with my son.