While I was searching around poynter.org, I came across an interesting article about Kevin Everett, who is a tight end for the Buffalo Bills. He was injured this past season in a game against the Denver Broncos, but it wasn't just a normal injury where they thought he'd come back in the next game, he had a cervical spine injury and they didn't know if he would ever walk again. It turns out, he received experimental technology that cooled his body so it would limit the complications before he went into surgery. Bills fans were happy to hear that Everett came out of surgery and was moving his hands and arms within days.
But, that's not the real issue. The media had a frenzy and created headlines like these: "fallen hero suffering the ultimate tragedy" and "waging an inspirational fight for his life." Like the article pointed out, it's like they are saying that his life is done, like he's dead. Just because he had the chance that he could never walk again, doesn't mean he was dead...he could possibly just never play football again.
Instead, the media needed to be creating articles on how thankful he was that he has the chance to walk again. They need to focus on what he WILL be able to do again and not what he MIGHT not be able to ever do again. There are a lot of possiblities of him being able to play wheelchair football or talk to young inspiring athletes. He can inspire kids, in a wheelchair or not.
But, does that ever make the news?...
This is the link to the article if you'd like to view it: http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=58&aid=134759
