The Pittsburgh Steelers are no strangers to trauma. The team has dealt with its share of tragedy over the years and 2022 was especially painful for the black and gold. They lost Dwayne Haskins in April to an unfortunate accident in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Franco Harris was set to have his number retired on Christmas Eve and he passed away just three days before the ceremony.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - DECEMBER 19: Safety Ryan Clark #25 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on December 19, 2011 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Karl Walter/Getty Images)
Monday night, the football world was shaken to its core when Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest during the first quarter of the Monday Night Football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals. It was a difficult situation that sports broadcasters are ill equipped to cover. That is not a criticism. Sports are supposed to be a welcomed distraction from life and death issues and it is a difficult position when they are asked to change gears suddenly.
The tone-deaf reactions have been well documented, but one broadcaster really made an impact with his reaction and insight last night. Former Steelers player, Ryan Clark did a fantastic job for ESPN last night and helped crystalize the situation for many fans. Clark himself was forced to sit out a playoff game that the Steelers lost because of a rare condition that made playing in Denver a life-threatening proposition for him a decade ago. Perhaps this experience helped him add perspective to a difficult situation:
“I think the first thing is, this is about Damar Hamlin,” Clark said. “It’s about a young man at 24 years old that was living his dream. A few hours ago [he] was getting ready to play the biggest game of his NFL career. There’s probably nowhere else in the world he wanted to be. Now he fights for his life.”
Clark played eight seasons in Pittsburgh and made 1 Pro Bowl playing next to Troy Polamalu. In 2007, he had his gall bladder and spleen removed because of hereditary sickle cell anemia when he was playing at Mile High Stadium. He missed the remainder of the season, but returned to football in 2008 where he continued his career under the caveat that he could never play in Denver again:
“When Damar Hamlin falls to the turf,” Clark continued. "When you see the medical staff rush to the field and both teams are on the field, you realize this isn’t normal. You realize this isn’t just football. I dealt with this before and I watched my teammates, for days come to my hospital bed and just cry. I had them call me and tell me they didn’t think I was gonna make it. Now this team has to deal with that, and they have no answers.”
Steelers free safety Ryan Clark drops back into pass coverage during the Cardinals 21 to 13 win over the Steelers at the new Cardinals stadium in Glendale, Az on August 12, 2006. (Photo by Mike Moore/Getty Images)
Clark’s condition was life threatening, but he was alert after the surgery and in the unique position of having to give comfort to his teammates from his own hospital bed. Tragic health circumstances are just as traumatic for family and friends and often if you are the one looking up at the faces, you feel a duty to reassure your loved ones that it is going to be okay, even when you aren’t sure if it is going to be. It’s human nature to comfort our fellow man, even when we are the ones in harms way.
Hamlin’s non-responsive state makes this even harder for everyone involved. He is fighting for his life and until he regains consciousness, the former Pitt Panther can’t reassure his family that everything is going to be alright. Clark reminded the audience that football is just a game and that other concerns were secondary when something like this happens.
“So, the next time we get upset at our favorite fantasy player, we’re upset that the guy on our team doesn’t make the play, and we’re saying he’s worthless and we’re saying, ‘you get to make all this money,’ we should remember these guys are putting their lives on the line to live this dream.”
Hamlin’s condition remains unchanged since the report released last night that he suffered cardiac arrest and had to be revived on the field. Everyone is hoping and praying for great news. The young man is only 24 years old and hopefully the care he needed was provided fast enough to save his life.
The way Ryan Clark spoke on the Damar Hamlin situation is amazing 💯 pic.twitter.com/LkXnubuRIW
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) January 3, 2023
This morning people are recognizing Clark for humanizing the moment and being eloquent in the face of potential tragedy. He joined the ranks of Jim McKay and Howard Cosell who were thrust into similar situations and handled them with the gravitas that made them legends. Ryan Clark, like his legendary predecessors, was equal to the task last night and we are all better for it.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Are you proud of how Clark handled the story? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
