As sports enthusiasts entertained themselves watching the actions across the globe over the weekend, two of the athletes survived being killed in their respective sports from which they eke out a living as professionals. Roman Grosjean participating in a Formula One (equivalent to motor racing) competition survived what is described as a “horrifying” accident during the event. Driving at a speed of 137 miles per hour, about 220 kilometres per hour, Grosjean’s vehicle hit the barrier, split into two and then burst into flames.
He came out of it alive. A miracle. In fact a smiling Grosjean spoke from his hospital bed in a video posted on the internet. Daniel Dubois aged 23 and fighting in a heavyweight boxing competition had his eye socket broken by his opponent Joe Joyce also at the weekend. One does not know whether Boxer Dubois or Driver Grosjean will suffer any permanent physical damage as they recuperate in hospital. Whatever it is, they are more fortunate than some of their colleagues who died in the process.
For example, 28-year-old Russian boxer Maxim Dadashev died in the United States following injuries sustained during his super-lightweight fight with Subriel Matias. “Dadashev underwent emergency brain surgery in Washington after his bout with Puerto Rican, Matias was stopped at the 11th round by his corner man.
Dadashev was unable to walk to the dressing room and was immediately hospitalised. Doctors operated to relieve pressure from swelling on his brain”, it was reported
Formula Two driver Antoine Hubert was killed after a 160 kilometres per hour collision with another competitor.
Organisers of the race reported thus, “As a result of the crash, the FIA regrets to inform that the driver of car number 19 Antoine Hubert of France succumbed to his injuries and passed away at 18.36 CET. The driver of car number 12, Juan-Manuel Correa of the United States is in a stable condition and is being treated at the hospital”. Of course, these are just two of the countless number of boxers and drivers that have lost their lives while indulging in these dangerous sports.
Despite technological advances these two sports in particular remain dangerous going by the latest incidents over the weekend. For, how can anybody driving (as Formula One drivers do) at a speed of over 180 kilometres per hour in dangerous bends and then crashing into a concrete not injure himself? The chances of injury are high for, it is against the laws of Nature.
There is a limit to what the body can endure/take which at all times must adhere to the natural laws if it is to remain healthy and not be harmed in one way or other. It is like a swimmer attempting to swim against the tide. No matter how expertly the swimmer is, he/she cannot overcome the currents in that direction unless he/she swims along with it.
And to think that thousands, indeed millions of enthusiasts follow this motorsport live and on television. Sports is said to be for entertainment and relaxation.
Pray what is entertaining, relaxing or refreshing in seeing several drivers simultaneously racing along at horrendous speeds, negotiating dangerous bends and criss-crossing one another at such speeds and in fact severally missing crashing into one another by a hair’s breadth? Crashes do occur from time to time. Apparently, injuries are considered as ‘normal’ in this sport.
The average person can hardly watch motor racing without having his breadth in his mouth. And the millions across the globe that watch this dangerous sport live, stoically, without blinking an eyelid throughout, must be super human so to speak. One is tempted to ask whether they are really human beings. Every sport, whether professional or amateur, is supposed to inculcate in its participants some traits.
For instance, football is said to engender in people the value of cooperation, the importance of cooperating with others and working with a unity of purpose, to achieve a common goal. What values does motor racing inculcate into the drivers? Did I hear you say, courage, heroism? And I ask, heroism, courage to what end? .
To what practical value has their heroism/ courage served mankind? Have they used it to save their countries, any nation or any individual in distress? Their so-called display of courage in participating in motor racing is for self-adulation and to titillate the morbid craving of their followers as well as enthusiasts for broken bones and ‘blood’. High speed motor racing cum motor sports is not worth indulging in by a human being. It is extreme sports and anything that is extreme is wrong, harmful.
Those who participate in it are liable to being maimed and killed. In this instance it is self-inflicted and equivalent to suicide. Also organisers of this type of sport, including those who encourage it directly and indirectly are culpable in one way or other for the injuried and deaths therefrom and so, also guilty of manslaughter.
What is said here of motor sports rings true of boxing, another dangerous sports. Even if boxers escape death in the ring, the debilitating effects of constant pummeling of their bodies and heads stay with them for life, after retirement from the sports.
Mohammed Ali, acknowledged by fans as a legend of boxing, suffers from Parkinson disease to-date. Again, there is no way a professional boxer can take constant beatings to his body over the course of many years without adverse consequences. Ultimately, it leads to health problems, gradual weakening of the body.
Those that partake in boxing as a profession are abusing their bodies, just like professional prostitutes, and guilty of crime against their bodies, against the laws of Nature which bear the Will of God, the Almighty Creator. So, it will always have dire harmful consequences for the body and the person concerned.
One is also baffled at the millions of people that enjoy this sport going by the countless spectators that follow it, paying large sums to see live boxing contests. They giggle, quaff and laugh as a boxer is being battered by blows from his opponent. They even egg a boxer to land more heavy blows to the head and body of his competitor.
How can anyone be happy at a boxer being seriously hurt/injured? While some of us who manage to watch boxing telecasts are grimacing and even crying, ringside spectators are applauding such brutality. One is perplexed. What manner of sports are these? They are dangerous sports that should be banned.
Ikeano writes from Lafia, Nasarawa state via [email protected] 08033077519
