How's Trent Feeling?

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A couple of weeks ago Bills quarterback Trent Edwards was hit on a pass attempt and had to be taken off the field on a stretcher. He suffered a concussion and you'd have thought the world was going to end. Newscasts started with the story, telling the sad tale and there was a sheer panic hanging in the air.

On October 7th, Army Sergeant Michael K. Clark, 24, of Sacramento, California was killed in Iraq from injuries suffered when he encountered small arms fire while on dismounted patrol for the 4th infantry division.

The day after Edwards concussion the Buffalo News ran at least three stories about poor Trent. We found out that he had spoken with teammates and was coherent. The entire city let out a collective sigh of relief.

Army Corporal Reuben Fernandez, 22, of Abilene, Texas, died on October 11th from injuries suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device while working with the 1st Calvary Division.

On Tuesday I found out that Trent Edwards had grapefruit for breakfast and a couple of pieces of dry toast. He was still battling a minor headache, and the city was told to hold its breath because with concussions anything can happen.

Army Spc. Geoffrey Johnson, 28, of Lubbock, Texas of the 4th Infantry Division died of injuries suffered in an incident in Baghdad.

Monday of this week found Buffalo ecstatic as Trent actually practiced! The newscasts led with the story. Buried in the same newscast were stories about how the surge has worked in Iraq. There was no mention of Fernandez, Clark, or Johnson.

During the sports we were reminded of how many touchdown passes Trent Edwards has thrown this season. "He's been a true hero all season long, leading the Bills to 4 come-from-behind victories."

As long as we're throwing stats out there - there have been 4,171 other soldiers not named Fernandez, Clark, or Johnson - who have died in Iraq.

I'm not debating the merits of the war. Should we stay or should we go? Who the hell knows? Who the hell can follow the bouncing ball of lies?

We should know a hero when we see one, however.

Fernandez, Clark, or Johnson deserve more than just a line in the news. If life were fair - we'd lead off every newscast so that people truly understood the costs.

Comments

deafjeff said…
You know, that could have been done all thru baseball season too. Oh no Pettite has a hangnail and won't throw a littlw white ball today. Mr. Bush's war has been raging far too long with too many lives lost and ruined. The fact that some of us like football as our distraction instead of baseball, wich you admit to watching daily, makes us no differnt than you, old man. And get off my lawn!
18 October, 2008
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