The Hit

“The Hit”

He never saw it coming

Blind-sided, he was unable to avoid it

The noise of the helmet-to-helmet collision was heard across the entire stadium

The collective gasps signaled the horror of the fans

His body lay on the ground for what seemed

like an eternity while all held their breath

He made it to his knees and then stood

Not wanting any support from fellow players or training staff

His only desire was to walk off the field

The mob cheered loudly for their hero as he

Made it to the sideline and was taken to the blue tent

For observation and review

The game went on and few, if any, gave this incident a second thought,

while the player puked and pleaded to come back to the action

The hero did come back and played that day and for many days after that

To satiate his desire for glory and the mob’s lust to be part of this tribal experience

The mob says this is all part of the game

The players know the risks and what they are getting into

Everyone wants the money, the glory and the adulation of the adoring fans

It was only years later that the player realized he had been sacrificed at the altar

 of greed by the gods of ownership

 They all went about their lives without the fear and pain that forced him and his family

into an existence of isolation, drugs and abuse

When he could no longer tolerate it, the end came quickly - he loaded the gun and pulled the trigger �" the game still goes on!!

© G. A. Bernard 2022