Hail Emperor, those who are about to die, salute you! 

Hail Emperor, those who are about to die, salute you! 

That phrase from AD 52, was uttered by captives and  criminals to salute emperor Claudius, before they engaged each other in mortal combat. 

In ancient Rome, loud crowds witnessed barbaric gladiator events, where men would fight to death against other men…or against animals, such as lions, or tigers. The crowds would express their opinions by giving either  “a thumbs up” or “a thumbs down” (or “a concealed thumb”) gesture at the end of the fight. Thumbs up, unlike its modern meaning, perhaps was a death sentence. A kind of “get out of here!” order. Nevertheless, the Emperor (if present) or his representative, was the ultimate judge, the one who would decide if a gladiator would be killed, or pardoned.

These past few days I have been thinking a lot about those gladiator fights, as the violent game of “American football” was placed under a magnifying glass. 

A modern gladiator, in this case a 24 years-old football player named Damar Hamlin, who plays the position of “safety” for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, suffered a cardiac arrest during a game, after making a tackle in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Safety is the defense’s last line of defense. His job is to make sure no offensive players run or catch a touchdown. Safeties are celebrated for their speed and hard-hitting qualities. For their toughness. 

Nevertheless, in spite of his youth and strong physical condition, that young Buffalo safety just lied there, immobile, dying during a prime time television spectacle. The game, being watched by millions of people all over the world, came to a dramatic halt. As the player was resuscitated on the field, silence took over the stadium.

I was not watching the game, but a message in social media alerted me as to what was happening in that football game in Cincinnati. 

As I “navigated” a few television channels, I was astounded to see and hear what I can only call the inability (or lack of journalistic bravery?) shown by some of those sports commentators. They seemed to be in shock and could not offer any intelligent analysis of what had just happened on that field. With watering eyes and shivering chins, they repeated calls for prayers, clearly more ready to start crying (or praying) than to offer some calming thoughts.

Were they afraid that their comments could be taken as a criticism of football itself? After all, they are paid to celebrate and promote a game that earns about $25 billion to those who run the National Football League. At least $12 billion is earned from contracts with television, radio and other media outlets. Thus, questioning the obvious dangers found in the game of football (or soccer) might sound “ungrateful” to the bosses. Prayers were, clearly, a better and safer choice. A famous phrase comes to mind: “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.” 

All over the world, soccer players cross themselves as they enter the field to play. In football, baseball or soccer, many players lift a finger to the sky, to thank whomever they believe is there, hopefully paying attention to their games. In basketball, commentators sometimes speak of “the big rebounder in the sky,” a mysterious and unseen figure that supposedly watches every game. A busy guy, that big rebounder!

There is a strong connection between religion and those who participate in the business of sports. Christianity and the NFL have a strong partnership. All the NFL teams have Chaplains in their payrolls.

The medical profession also has a strong presence in professional football games, with over 30 medical professionals present at each game. Thoughts, prayers…and ambulances. That medical assistance is badly needed: chronic traumatic encephalopathy, caused by repeated blows to the head, was (until recently) an unattended result of the violent game. 

The Sports columnist Jenny Vrentas, of the New York Times, wrote on ​​Jan. 5: “As a simple matter of physics, the combination of the size and speed of professional football players means that the force of their collisions can be akin to that of a world-class sprinter running (at full speed) into a brick wall.” 

Not all is violence in the games. There is also beauty, graceful energy, amazing displays of physical prowess and intelligence. Or a participant might also die due to a hidden medical reason. A few days ago, during an apparently safer version of football, something called flag football, a 16-year old woman, Ashari Hughes, experienced chest pains, collapsed…and died.

Maybe fear is also the reason why so many players make such a big showing of their religiosity, by constantly thanking whomever they believe is watching (and protecting them) from the sky? Giving thanks for their latest score, but also for protecting them during a game. They are covering as many angles as possible in order to survive and prosper. 

Bill Curry, a longtime college football coach, recently said that prayer was a constant resource for many in the NFL. “We played the macho role, but in our heart of hearts it is constantly “Lord, I need you! Please stand by my side.”

The Roman Emperors, the Generals in all Armies, the Coaches and the Owners always stand on the sidelines. The gladiators and the players always take the physical chances…but they will lift a finger to the sky. Just in case.