Sports Poems Highlight Need for Safety

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Texas Rangers & Houston Astros MLB Teams Hit A Home Run

College baseball players Johnathan Taylor & Buddy Lamothe,
It seems are no time soon going to make big league history,
Well, at least not in homeruns, batting average, hits or steals,
Both temporally have parts of their bodies that cannot feel.

Taylor had a collision in the outfield with teammate Zach Cone,
He suffered a broken neck, unable to move, but he’s not alone,
Lamonthe was paralyzed in a diving accident, upgraded to fair,
Both these two young hopefuls received hope, the pros do care.

Some say it is a symbolic gesture by the Rangers and Astros,
Although these two major league teams claim it might be so,
This is not your normal broken leg, sore ankle or back strain,
Neither had ever expected during the draft to hear their name.

Doctors, doctors, that’s why it’s called the practice of medicine,
Because the diagnosis is neither of them will ever walk again,
Taylor, University of Georgia & Lamothe, San Jacinto College,
They are relying on past ability and rehabilitation knowledge.

Billion dollar business, multi-million dollar contracts, the pay days,
Within their current circumstances a little certainly goes a long way,
J. Ikanga, “the will to win means nothing without the will to prepare,”
Simply, “there is no elevator to success you have to climb the stairs.”

Prepare? To fit, adapt, qualify for a particular purpose, make ready,
And although progress is slow, nevertheless their progress is steady,
“Journey of a 1,000 miles begins with the first step” the road is far,
With this first step, Texas is not in the U.S., it sits among the stars.

By Luke Easter

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Friday Night Lights (A Tribute To David Edwards)

Football in Texas is like Basketball in the Hoosier State,
For D.B. David Edwards in a game against Austin Westlake,
A junior at San Antonio Madison a collision sealed his fate,
Going for an interception was it early or just a little too late?

His neck was broken as high school foes reached for the pass,
A seasoned player it wasn’t the first, who thought it’d be his last,
This is the game of football it’s not the war in a place called Iraq,
The worst that could ever come of this is a contusion on your back.

Occurring during a playoff game, November in the year of our Lord 2003,
An offensive play happening many, many times before fans routinely see,
Opposing quarterback scans the field then proceeds with a mighty heave,
Come on Dave get up, what’s that, he can’t move this is hard to believe.

A television director and producer in the stands was a man named Peter Berg,
So moved by the incident he used his God given talent of writing some words,
Now a weekly series on NBC about friends, family, coaches, kids who played,
The pilot episode aired in 2006 not a commercial success but the critics raved.

Maybe there wasn’t enough lying, back stabbing, cheating, going insane,
Just some hard working teenagers scrambling, playing for love of the game,
Sure there were dreams of attending the best college, a future with the pros,
However, for this young man not even his parents, because only God knows.

David Edwards had been stricken with pneumonia sometime late last year,
The amount of suffering probably never drowned out by the rivers of tears,
Not by the football player yet they’re shed by a multitude of helpless friends,
From innocent courage of a soldier because his short lived season has to end.

Slipping into an irreversible coma this Monday his life started to cease,
Permanent residence in what is known as Methodist Hospital Northeast,
It still took another two days before death could finally take him home,
Although no longer of our world the bible assures he will never be alone.

Saturday March 1st,2008 the would be star is to become the age of 21,
However, on Wednesday, February 27 clouds moved in covering up his Sun,
Some might say darkness began over four years ago and it just isn’t right,
The game like the television show must go on for, “Friday Night Lights.”

Oops! Maybe the message has been lost for the new 2009 season,
Saw the first episode on Friday 1/23/09 and here is the main reason,
Canidate for class president held a rally at school as strippers swayed,
Her main platform was a cool prom and a good chance for getting laid.

The new principal wanted money raised by boosters for a jumbo-tron,
Used for academics because that's where it's needed & she's a mom,
With a belief her new role is more about education not a football team,
So the entire school could have an opportunity to pursue their dreams.

Friday Night Lights and a late start for the show, season number four,
East Dillon High but the writers did not transfer, will there be more?
Unless there’s a download of quality material it’s time to shed tears,
High School Football is about pride, not having sex & drinking beer.

Originally about a player’s enthusiasm, while eventually cost his life,
Now it’s about the coach, two daughters, the principal who’s his wife,
A couple of star players from very different racial sides of the tracks,
6/11/10 playing the #1 team, stands are half full, chance to tie, sacked.

Yes! In this country there is a dividing line of color, that is a true fact,
But African Americans aren’t the only nationality strung out on crack,
Black athletes steal wallets and cars, is this stereotype message right?
It’s about a community brought together through Friday Night Lights.

What happened & why, at the start the series was critically acclaimed,
We waited in anticipation, who’d do what, even knew players names,
So what about a music festival in Austin, young lovers, Julie and Matt?
Commercials are almost long as the show, why bother to bring it back?

By Luke Easter