Althouse: "Why didn't the opposing team stop the very small and sick child from scoring? The milk of human kindness?"

April 7, 2013

"Why didn't the opposing team stop the very small and sick child from scoring? The milk of human kindness?"

"Yeah. That and — seriously, would you want to be the guy who tackled a kid with brain cancer?"

53 comments:

edutcher said...: I would say more money than milk.

Remember Mean Joe Greene?; 4/7/13, 11:23 AM
Original Mike said...: Run, Forest, run!; 4/7/13, 11:23 AM
Mark O said...: Don't we all long to become a curiosity?; 4/7/13, 11:26 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Everything we do in each others company is staged in some form or another.

Its as much for the kid as it is for us.; 4/7/13, 11:32 AM
Gahrie said...: When I was in high school, I probably would have tackled the kid, and then not understood why everyone was pissed at me.

"What? I treated him just like I would anyone else...."; 4/7/13, 11:35 AM
Cedarford said...: There is still something sad about a conspiracy of the normal to play-act and pretend the sick or enfeebled just did something amazing on stage or on a field of play. Because we let them, and cheered for fake moment or performance.

And if we don't love it, we are mean and insensitive and Not Caring!

If some do-gooder decides to organize and inflict a retard's Ballet troup on the public - must we cheer the retards on stage?

If one of "Jerry's Kids" wants to score some baskets in an NCAA Final 4 game - must we let them in the name of compassion and empowerment??; 4/7/13, 11:36 AM
Cedarford said...: There is still something sad about a conspiracy of the normal to play-act and pretend the sick or enfeebled just did something amazing on stage or on a field of play. Because we let them, and cheered for fake moment or performance.

And if we don't love it, we are mean and insensitive and Not Caring!

If some do-gooder decides to organize and inflict a retard's Ballet troup on the public - must we cheer the retards on stage?

If one of "Jerry's Kids" wants to score some baskets in an NCAA Final 4 game - must we let them in the name of compassion and empowerment??; 4/7/13, 11:37 AM
bagoh20 said...: I thought it was very touching. It's not about anything other than a bunch of very lucky young men, sharing something, as best they can, with a very unlucky kid who may not get many thrills in his life.

The problem is that everyone is gonna want this now, and there are endless numbers of kids who deserve the same.; 4/7/13, 11:37 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: I remember a good friend of mine at work surprised me with his wife and daughter... came around my cubicle to hi in one of those take your daughter to work day type of thing.

I looked over and just froze... I just sat there in front of my screen and didn't even got up to acknowledge their presence... I think I smiled, but I'm not sure.; 4/7/13, 11:39 AM
MadisonMan said...: I wonder who was more thrilled:

(1) The little kid. Awesome day for him.

(2) His parents.

(3) The Nebraska AD. Tons of great publicity.

It's not like a Spring Scrimmage otherwise means anything.; 4/7/13, 11:49 AM
Katielee4211 said...: Awesome! Love how he hands him the ball & gets him going the right direction. :-) Heartwarming.; 4/7/13, 11:59 AM
dreams said...: When I read or hear about some child with cancer, I always think of Red Skelton's little boy back in the fifties who was two or three years younger than me who was diagnosed with leukemia which we knew meant he was going to die. Years later Red Skelton and his wife divorced and I think she eventually committed suicide. Fortunately great strides have been made in the treatment of leukemia over the decades.; 4/7/13, 12:02 PM
dreams said...: I'm sure it made the child and his family feel good.; 4/7/13, 12:08 PM
Petunia said...: I thought it was a very sweet gesture. It apparently meant the world to the boy and his family, it didn't do anyone any harm, and it made a lot of other people feel good.

In some of the clips you can hear the game announcer covering the play just like it was a real game. Nice job.; 4/7/13, 12:20 PM
AReasonableMan said...: Cedarford, lighten up, it is a child that we are talking about. To some degree all of parenting is play acting, reassuring our children that everything is going to be all right. They learn soon enough that it won't be and that there is no way out of here alive.; 4/7/13, 12:28 PM
Tim said...: That was great!; 4/7/13, 12:34 PM
Cedarford said...: AReasonableMan said...
Cedarford, lighten up, it is a child that we are talking about. To some degree all of parenting is play acting, reassuring our children that everything is going to be all right. They learn soon enough that it won't be and that there is no way out of here alive.

----------------
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. And tens of thousands of advocacy groups and "Victim Families" that want to hijack time from any public event to boost their cause or "give a victim special time and attention and applause".

And if you object...well you are heartless and lack empathy. You might even refuse to hand out the self-esteem trophy!; 4/7/13, 12:48 PM
MadisonMan said...: cedarford, if it helps you, the little kid isn't Jewish.; 4/7/13, 12:50 PM
kjbe said...: Wha a sweet jesture...; 4/7/13, 12:51 PM
sane_voter said...: I thought it was sweet. And being six, he may not know he is somewhat being condescended to; he just gets to experience the rush to have all those fans cheering and the football players yelling at you in a nice way. Plus he seems to have some strong connection to the team and wasn't just dropped in make-a-wish style.

But these things seem to becoming more and more common lately.; 4/7/13, 12:59 PM
Humperdink said...: After watching the video, it was tough to read your comments Cedarford.

I presume you never had a sick child.; 4/7/13, 1:00 PM
Wince said...: The defenders should have taken a few dives and acted like they were trying to tackle him but he just beat them.; 4/7/13, 1:30 PM
bagoh20 said...: "And if you object...well you are heartless and lack empathy."

Yea, but sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

Be true to your convictions. Write to the kid, and tell him you think that was really unfair to you.

NO, no! Please don't do that. I'm only kidding.; 4/7/13, 1:35 PM
Anonymous said...: That warms the cockles of ones' heart, that is unless one has only cockles and no heart.; 4/7/13, 1:39 PM
Steve said...: Brutus Buckeye did not get the same courtesy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl40OBEdN08; 4/7/13, 1:42 PM
RichardS said...: This attitude is, I suspect, very American. I suspect that people raised in many other cultures would not act the same way.; 4/7/13, 2:00 PM
Palladian said...: cedarford, if it helps you, the little kid isn't Jewish.

Nazis, if you recall, didn't like the sick and the feeble very much, either.; 4/7/13, 2:40 PM
tim maguire said...: Someone in the comments linked to this. I'm still laughing.

http://i.imgur.com/G7YZC4A.jpg; 4/7/13, 2:42 PM
Known Unknown said...: MadMan wins.; 4/7/13, 2:44 PM
tim maguire said...: Good lord, Cedarford. Do you really mind, does it really grind your gears that a group of people got together and gave a little boy one of the greatest moments in his sadly too short life?

Well, you called it. You are heartless and lack empathy. Getting out in front of the observation doesn't disprove it. (Though I'm sometimes surprised by the number of people who think it does.); 4/7/13, 2:49 PM
Cody Jarrett said...: That warms the cockles of ones' heart, that is unless one has only cockles and no heart.

paws off my cockles!

Meh. I don't know what Seeferd's problem is (other than poor toilet training coupled with not getting the proper mommy time as a tyke). It was a decision made by the team(s). Their choice. They weren't forced. The big kids looked like they were happier about it than the little kid, so who'd it hurt?

I have a suggestion: Perhaps Seeferd can romp on down to the colleges weight room the next time the D-line is in there lifting weights and start bleating out his schtick.

I'll contribute $50 to the "Send Seeferd to College" fund. Who's in?; 4/7/13, 2:55 PM
Anonymous said...: My, yesterday we had Michael arguing that the parents of 2 small children were stupid for objecting to a violent movie shown on a plane. Someone else thought it would be a good opportunity to have a nice talk with the kids about torture.

Today C-ford rants about a sick kid being given a thrill.

Macho guys. They're really tough on 6 year olds.; 4/7/13, 3:33 PM
RichardS said...: Anyone else reminded of Boxcar Willie?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA4ZLteud88

Very American, as I noted above.; 4/7/13, 4:07 PM
Methadras said...: That kid will never forget that. He isn't as cynical as many of us have become in thinking this is a giant circus and we are the act in it, but for that little moment in his life he was center stage and he felt important, and fulfill a dream. I read the cynicism here and I don't disagree, but I'm just setting it aside cause it's just a kid and there is no need for the callousness directed towards him.; 4/7/13, 4:36 PM
Cedarford said...: tim maguire said...
Good lord, Cedarford. Do you really mind, does it really grind your gears that a group of people got together and gave a little boy one of the greatest moments in his sadly too short life?

==================
It is not in the good intention, it is this stuff is becoming ubiquitous - as stunts to indulge kids or victims or "The Heroes" - or any public occasion or speech must indulge one or several Victims of the Highest Moral Authority.

In a sense, it divides people up into camps.

Touchy Feely, never offend!! - Camp -
"What is the harm of turning off a midflight movie because a strident couple is OFFENDED. Why not just indulge them and people watching the movie can just do other things. It's for their 8 and 10 year old boys who could be Disturbed watching a PG-13 movie!! People have an obligation to honor such wishes!"
"I for one, cheer if parents of local autistic kids want them to perform at a football halftime show in lieu of a few college band songs..And they must be indulged if we Really Care.."

Then

The "Just keep it real and Leave Us Alone camp". -

"Fuck the parents of those 8 and 10 year olds. They do't want to look at the movie on the plane, don't. Pull that brat's earphones out and blindford them!"
"Why should I pay money to attend a concert then have to lose 10 minutes of that concert so a musician and several Victim Families of the Newtown Massacre can give speeches on how bad and mean all guns are?? Then be expected to stand and applaud a horrific song done by the musician and relative of the Victim as part of the Ceremony for The Victims. And anyone who doesn't pretend to love it is cruel and heartless and hates little dead kids.."

"Why not let the suffering child of a Fallen Hero score a goal? Fuck real competition for the sake of Healing and Kah-Loz-Ure? Sorry, the fakeness and phoniness and saccarine is not for me. No one asked the audience about if they wanted this sort of crap happening at every other game.."; 4/7/13, 4:43 PM
Deb said...: What a buzz kill.; 4/7/13, 4:48 PM
jpg said...: Quit digging, Cedarford. The kid and everyone else knew the play wasn't for real. No fake tackling. The kid has been friends with the players since last year when he was hospitalized. This was just a moment for him to be out on the field with his friends. Stop being so righteous. You're just being wrongeous. :); 4/7/13, 5:36 PM
Anthony said...: Very nice gesture.

Having said that, I partially agree with a couple of the cynics. A couple years ago at a women's college softball game (maybe high school), one player hurt her leg after hitting a home run and couldn't run the bases, so her team should have lost. But a couple opposing players carried her around the bases. The media and everyone else, it seemed, were gushing at what great people the carriers were. That's not sportsmanship, that's cheating.; 4/7/13, 5:38 PM
Cody Jarrett said...: to be fair, exiled, the one who thought the parents should have the big torture talk was a female.; 4/7/13, 5:46 PM
The Godfather said...: I agree with what everybody said (except Cedarford), but I want to add this:

The implied distinction between letting the kid score because of the milk of human kindness and letting him score because you'd be condemned if you didn't ("seriously, would you want to be the guy who tackled a kid with brain cancer?"), misses an important point. We've known since the time of Plato, if not before, that social pressures -- approval, disapproval -- play a role in encouraging us to act in accordance with our moral values. Pride and shame help to maintain the thread of decency in a society.

For example, there was a time when it was considered shameful for a guy to get an unmarried girl pregnant and not marry her. Now, there's no shame associated with unmarried pregnancy -- on the contrary, all the best people are doing it. As a result of the lack of social sanction, a whole lot of regular folks have come to think it's OK, and they are paying prices that Bradgalina don't have to pay.; 4/7/13, 5:54 PM
Dr. Mabuse said...: "It is not in the good intention, it is this stuff is becoming ubiquitous"

Really? You mean you're finding your own life being incessantly pre-empted by acts of altruism? I must be living in a rough neighbourhood - I've NEVER been in the right place to see one of these heartwarming gestures. Never been around when one of those spontaneous opera performances breaks out either. I think the former is just about as rare as the latter. However, I've had LOTS of opportunities to see athletes crushing everything in their path to win the Stanley Cup or the Super Bowl.; 4/7/13, 6:00 PM
ed said...: @ Cedarford

"And if you object...well you are heartless and lack empathy."

Lighten up Francis!; 4/7/13, 6:26 PM
JAL said...: My best friend's young son died after a several years fight with cancer -- including a bone marrow transplant from his then 6 year old sister.

The one thing these kids don't have on their side is time.

And those of us who have time don't need to be cheapskates.; 4/7/13, 7:12 PM
bagoh20 said...: Jal, That's exactly the point. Well put.; 4/7/13, 7:37 PM
PackerBronco said...: Boy, watching that Cornhusker defense, I could have sworn I was seeing a replay of the B10 Championship game.; 4/7/13, 8:49 PM
Lyle said...: Nebraska football has come a long way since the Tom Osborne days.; 4/7/13, 8:52 PM
Lyle said...: Nebraska football has come a long way since the Tom Osborne days.; 4/7/13, 8:56 PM
Achilles said...: That kid knew it was a scam. This is just a small part of the trophy for everyone stupidity. That kid could have done things that mattered. Instead he participated in a farce that he knew was a farce.

But it is just a football game right? Is every kid with a terminal disease going to get to run for a touchdown? Are we only going to allow one quarter to be devoted to special touchdowns? What happens when all kids get to run a special touchdown? If we don't start devoting entire games to special touchdowns we are heartless.

What is actually heartless is patronizing our kids and training them to be happy with unearned accolades. Giving them trophies, A's for "effort," and special touchdowns isn't doing them any favors. It is just like telling women to pee on themselves to dissuade rapists.; 4/8/13, 12:53 AM
Chip S. said...: In the time it takes to read and comment in this thread, it's possible to learn the actual backstory.

Personally, I'd be thrilled to be able to do for this little boy what Rex Burkhead has done. Anyone worried about a slippery slope here should go find something else to fret about.; 4/8/13, 2:15 AM
Bart said...: It appears that some people do not understand that this was not a real game, it was the spring scrimage, i.e. practice.

So I doubt if the kid thinks he scored a TD in a game, he ran the length of the field with the team at the end of practice. I would like to think that many schools and teams would be willing to do this with disadvantaged kids.

It is kind of like at baseball games they let kids run around the bases before the game and I am pretty sure none of them think they hit a home run in the game.; 4/8/13, 8:34 AM
SeanF said...: Anthony: A couple years ago at a women's college softball game (maybe high school), one player hurt her leg after hitting a home run and couldn't run the bases, so her team should have lost. But a couple opposing players carried her around the bases. The media and everyone else, it seemed, were gushing at what great people the carriers were. That's not sportsmanship, that's cheating.

College. Couple of distinctions: First, it was not against the rules, so it was not cheating, by definition.

Second, it is not true that "her team should have lost the game." The only difference it would have made was her run. As it stood, it was 3-0, with the bases empty. If the opposing team members had not helped her around the bases, it would've been 2-0 with a pinch runner on 1st, but the game would have continued.

They ended up winning 4-2, so you can't even really argue that it made a difference in the outcome.

And FWIW, if this had happened in Major League Baseball, the rules allow for the replacement runner to simply complete the run around the bases - so the outcome in terms of the score would be exactly the same as it was here. I'm not sure why college softball rules are different in that regard (or if they even are - it's possible the umpires were incorrect in their assessment).; 4/8/13, 8:51 AM
Marie said...: Plus he seems to have some strong connection to the team and wasn't just dropped in make-a-wish style.

Thanks for posting that link, Chip. Rex Burkhead is something special. I like what Jack's dad says: "Not only do I want my son to grow up to be like Rex Burkhead but I, as an adult, should be like Rex Burkhead." (I may have paraphrased some of that.); 4/8/13, 8:59 AM
Robert said...: Don't miss this comment in the metafilter thread:

They certainly drew up the right play for him. Anybody who watched the Big 10 Championship game last year knows what Wisconsin knew: The Cornhuskers will give you the sideline.

http://www.metafilter.com/126791/He-could-go-all-the-way; 4/8/13, 12:07 PM