For those who do not know, Jiri Fisher of the Detroit Red Wings suffered what was first termed a seizure [but now seen as heart fluttering] 12 minutes into last night's game with the Nashville Preds. He was given CPR...a fibulator was used...and he was taken to the emergency room.
He is recoverting nicely at this moment. Thank God for that news.
But one of the interesting issues of today is the fact that the Red Wings postponed [date not yet determined] the game with the Preds after the incident happened. There were some boos heard in the crowd as they were total to, basically, go home.
Now the issue comes up. Was that the right call? Should the Wings canceled that game?? A very simple question that, to me, had a simple answer. But after listening to talk radio and having various discussions with some people today....the answer isn't so simple.
At first...I thought it was the right thing to do. A man almost died. In fact, when he left the building, no one knew if he was going to live or not. And you expect the man that battle alongside him to go back and play a trivial hockey game?? Take a step back and try it again some other time.
Then I heard the other side. Sure, people didn't want to pass over what happened....but many feel the show must go on. And they mainly point to past incidents. How many times in the NFL do see a player go down....the medical staff is working feverishly....other players are kneeling down praying...the crowd is hushed...a stretcher comes out....and the player is wheeled off the field. When he and the medical staff are off the playing field....the whistle sounds and the guys line up. Perfect example is Mike Utley, a lineman for the Detroit Lions. He suffered paralysis on a play where he broke his neck. After his "thumbs up"....the game continued.
We've seen in baseball games in which a line drive off the pitcher's chest or head, the game is stopped while medical attention is given....but they play ball when order is restored. Or in the NBA, when Reggie Lewis fainted on the court during the 1993 playoffs versus the Charlotte Hornets. The game and the series went on. Or in NASCAR, when a horrific crash happens....they eventually see the green flag wave again.
Even the NHL has had such incidents....including when Todd Bertuzzi's cheap shot on Steve Moore that broke Moore's neck on the ice. The game went on. Same with Chris Pronger several years back [he was hit in the chest with the puck and collapsed]. Or Donald Audette a few years ago [a blade severed 10 tendons in his wrist and almost...almost....lost use of his arm]. Or Trent McClearey who caught a puck to the throat with crushed his larynx and doctors had to perform an emergency tracheotomy on him at the arena. The games went on.
But, you can also point to the WCC Tournament being canceled after Hank Gathers collapsed and died during a first round game. And the fact that most of the other things [not all] were sports injuries....not physical defects.
It is a tad bit complicated issue...but in the end, I think that you cannot argue with the Wings thinking here. The game can be made up at a later date....and there isn't any need to continue of there is a wonder if a player is going to survive or not. The respect to Jiri Fisher and his family [his fiance was in attendance when the incident happened] is much more valuable than this game.
Get well soon, Jiri!!
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