Tales Of The Tearing: Knees Beware

March 2, 2017 at 5:05 am by Elliot Thornton

An anterior cruciate ligament injury is a topic that many people shiver at the thought of. An athlete’s worst nightmare and oftentimes a career ending virtue, ACL injuries have unfortunately become a common thread within the world of sports.

Peyton Stotelmyre / Daily Nexus

With respect to the game of basketball, the curse of the ACL has advanced into an inevitable entity. Exploding to the rim, going up for a block or even making an awkward landing can all carry the risk of this season-ending injury. Minnesota Timberwolves high-flyer Zach LaVine, the Milwaukee Bucks’s rising star Jabari Parker and a handful of others have seen their seasons come to a close this year as a result of this dreadful injury.

Minnesota Timberwolves high-flyer Zach LaVine, the Milwaukee Bucks’s rising star Jabari Parker and a handful of others have seen their seasons come to a close this year as a result of this dreadful injury. These athletes understand the risk of sports whenever they step out onto the court, but how does one avoid the possibility of enduring such a painful and emotional injury? What precautionary measures should be taken to avoid this setback and stay on a healthy path?

These athletes understand the risk of sports whenever they step out onto the court, but how does one avoid the possibility of enduring such a painful and emotional injury? What precautionary measures should be taken to avoid this setback and stay on a healthy path?

Simply put, these are some crucial questions that unfortunately have no set answer. As a victim of this physical injury myself, I can honestly say the nature of an ACL tear is unpredictable. Much like what makes sports today so exciting, these unexpected moments of thrill and sorrow come and go as they please, keeping fans on the edge of their seats for the better but sometimes for the worse.

Injuries are never a favorable circumstance for any athlete, but lessons can be learned in the process of this hardship and illuminate the true value of sports that lie beyond any court or hardwood floor.

The first message would be to trust the process. A term coined after Philadelphia 76er Joel Embiid, an athlete’s journey is filled with unexpected trials and tribulations. Similar to the seven-footer’s process of being a high lottery pick in the NBA and then subsequently being sidelined for a season-ending surgery, our highest goals and ambitions can often be deterred by reality, but that doesn’t mean it has to stop there. In the lead for Rookie of the Year and averaging 29.6 points per game per 36 minutes, this guy is living proof that one can bounce back from a season-ending injury. It takes belief and confidence to know that one’s situation does not dictate the future road ahead. Embiid’s will to work past his setback — much like other players who have sustained ACL injuries — has fueled his placement in the NBA and stake as one of the best young big men. All it takes is trusting the process.

In the lead for Rookie of the Year and averaging 29.6 points per game per 36 minutes, this guy is living proof that one can bounce back from a season-ending injury. It takes belief and confidence to know that one’s situation does not dictate the future road ahead. Embiid’s will to work past his setback — much like other players who have sustained ACL injuries — has fueled his placement in the NBA and stake as one of the best young big men. All it takes is trusting the process.

Embiid’s will to work past his setback — much like other players who have sustained ACL injuries — has fueled his placement in the NBA and stake as one of the best young big men. All it takes is trusting the process.The second lesson myself and fellow ACL

The second lesson myself and fellow ACL injuries have learned is to enjoy the ride. There will be highs, lows and even lower periods where you feel that your injury has taken you to the end of the road.

Former first overall pick Derrick Rose can attest to this, suffering not only an ACL tear but also a meniscus tear during the peak of his career. While a major blow to one of the most explosive guards of our time, the Chicago native stuck through it and continues to follow his passion to this day: playing basketball. Rose continues to prove doubters wrong and show flashes of the athletic D-Rose, now in a New York Knick uniform.

Whether professional or recreational, there is something common athletes like ourselves can take out of the career of Rose and other recipients of the ACL scare.

Being on the road is never easy when it comes to sports. There will be setbacks, both physical and emotional, that continue to test one’s character. The ability to come to terms with this and understand that everyone has their own struggles and is in the process of conquering them is a bond that moves beyond the confines of gamesmanship. Trust the experience, trust the process and certainly trust the ride.

A version of this story appeared on p. 7 of the March 2, 2017, edition of the Daily Nexus.