An Aussie football player loved the game so much he had a finger amputated so he could continue to play professionally.
Brett Backwell, who plays for Glenelg in South Australia, broke his ring finger three years ago and had been in constant pain up until recently.
The 24-year-old Australian was given an ultimatum: fuse the bones and never play again – or cut it off.
A bone fusion could have eased the pain from Backwell’s broken finger but it also would have ended his career. Doing nothing meant constant pain and Backwell often had to catch the ball on his wrist. So instead of ending his career, Backwell chose amputation.
Has this Aussie lost his mind or just his finger?
Glenelg club manager Ken Applegarth was widely quoted as saying Backwell’s decision confirmed his commitment to the sport, but when does love for the game go too far?
Sacrifice, dedication and commitment are not new sentiments to sport. Young athletes give up their social lives, sleep, family, time and money just to stay involved. Then there are games, matches, meets, playoffs and tournaments to think about – all for the love of the game.
Hockey players in the NHL know all about commitment. And while no one has amputated any fingers recently, there have been more than enough career-ending concussions.
Last month, Adam Deadmarsh retired from the NHL because of post-concussion syndrome, ending a 10-year career that included a Stanley Cup and two trips to the Olympics.
He joins a group of players, including Brett Lindros, Pat LaFontaine, and Nick Kypreos, whose careers were cut short because of concussions.
But for the athletes that continue to put their health on the line, what does the game give back to them?
For some, sport is a way to escape reality by offering a release. For many athletes, sport is a part of who they are, having played from the day they learned to walk.
A few seek the fame that comes along with being the best and others just want to be in their physical prime.
Backwell isn’t the first to sacrifice a finger to the game and he won’t be the last, but his story serves as a reminder to strive for a well-rounded way of living where athletes can establish a balance between sport and other joys in life.
If Backwell had other options to choose from, he might have made a completely different decision.
Athletes should always know what they’re getting back from the sports they whole-heartedly love, otherwise they’ll be losing a whole lot more than a finger.