Bury Me At Wounded Knee

Chipper Jones And Other Career Ending Injuries

Of our elaborate plans, the end. Of everything that stands, the end. No safety or surprise, the end. I’ll never look into your eyes…again. -The Doors

Public Service Announcement: On Tuesday night, as he turned to throw across his body after fielding a ground ball up the third base line by the Astros’ Hunter Pence, Chipper Jones injured his knee. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and is facing season-ending surgery. Perhaps even career ending surgery. Behind Hank Aaron, Chipper is the best player the Atlanta Braves have ever had. Behind Mike Schmidt, Chipper is the best hitting third baseman baseball has ever seen. His loss is a loss to us all. Chipper Jones wanted to go out on his terms. He’s not the only one. In light of this revoltin’ development, lets have a look at some other career ending injuries. Shall we? Sure we shall:

Bo Jackson

Let’s start with an easy one. A cheesy one. A George and Weezy one. Batter up! Bo knows this. What? And Bo knows that. What? But Bo don’t know jack, cause Bo can’t rap. Vincent Edward Jackson. The epitome of the two-sport athlete. One day he’s carrying the Boz over the goal line. The next day, he’s crushing the ball out of Anaheim Stadium at the All-Star game. And look at that one! Bo Jackson says hello! Says hello to my little friend. Maybe the best athlete I’ve ever seen. Maybe the best there’s ever been. On January 13, 1991, during a Raiders playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Jackson suffered a serious hip injury on a seemingly routine tackle by linebacker Kevin Walker. While rehabbing the hip injury, it was discovered he had a deteriorating condition that would require hip replacement. Game over.

Bernie Parent

Bernie Parent is part of one of the greatest sports teams in Philadelphia history. For two seasons, Berinie Parent had joy. For two seasons, Berinie Parent had fun. That’s right, he had joy, he had fun, he had two seasons in the sun. He won two Stanley Cups with the Flyers and was instrumental in doing so, winning both deciding games without giving up a single goal. Not a single goal. Yowza! Parent suffered a career-ending eye injury. Against the New York Rangers, on February 17, 1979, Flyer Jimmy Watson attempted to move a Ranger from in front of the goal. Accidentally, he put the blade of his stick through the right eyeslit of Parent’s mask. Game over.

Dave Dravecky

In 1989, Dave Dravecky made a triumphant return to baseball after having a cancerous tumor and half his deltoid muscle removed from his left throwing arm. He returned to Candlestick Park in San Francisco and won his first start, a 4-3 decision over the Cincinnati Reds. Hooray Dave Dravecky! Not so fast. A week later Dravecky’s arm snapped in half while throwing a pitch in Montreal. The cancer had returned, and doctors were forced to amputate the full arm. Game over.

Charles Barkley

Before Charles Barkley was America’s most outspoken TV commentator, he was the Round Mound of Rebound. He was selected to the All-NBA First Team five times, the All-NBA Second Team five times, and once to the All-NBA Third Team. He earned eleven NBA All-Star Game appearances and was named the All-Star MVP in 1991. In 1993, he was voted the league’s Most Valuable Player and during the NBA’s 50th anniversary, named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. On December 8, 1999 in Philadelphia, where his career began, ironically, it ended prematurely at the age of 36 after rupturing his left quadriceps tendon. Game over.

Joe Theisman

Know this: I went to GWU in Washington DC when this occurred. I saw it countless times. Countless I say! It still makes me queasy. In one of the greatest grimace-inducing moments of televised sports history, Theisman’s right leg snapped as he was being sacked by Lawrence Taylor of the New York Giants on Monday Night Football.

Tony Conigliaro

Tony C. The future of the Red Sox. He electrified the Fenway Faithful by hitting the first pitch he ever saw at the old ball park over the monster for a home run. In his sophomore campaign, Conigliaro led the league in home runs. He became the youngest American League player to reach a career total of 100 home runs. A local kid. Beloved. Then it happened. Jack Hamilton hit Conigliaro with a pitch that fractured his cheekbone and eye socket and severely damaged his retina. Conigliaro nearly died. He came back, but was never the same. Game over.