Damar Hamlin has been on the minds of the entire nation this week. Why shouldn’t he be? The scene in Cincinnati as he suffered a cardiac arrest on the field felt like the first thing we have experienced as a nation in real-time in ages. Tuesday, the incident and his health are all any show talked about. By Wednesday, some shows began talking about the biggest storylines with their local teams. What will we see by Sunday?
I fully expect that Hamlin will get some spotlight, but time, as the saying goes, waits for no man. If the NFL really does play its full, scheduled slate on Sunday, how can CBS, ESPN, FOX, NBC or NFL Network devote a full show to the topic? They will all have a job to do.
What is reasonable to expect? Well, that largely depends. What story is there to tell?
As I write this, things seem to be going positively for Hamlin, all things considered. The amount of oxygen that he is receiving is dropping, but he is still in critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. He isn’t conscious. If that is still the case come Sunday, what stories make sense to tell?
Certainly, producers have been racing to book some or all of the first responders that were part of the life-saving effort on Monday night. I would imagine the spokesman for Damar Hamlin’s family will be on one show (probably more than one). There will be package pieces about the outpouring of support to Hamlin’s charity toy drive and about his story of making it onto an NFL roster.
The NFL office in New York will want a presence I am sure. I would be shocked if Roger Goodell doesn’t make time to go on each show. There will likely be conversations with the people in charge of innovation and player safety.
Maybe we will see some tougher questions asked. Will any network be bold enough to talk about the things Garrett Bush covered in his impassioned rant on The Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show this week? Bush took the league to task for rolling back the already paltry payments the league makes for player insurance and pension and painted a disheartening picture of the support Hamlin will need that likely won’t exist.
If there is no major change in Hamlin’s status in the ICU, those are all viable ways to talk about him and the incident beyond what we know will happen, which is former players and coaches reflecting on the fact that each week, we ask these guys to put their lives on the line to entertain us. The networks will likely also make room for a health expert, maybe more than one.
There are good, meaningful conversations to be had and those Sunday pregame shows are the ideal forum. I would imagine the multi-hour shows would make Damar Hamlin an hourly or semi-hourly focus. It is worthy of attention, but if we are playing football, so is the football.
Now, let’s consider whether or not there is a major change and Hamlin is alert and awake. All of my previous suggestions are still viable. There would be the added possibility of him giving an interview.
If I understand the reports correctly, it is a virtual certainty that when Damar Hamlin wakes up, he will not be ready to walk right out of the hospital. It’s also highly likely that he won’t feel like reflecting on what happened or having a deep conversation for the world to see as soon as Sunday.
That doesn’t mean producers won’t be trying. And you know what? They should try. It would be the biggest thing on TV if it were to happen.
What should we expect? Honestly, I have no idea. Just like on Tuesday morning across the country, no one has really had to plan a sports show like this before. I hope that Damar Hamlin and the issues Monday night brought up have a place on the pregame shows. They are important, but I recognize that the Packers and Lions could be playing for a playoff spot and homefield advantage in both conferences could be in play. If we are indeed playing games, those things are important too.
Demetri Ravanos is a columnist and features writer for Barrett Media. He is also the creator of The Sports Podcast Festival, and a previous host on the Chewing Clock and Media Noise podcasts. He occasionally fills in on stations across the Carolinas in addition to hosting Panthers and College Football podcasts. His radio resume includes stops at WAVH and WZEW in Mobile, AL, WBPT in Birmingham, AL and WBBB, WPTK and WDNC in Raleigh, NC.
You can find him on Twitter @DemetriRavanos or reach him by email at DemetriTheGreek@gmail.com.
