The Folly of Spring
Break Out The First Aid Kits
By Val Porter

Ah…springtime. When the world comes alive and the flowers bloom and the birds chirp happily… and people end up in the ER or doctor's office because the weekend warrior deep inside comes to life as well.

We've been on the couch all winter and it's time to blow the dust off and enjoy the great outdoors! I can't say I've ever suffered an injury due to outdoor sports, although I've been very sore after overdoing it at the gym. Well, once in college, I thought I broke my ankle in bowling class. Seems you need to throw the ball down the alley and not into your own leg.

But you know what I'm talking about. We all know someone who has overestimated his or her athletic prowess and then pays for their shortcomings. Or we've witnessed it.

In fact, I've seen it happen to one of my co-workers. Several years ago, the DVE Morning Show went to Steelers training camp. The boys on the show got to talking about the 40 yard dash. Well, the next thing you know, we're out on one of the practice fields lining up. Not me, mind you - I'm speaking specifically about Jimmy Krenn. He takes off like a shot. And about 20 yards in, he starts hopping on one leg and limping along. He couldn't even finish. He had pulled his groin. Yikes. That one hurts. The next week he comes to work in shorts and shows everyone what happened. His entire thigh was black and blue. I'd never seen anything like that and I hope I never do again. Of course, Jimmy has no plans on sprinting again anytime soon.

Another friend found his trouble on the bike trail. He and his wife were bicycling on the trail along the river near Station Square and it was approaching dark and getting harder to see. Well, no one is sure why, but there was a large cement block in the middle of the trail. Yeah, you guessed it. He didn't see it and t-boned it, flipping over the handlebars of his bike and onto the trail. Blood started gushing from his face. His glasses had cut his face near his eye and he ended up with a dozen stitches. He now wears sport glasses. This is the same guy who mangled his hand when he wiped out on a go-cart and rolled it over. His wife wasn't quite as sympathetic that time.

My fiancé's uncle once blew his knee out… playing Frisbee. From the story that's been told to me, he was running to catch the Frisbee and tumbled over a hillside. And it also happened at Steelers training camp. Maybe the Steelers should have medical trainers on hand for the exuberant fans watching on the sidelines.

Well, now is the time of year when we all find out just how lazy and out of shape we've gotten over the past six months. And remember, whatever your chosen outdoor sport or spare time activity is, let's be careful out there. Especially at Steelers training camp.