Let this sink in… I’m mid 40’s with a family and no chance at making an NBA team and I don’t think even I could give up playing basketball unless the doc said I was guaranteed to die.
The question isn't your passion, it is your family. How about, "I know my family will sign each and every waiver (as if they were ironclad documents) that allows me to 1) run with abandon on a basketball court and 2) suddenly die at any time without holding anyone but me accountable for my own death." Would they always sign them and would they never, EVER listen to an ambulance chaser who wants them to "have some closure"? Easier said than done.
I didn’t know that’s how it works for an adult to make their own decision. And even if they did have a say in it, I would bully the hell out of my family to sign those waivers if they even had the nerve to stand in my way of my dreams. They would be extremely selfish to not sign just so that they can benefit financially by suing the school after my death.
The real point is after you are "offed". Are they going to support your demands or are they going to listen to what the snake oil salesmen are saying? It is easy for YOU but not necessarily for those who are grieving. And even if your situation is sacrosanct, does an institution such as UF expect others' to be as limiting? And THAT is what is driving our system these days, whether we like it or not.
By this logic, we can’t have any sports. If any player dies for any reason, could a family not sue the college or team for the team doctors not identifying that an issue existed? Can’t go to the beach, because why did the government allow us to swim there when they knew sharks are there and someone got bitten. Let’s sue the mall, because some crazy guy shot it up today and they didn’t have metal detectors. I mean at what point does it stop? Anyone trying to sue over that is ridiculous, especially if the person themselves knew the risk and was ok with it. People take risks every day.
Everything you named are lawsuit's that would and do happen in Florida. People in Florida can sue you for any reason they feel like. If there is any chance of recovering money from it lawyers will line up to take the case. If I was a doctor no way would I say he is fine to play.
So then, the risk is already accepted every day by every school. A doctor should give a real diagnosis, not simply say what is least likely to get them sued.
The problem may be that the doctors just don't know. I am sure there are many that have reviewed his case but if there is even the smallest possibility that it could happen again they may choose to error on the safe side. Also UF may choose to do the same. Scott Brantley was told not to play football anymore and never played for the Gators again but then later played in the pro's.
Well into a game a player lays dead on the court without intervention. Know one know why but it's his heart that's problem somehow. Is it the best course of action to possibly subject KJ, his family and team to the uncertainty of another incident - or worse? What is the most prudent thing to do for the best chance of a long, prosperous life for KJ? Maybe it's not playing.
“Even the smallest possibility”? Is that the standard, now? That would seem to be a very low bar… one that would eliminate almost any athlete’s ability to play sports.
A doctor may have given a real diagnosis. We don't know if they have or not and may never know unless the family chooses to tell us.
A scary proposition to hit the court without knowing. If it were me I'd want to do a little more every day for at least a year building and building toward the type of effort needed for 5 minutes of SEC play. And even then I would be wondering if there was a mine on the court somewhere.
I'm all for his player-coach status if it actually includes "player". Doesn't sound like that's in the cards though I feel so bad for the guy, but if he's healthy and happy then who am i to question. Just being happy these days is a major accomplishment, so good for him.
Everybody has a different opinion on this, but to me the level of obligation to your family is based on their dependency on you. Young student years likely yields a time when you have fewer folks depending on you (not always true, of course); when you start your own family, the dynamic changes a little bit. Respect to Murphree for his passion for playing basketball, but Key's situation may not have as many obligations. Go GATORS! ,WESGATORS
