Former NFL player dies during arena football game.

[Bunny]

What a shame.

SNIP
Arena Football League teammates of Al Lucas stood stunned as the 300-pound lineman they called "Big Luke" was carried motionless on a stretcher off the Staples Center floor.

Lucas, 26, a former player with the NFL's Carolina Panthers, died Sunday from a presumed spinal cord injury sustained while trying to make a tackle for the Los Angeles Avengers, the team said.

Lucas was injured during a first-quarter kickoff return against the New York Dragons.

Television replays showed him bending down to make a tackle. As the Dragons' ball carrier and a blocker tumbled over his head and back, the blocker's leg appeared to hit Lucas in the head. Lucas did not move after falling to the ground.
SNIP

http://www.armstrongmywire.com/news/read.php?id=13095536&ps=1013

[donco6]

1. It didn't even look like that hard a hit.

Just an unfortunate thing. Poor guy. Left a family, too.

[mark414]

2. this happened during a detroit lions game, live on TV

back in the 60's or 70's...my dad saw it all unfold; the guy played for the lions and was a receiver i think, he was running a cross pattern and in the middle of it *BOOM* down he went, not touched by anyone. my dad said the whole stadium was dead silent (unintentional pun in poor taste) as they didn't have the instant replay yet (at least in the stadium), but they did replay it on TV. apparently it was some sort of heart problem.

anyone else see this/remember this? my dad's memory was shaky...

[ScreamingMeemie]

3. It was Chuck Hughes, a wide receiver, and he had a heart attack.

My father remembers being stunned. Most people thought he had tripped himself up...but then he didn't move. It was 1971.

[vpigrad]

4. I bet the fans cheered!

I'm surprised more players aren't killed by that useless, violent "sport."