September 6, 2009
By Kim Roberson
Kim Roberson
|
I don’t think there is a person out there that hasn’t done something at least once in their life where they later stopped and thought back and said “How stupid could I be?” In many cases, such a comment involves personal injury. Mine involves a recycling bin and a broken toe…and that is all I will say on that.
Athletes are usually known for being relatively graceful because they require concentration, balance, and a keen sense of self preservation. However, every once in a while, a guy does something that makes you ask “Are you kidding me?”
I didn’t think a NASCAR driver would have a harder time living an experience down than Jimmie Johnson falling off the top of a moving golf cart and breaking his wrist before the 2008 season. Seriously, have we ever figured out what he was doing up there in the first place?
But this week, we have a new champion in the NASCAR klutz department….and his name is Carl Edwards.
I received the following post on Facebook Thursday evening:
“What a day! Broke a couple of bones in my right foot. It takes a special effort to do that while playing Frisbee. Dr. White, Dr. Dellarocca, the guys at mid-mo orthotics have been a HUGE help. Cindy and all of the imaging folks have been too. Looks ...like I should b fine in the car, but can’t walk on it for a while. I am finding out how great it is to be an Aflac customer. They are actually sending $! Onward!”
Yes, you read right….Carl broke his foot playing FRISBEE. Not touch football. Not climbing the face of a mountain, or riding his mountain bike cross country. He didn’t even drop a set of weights on his foot. He broke his foot by stepping on a small plastic disc that children throw at each other at parks and beaches across America.
How is it that a man with a six pack that does not involve cans, virtually zero body fat, and who walked away without a scratch from one of the scariest crashes of the season when his car flew into the catchfence at Talladega -- break his foot playing FRISBEE?
In a more formal statement, Edwards explained the incident this way. “I know this probably sounds ridiculous to a lot of people and I could hardly believe it myself…I was playing Frisbee with a couple of buddies and we both went for the Frisbee at the same time. I put my foot on it, my friend dove for it, and the next thing you know… we all heard a pop. “ ( At this point, I can almost see him shaking his head in disbelief). “I knew it was broken and we all kind of looked at each other in disbelief that of all things, I would break my foot playing Frisbee. I immediately went to the doctor and have been working with a great team of people at the University of Missouri who work with all the college teams here. They have me on crutches to help me walk but said I could race in both races this weekend and shouldn’t have a problem using the accelerator.”
I guess it is a good thing Carl’s wife, Kate, is a physician specializing in physical therapy.
Not missing an opportunity to plug his sponsor, which also happens to be an insurance company, Carl added “I guess you never know when something is going to happen. This is obviously an unforeseen accident and even though I am not going to miss work, my Aflac policy has me covered. I’ve now seen firsthand how Aflac works and it’s clear that no matter how big or small the accident is Aflac is there for their policyholders.”
Sounds like he is taking a lesson from the Michael Waltrip school of sponsor plugs.
Despite the injury, Carl is scheduled to race in both the Nationwide and Cup series races this weekend in Atlanta. Being in contention for both series championships, he can’t afford to let a little thing like a broken foot stop him from racing for the win.
A back-flip might be problematic, however.
You know he is never going to live this down.
The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.
You can contact Kim at..