The most incredible thing I've seen in a long time:

[petronius]

A high school football player without any legs (From SI/CNN):

http://i.a.cnn.net.nyud.net:8090/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/2005/09/27/gallery.martin/014216618.jpg

Just thought I would share this...

[Az]

1. Um.... er .... ahhhhh.... it's not really football then is it

I feel so tarnished. But it was just laying there. Someone had to. :hide:

[KitchenWitch]

2. Oh man!

That is just evil...

I am laughing which makes me just as evil...

[petronius]

3. What's really messed up

is that according to the article he was kicked out of a game for not wearing the proper uniform: no shoes, no thigh pads.

And you are definitely sick, but in a very worthy sort of way. :)

[SoCalDem]

4. I am conflicted about this

On the one hand

It's a positive thing for the kid who wants to be "like" all his friends..

On the other hand

The rest of the players will always have to watch out for him, and treat him differently..They might actually injure themselves, trying to avoid hurting him..

and

there is another boy who did NOT make the team.. That boy might have developed into a good player, and because of a PC thing, he's a spectator..

There are just some things that SOME people cannot do.. a 4'8" boy might really want to play on the high school basketball team, but he's not likely to ever get a chance..

There are probably kids who love to sing, but whose voices are shit..and they will not be invited to join an elite chorale group in HS.

There are just things that some can do,and others cannot..

The parents of that boy should be proud of him for having spirit, but they also need to teach him that sometimes there are limits.

[petronius]

5. I get what you're saying

I couldn't read the whole article (I'm not a subscriber), but from what I saw it sounds like he is there on merit. It says he plays on punt and kickoff coverage, which is not part of the game where you can be a player down and expect to do well. And apparently he has some other physical and athletic accomplishments as well.

It would be a shame if his or other players safety was compromised for a symbolic gesture - I'm hoping that isn't what is happening...

I do agree with you that there are limits, although we certainly celebrate anyone who tries to push those limits as far as possible.