USC CB saves nephew from drowning
USC CB Josh Shaw saved his nephew from drowning and in the process injured his anke. He jumped off a second story balcony.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/246798…
August 25th, 2014 at 7:15 PM ^
He was a starting CB too. Awesome act by him.
August 25th, 2014 at 7:17 PM ^
Just saw this. What a courageous act. Hope he recovers quickly and has a great senior year.
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August 25th, 2014 at 7:18 PM ^
I wish the young man well. His parents and family should be very proud.
August 25th, 2014 at 7:18 PM ^
And a speedy recovery to you as well
August 25th, 2014 at 7:20 PM ^
There is nothing you can accomplish on a sporting field that will EVER mean as much as what he did...
August 25th, 2014 at 7:35 PM ^
Best wishes to Josh. Pretty inspirational actions.
August 25th, 2014 at 7:45 PM ^
No ragrets!
August 26th, 2014 at 2:24 PM ^
Not even a single letter?
August 25th, 2014 at 8:15 PM ^
He's earned it as a person.
Younger readers may not remember a beautiful but tragic act of heroism by a great football player named Joe Delaney, a gifted young RB who played for Kansas City, AFC Rookie of the Year in '81, died at age 24 after jumping into a deep pit of water to save 3 drowning boys even though he couldn't swim (he successfully pulled one out, the other two died with him). Blurb from Wikipedia:
Joe Alton Delaney (/dɨˈleɪni/; October 30, 1958 – June 29, 1983)[1] was an American football running back who played two seasons in theNational Football League (NFL).[2][3] In his two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, Delaney set four franchise records that would stand for more than twenty years.
He was a two-time All-American athlete for the Northwestern State Demons football team, as well as a track and field star. Delaney played two seasons with the Chiefs and was chosen as the AFC Rookie of the Year in 1981 by United Press International.[3]
Delaney died on June 29, 1983 while attempting to rescue three children from drowning in a pond in Monroe in northeastern Louisiana. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Citizen's Medal from U.S. President Ronald W. Reagan. While not officially retired, his jersey number while playing for the Chiefs, #37, has not been worn since his death.[3]
Edit:
Short 2012 writeup here worth a read:
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/06/29/remembering-joe-delaney-29-years-later/
2003 SI story by Rick Reilly: (WARNING: have a tissue ready)
August 25th, 2014 at 8:17 PM ^
Man, crazy stuff. He had to know he was most likely going to his own death trying to save those kids.
Makes you wonder if you could do what he did in a similar circumstance...
August 25th, 2014 at 8:43 PM ^
Wow. I don't even remember this guy, and I was a rabid football fan in those days (age 7 with a spongelike memory). Incredible story.
August 25th, 2014 at 9:19 PM ^
looks like this story is still touching kids who hear about it. I found this video on YouTube apparently put together by a 9-year old kid at a special needs school for a class project (includes stills from the incident, and some video highlights of Delaney's playing career:
August 25th, 2014 at 7:47 PM ^
Awesome. Best to Josh and his nephew.
August 25th, 2014 at 7:48 PM ^
Reenactment footage:
August 25th, 2014 at 8:43 PM ^
I get it probably wasn't your intent, but that was very insensitive.
August 25th, 2014 at 9:34 PM ^
(Shrug) Sometimes you cross the line. Sorry y'all.
August 25th, 2014 at 9:43 PM ^
How did I miss you get nuked? What happened?
August 25th, 2014 at 9:47 PM ^
I guess this happened? I dunno. I mean, I'll take my lumps gladly, it's not my site, but... Bolivia, man. It's hot down here.
August 25th, 2014 at 9:57 PM ^
I guess that means you're straddling the equator, or something.
August 25th, 2014 at 10:01 PM ^
(Shrug) I'm not complaining. After six years without more than a post being deleted for responding to something else, though...
Again, I'll take my lumps. Apologies to the mods.
August 25th, 2014 at 10:07 PM ^
Congrats on the reset.
August 25th, 2014 at 9:45 PM ^
I know we had some recent differences, mostly related to Northwestern athletics of all things, but I'd never wish a trip to Bolivian on you. I hope your trip is short and sweet. Have a margarita down there on me.
August 26th, 2014 at 1:30 PM ^
...but I trust you know that now, and I am sure you will get your points back in no time.
August 25th, 2014 at 7:49 PM ^
indeed.
August 25th, 2014 at 8:03 PM ^
"I would do it again for whatever kid it was, it did not have to be my nephew," Shaw said on Monday. "My ankles really hurt, but I am lucky to be surrounded by the best trainers and doctors in the world. I am taking my rehab one day at a time, and I hope to be back on the field as soon as possible."
As someone sort of mentioned, this is one of those things that really does put certain things in perspective. Incredible act by this kid and I wish him a speedy recovery. We talk about rankings, but here is a five-star person.
August 25th, 2014 at 8:32 PM ^
another example of why it's dangerous to never teach a child/person how to swim.
August 25th, 2014 at 8:41 PM ^
It's not like the child was going to die in the 30 seconds it would have taken for him to run down the stairs. It was a selfless act, with great intentions but it sounds completely unnecessary to me .
August 25th, 2014 at 8:45 PM ^
this comment is incredibly ignorant. So what you're saying is that you would put your career ahead of a 30 second head start to save a child? I really don't understand what you find unnecessary
August 25th, 2014 at 11:03 PM ^
What I'm saying is I wouldn't risk injuring myself so badly that I can't even save the child. I would take the stairs because I know I'll get there, albeit 30 seconds later. But let's not forget when he hurt his ankle he had to crawl the rest of the way, who is to say he didn't actually waste time by doing this ? Overall jumping caused injury to himself as well as cause more danger to the child. P.S. I just consulted with a trained, professional lifeguard that agrees it was a "stupid" decision.
August 25th, 2014 at 11:22 PM ^
is you would be the asshole standing on the balcony watching Shaw jump off to save the kid. Incredibly ignorant comment. You clearly do not have children or else you would know how quickly something can go wrong in the water and your ass would be flying off that balcony and not taking the stairs.
August 25th, 2014 at 11:51 PM ^
One of the first things they teach you in lifeguard training is "don't be a hero" and to take the extra second to properly analyze the situation. So you can risk your kids death by acting upon impulse, I will save mine by acting after I account for all factors.
August 26th, 2014 at 10:44 AM ^
I doubt he's a certified lifeguard. Instincts dude
August 26th, 2014 at 11:00 AM ^
Lifeguard training in Bolivia might have different standards.
August 25th, 2014 at 8:53 PM ^
I'm no doctor or paramedic, but I doubt you're in much of a position to make that call. Besides, when you see someone in trouble like that, particularly a close family member, the adrenaline usually kicks in. Josh likely didn't give two shits about the most logical way to get down to the pool. He probably only cared about getting his nephew out as soon as possible.
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August 25th, 2014 at 9:06 PM ^
If you can't swim (which is sadly more common amongst black people) 30 seconds is a hell of a long time in a swimming pool and he may have been there for 15, 30, 60 seconds before anyone noticed.
August 25th, 2014 at 9:08 PM ^
is ever in need of help f err om you.
August 25th, 2014 at 9:51 PM ^
As someone who has actually been in an incident I say you are full of shit. I was 8 and in a canal off a lake playing with friends jumping from raft to raft. Well I missed and went under and was trapped under the rafts somehow but luckily a friend jumped in and pulled me out. When we hit shore I was spewing water out of my lungs like vomit. It could not have been more than 20 seconds but another few and I was possibly gone.
August 25th, 2014 at 10:46 PM ^
OP, that's not how drowning works...
August 25th, 2014 at 8:43 PM ^
That sucks that he was injured in the act of saving his cousin. Kudos for him saving a life. When we save a life we save the world.
August 25th, 2014 at 9:50 PM ^
Jumped off a bunch of decks, and do some tree and roofing work on the side...the pencil will get ya hurt, always wanna enter the tumble roll after you make contact with WHATEVER surface you're landing on.
August 26th, 2014 at 2:35 PM ^
...seemed like a really good kid. Shaw is a future NFL caliber player for the Trojans....so for him to selflessly jump 2 stories to save his nephew is incredible and shows his character (If true). I am glad everyone is alright, and I hope Shaw heals quickly.
August 26th, 2014 at 10:50 AM ^
Heal up fast and have a all-american season!
August 26th, 2014 at 1:45 PM ^
Sounds like he was lying. Pretty fucked up if true.
August 26th, 2014 at 1:57 PM ^
Yup...this is about to get interesting.
August 26th, 2014 at 8:03 PM ^
sickening how this story is now going. Disgusting.