Posted on 04/11/2005 6:27:33 AM PDT by bedolido
LOS ANGELES Former NFL defensive lineman Al Lucas (search) died Sunday from a presumed spinal cord injury sustained while trying to make a tackle for the Los Angeles Avengers (search) during an Arena Football League game, the team said.
Lucas was taken to California Hospital (search) and all attempts to revive him were unsuccessful, team physician Dr. Luga Podesta said in a statement.
A call to a California Hospital spokesman was not immediately returned.
"It is with great sadness that we confirm the passing of Al Lucas. At this time, the thoughts and prayers of the entire Avenger organization are with his wife and family," team owner and chief executive officer Casey Wasserman said in a statement.
The 26-year-old Lucas was injured during a first-quarter kickoff return against the New York Dragons.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...

How horrible. Did he run into the wall? I never liked the way Arena Football puts those padded walls right up to the sideline. It never seemed safe to me.
In the scheme of things, is it any "safer" to have two 300lbs people crash into each other at high speeds?
Just being facetious. Sad story though.
Condolences to Mr. Lucas' family and friends.
Considering that school football programs kill more students annually than school shootings do, you'd think the "for the children!" left would be all over this case like white on rice. Somehow, though, they're not, so the deaths must somehow be different. Could a leftist on this board please tell me why a student cut down by gunfire merits national top-story news coverage and calls for all sorts of laws that affect people who had nothing to do with the tragedy, while when a football player is cut down playing his sport, your types are essentially silent?
The 26-year-old Lucas was injured during a first-quarter kickoff return against the New York Dragons.Prayers for his family and friends!Television replays showed Lucas bending down to make a tackle.
The Dragons' ball carrier and a blocker tumbled over his head and back, with the blocker's leg appearing to hit Lucas in the head.
Lucas did not move after falling to the ground.
Women can be made to fear guns and scared into voting for gun control. They have very little fear that rampaging football players are going to invade their homes.
"See what you hit." When I was a HS freshman I saw a young man in my school made a paraplegic the same way. You have to keep your head up when you make a tackle.
I think the foot to his helmet killed him. Freak accident.
"See what you hit."
It was clearly a fundemental mistake on his part. Unfortunately, he had to pay for it. It will be interesting to see if there is any autopsy data released. Must have been a very severe Spinal Cord injury.
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