Here is the link, for as long as it lasts. I can’t believe they would be practicing in life threatening conditions like that. He was only 27 years old. I am stunned. There were heat advisories out all over the state.
You would think the Viking Medical Staff would be alert for signs of heat stroke in those conditions… like the fact he puked 3 times in practice!!!
I almost ran the Blazer off the road when I heard that. They said "Bad news out of Viking camp, All Pro Korey Stringer(right here I was waiting for broke his leg or blew a knee) has died.
My condolences Viking fans of the Straight Dope…
I was listening to ESPN Radio just this past sunday morning, and they had an ex-player, now a reporter on and they were talking about how players just won’t stop for water or heat because they don’t want to lose their job, or they’re too macho and they think if they quit, the other players will think they’ll quit in the 4th quarter of a big game. Then this happens. When are they gonna lose that macho attitude. It’s hot, take a break, have some water, study game films or something. Sheesh! There’s NOTHING wrong with drinking water.
My thoughts exactly. Let’s face it, if team doctors cared about safety, football probably wouldn’t be played at all. It’s a dangerous sport even in good weather.
It’s a tragedy.
Korey vomited three times in practice on Monday, and notified a trainer after workouts. He was disappointed by his performance, and wanted to make up for it on Tuesday. (Note that he was really in no risk of being cut from the team. He was a Pro Bowler last year. This wasn’t a “Gotta prove to the coach that I can make the team” but rather a “Gotta prove to myself that I can hack it”) On Tuesday, he didn’t summon a trainer until it was too late.
If I could manage it, I’d drive the hour or so down to Mankato for the vigil.
This is tragic and distubing news. My condolences to Korey’s family and fans.
Abby
[sub]P.S. As if football isn’t inherently dangerous enough. I was already worried because my boy is tall and lanky, and not a hulking beast. This will be his first year at high school and they start practice on Monday with heat index and ozone warnings.[/sub] 
I was wondering, are the Vikings liable for his death?
(and now the clueless legal opinions come in, with standard disclaimers)
IANAL, but I’d say no; the Vikings provided medical staff, air-conditioned buildings, et cetera, whereas Korey Stringer deliberately pushed himself harder than usual to make up for what he thought was a lackluster effort on Monday.
This is not to say “Hah, stupid football player worked himself to death”, but to say that any finger-pointing is going to have to be done very carefully, if at all.
this was crushing news. I really liked Korey Stringer. I really like the Vikings, an exciting team to watch play.
I’ve been thinking about his wife all day.
jarbaby
I’m a little stunned myself. I was out of the office this morning and hadn’t heard. It’s kind of shocking when this kind of thing happens. I’ve always had a soft-spot for the Vikings…
As a Viking fan, I am in shock. This shouldn’t have happened, why do football players feel the need to push themselves past the point of common sense? I don’t even let my dogs out in heat like this.
Very sad and upset.
Having suffered heat stroke three times and a countless number of bouts of heat exhaustion, I can tell you that it is not something that you can see coming unless you are actually debating whether or not you are getting to that point. It just kinda happens. You feel a little woozy but nothing terribly out of the ordinary if you are doing anything strenuous. Then blammo, you got it. Each time I had it, it was not during the hottest time of the year, but afterwards. When the heat index is 110 or so, it’s damn hot and you know it. The next day, the temp and humidity drop and the heat index is 95 or 100. It feels great compared to yesterday, and you are relieved. Sometimes, the temp change can feel so good that you don’t realize that it’s still damn hot out. Also, it’s a hot day and you do a lot of outside work. You feel fine that evening. The next day, you can do the same or even less work than the previous day, but since you didn’t replenish your body enough the previous day, you can get in trouble very fast. Heat problems happen very quickly. You can look at someone and see no symptoms and 15 minutes later they can be passed out. Heat problems are not something you can blame on others and many times you can’t even blame the sufferer. Each body is different on any given day and will react to heat/cold differently on any given day. That is why Stringer stroked and nobody else did.
The Viking medical staff may not be liable, but that’s gotta look bad on the resume…
Please ignore my ignorance but what is heat stroke? Is it massive dehydration or more? I know your body overheats but what else happens?
That aside, I feel awful for his family. I can’t even imagine what they’re going through.
To quote from the Vikings statement on this:
As a Viking Fanatic, this is truly devastating.
#77 will be missed.
Korey was one of my favorite players, and he will be truly missed by me.
He was a locker room jokester, whom everybody liked, he will be truly missed by his teammates.
He was a husband and a father, and this is where he will be missed the most.
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