An Athlete Died Today That Didn't Make Much News

It's understandable that Cory Lidle is the sports news tonight.

Sadly, our community is more focused around three links via Google News that memorialize a 16 year old high school football player, James Bliss, who lost his life at practice tonight. He was listed as a top newcomer, James Bliss (Jr., WR-DB), to the Varsity team. Also here in the Washington Post.

Rest in Peace.

A 16-year-old Caldwell football player collapsed and died on the football field at James Caldwell High School this afternoon, moments after he caught a pass and was tackled, according to authorities.

West Caldwell Police Chief Charles Tubbs said James Bliss was taking part in a regular after-school practice and after catching a pass and being tackled, he got up to walk over to a bench and collapsed face-first onto the field.

A team doctor who was on the field responded to the teen and checked for a pulse, then coaches called 911 at 4:17 p.m., the chief said. The boy then went into cardiac arrest, Tubbs said. When West Caldwell police officers arrived, they treated him with an automatic defibrillator. Bliss was then taken by ambulance to Mountainside Hospital where he was pronounced dead around 4:45 p.m.

Superintendent Dan Gerardi, who oversees the school district for Caldwell and West Caldwell students, said the boy had no known medical conditions and had passed a physical before being allowed to play football. "We're trying to piece together what happened," Gerardi said. "It was right on the field."

Gerardi said the boy was a junior, but did not know what position he played or whether he played for the junior varsity or varsity team.

Comments

[Susie]

I am sorry to hear this. Guess the MS media is just too damn busy
with their hate Bush campaigning

[hobo]

aneurysm?

[once a chief always a chief]

jamie bliss was one of the best kids in james caldwell. he will live on forever because of his love for life and his excellence in everything he did. we love you jamie, rest in peace.

[a chief's mom]

The preliminary report showed an enlarged heart