For Daniel Gano, the recent kicker for the New York Giants, he has a more recent injury to contend with. This latest injury could prevent him from appearing in this week’s contest against the Chicago Bears. The 38-year-old athlete felt something last week, at first thinking it was an issue related to an awkward sleeping position. But upon closer examination, doctors told him that he has a herniated disc, which was diagnosed earlier this week.
While the injury aggravated as Gano was lifting on Monday. Read on to learn more about this new chapter in his long health battle. Not only has he dealt with a constant stream of injuries that made him miss significant time each of the last three years. He missed most of last season after a groin injury placed him on injured reserve earlier this season. This additional setback has only compounded his struggles to make an impact on the field.
Gano’s injury woes are further complicated by an unfortunate past of hardships, which includes being threatened and verbally attacked on social media by fans. For the past several years, he has been subjected to brutal online harassment. Some of the messages even shockingly tell him to “get cancer and die” or “go kill myself. The months of persistent abuse have taken a heavy toll on his mental health. Even with that, Gano has developed a callus over his heart to combat the negativity.
“I hear everyone else’s frustration — media, fans. Shoot, ever since sports betting started happening, I get people telling me to kill myself every week,” said Gano, highlighting the intensity of online trolling that athletes face today.
Despite these challenges, Gano continues to be steadfast in his approach to ongoing recovery. He recently got an epidural steroid injection for his herniated disc and says he’s feeling much improved. Now, whether he’ll be able to take the field against the Bears this week is up in the air. If he is unable to go, Younghoe Koo should be prepared to take on the kicking duties.
Head coach Brian Daboll emphasized the importance of mental health for athletes, especially in today’s environment filled with social media pressures and fan expectations. “Always. I mean, we always address mental health, how important it is,” Daboll stated.
Individually tailored support
Daboll was quick to point out that today’s athletes are dealing with challenges their predecessors largely escaped. Each of you have children or others for whom you care deeply. You never know what anybody’s going through. So mental health, especially right now… that’s something that’s just, like, real,” he continued. His comments reveal a growing recognition within the professional sports world. Players are more often realizing the mental impact that being a public figure can take on them.
“As Gano himself put it, his goal was to contribute to the team’s success in the face of such adversities. “I just want to make the fans happy, help the team win games and so not being able to do that is hard,” he remarked, illustrating his dedication to the sport and its supporters.”
As Gano navigates through this latest injury setback and the accompanying mental strain from fan backlash, he aims to return stronger and continue contributing to the Giants’ efforts on the field. One thing certainly is true: the disciplined team that comes to play against the Bears will be watched closely by fans and critics alike.
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