By Cosmo Hamilton
Even as foliage in brilliant gold and bright yellow, and burgundy and bronze bid spectacular farewell as they dominate the autumn landscape, there is an authentic august and an effusive exhibition of the color pink in this month of October that focuses a laser-like spotlight on breast cancer awareness. And as this significant health issue takes center stage it is curious and heartening that although it is primarily a women’s health issue, it is the male-dominated sport of football that has featured the color pink to highlight the recognition of breast cancer as a major disease that threatens women the world over.
On any given Sunday in October it is comforting if incongruous as huge 300 pound linemen in the National Football League (NFL), proudly wear pink accessories like caps, mouthpieces, wristbands, chin straps, even pink cleats/shoes and towels with their NFL uniforms, all for focusing the attention of millions of viewers on the importance and ultimate goal of eradicating the deadly disease that overwhelmingly befalls women.
As a symbol of the fight against breast cancer, pink is the perfect intersection. It is the color that is typically recognized as the hue of femininity. The color pink signifies a baby girl as the color blue applies to a baby boy. The word pink also portrays a positive connotation. Pink is defined in the dictionary as “the highest degree of perfection or excellence”. When referring to the optimum status of one’s health it is commonly said that “you are in the ‘pink’ of condition”.
It has often been acknowledged with tongue in cheek in sartorial circles that ‘only real men wear pink’. Well nowhere is that more evident than in the NFL where the behemoths that populate all of the teams proudly portray pink as they impose their considerable physical power and prowess over their opponents, blocking and tackling on the gridiron where pigskin is king. Yet here the honor is reserved for the queen and it is remarkable that these men of might manifest such sensitivity for the plight of women and wholeheartedly join the fight against the dreaded disease. It is truly a confluence of concern, carnage and conviction. And most importantly the NFL puts their money where their pink is. When the games end, the game-worn pink merchandise and pink accessorized footballs are autographed and auctioned off. As a result last year the NFL donated more than $1 million to the American Cancer Society. That donation this year is expected to be doubled.
And for many of the players and officials connected to the football teams, the wearing of pink is more than just purposeful, it is personal as well. Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald’s mother died of breast cancer. Tanya Snyder, wife of Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder and Susie Spanos, wife of the San Diego Chargers president Dean Spanos are both breast cancer survivors. There are 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the USA, many of whom are honored at games and myriad events and marches across the country. But this year some 226,000 women will be diagnosed with the disease. With the color pink at the fulcrum of the fight and the ubiquitous pink ribbon as its icon the battle continues to make ‘breast cancer a thing of the past’. Perhaps it is time that the ICC, FIFA and the IOC and their affiliates along with NGO’s join the pink brigade.
