EDITORIAL: Celebrate the Spurs by honking those horns, but stay safe, San Antonio
Last Saturday night seemed like a miracle as the young, upstart San Antonio Spurs defeated the defending NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder to advance to the NBA Finals.
Like a family, the city came together to celebrate and revel in the victory. But for the family of 17-year-old Jose "Joey" Rodriguez, our civic celebration has turned into tragedy.
On May 28, after the Game 6 victory, Rodriguez went celebrating and honking with friends on Southwest Military Drive. He was sitting on the passenger-side window of a vehicle when it hit a curb, sending him onto the pavement and causing a severe head injury.
As Game 7 ended Saturday, Rodriguez was brain-dead. Yet throughout the city, including downtown and along Southwest Military Drive, revelers could be seen hanging out of vehicles and standing on moving trucks. As it has been throughout the Spurs' postseason run, many of them, perhaps nearly all, were young people who may assume invincibility or not be thinking about safety.
On Tuesday, Rodriguez's family took him off life support.
By all accounts, Rodriguez was a wonderful young man who was loved by many. As his aunt told Express-News reporter Nancy M. Preyor-Johnson, he was "so much more than the tragic accident." He will be remembered for many things more than this accident by all who knew him.
But we should remember how he died to help prevent others from taking the same risks.
Honk the horns, but don't sit in the windows and lean out of vehicles. Honk the horns, but don't get out of the vehicle to run down the street. Yell and wave Spurs flags and jerseys while walking down the sidewalk, but don't run into traffic. And don't drink and drive.
After Game 7, Rodriguez may have been on the mind of Spurs rookie guard Dylan Harper when he told Spurs fans: "I love y'all. Be safe out there in San Antonio. We are not done yet. I understand y'all are excited, but you've got to be safe out there. We love y'all."
Celebrate safely, San Antonio.
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