From the Associated Press :
Steve Courson, the former offensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers who developed a heart problem after becoming one of the first NFL players to acknowledge using steroids, was killed Thursday when a tree he was cutting fell on him.
Courson, 50, was using a chain saw to cut down a dead 44-foot tall tree with a circumference of 5 feet when it fell on him, according to state police. The accident happened around 1 p.m. ET at his home in Henry Clay Township, Fayette County.
Roger Victor, an investigator for the Fayette County coroner, said Courson was apparently trying get his dog out of the tree’s way. “The wind was blowing, the tree snapped and it fell on him and his dog,” Victor said. The dog was injured and taken to a vet.
You know, for someone who takes the high moral ground as often as you do (see: yesterday’s bashing of Deadspin for using adult illiteracy as a source of amusement), I’m pretty appalled to see this story headlined with “Timber!!!!” I guess illiteracy is tragic while early, unnatural death is hilarious.
hey stud,
I have no problem with adult illiteracy as a source of amusement. The Jacques Demers autobiography story from last week, for instance, was a genuine howler. We’re all dying to purchase a book written by a guy who can’t read.
It’s smug white guys cracking on the supposed lack of intellect of hulking black dudes that I have a problem with. Not sure I’d call it tragic, but knee-fucking-jerk is more like it.
I agree with you that early, unnatural death is not at all funny. Except for the cases of Rod Hull, Cozy Powell or Michael Hutchence.
I’m 23. Don’t make me Google stuff before my time. And there a lot more exceptions than those three. They’re called the Darwin Awards.
If Michael Hutchence’s 1997 death isn’t a cautionary tale for your generation, SOTG, I don’t know what is. Likewise, the tragic passing of Rod Hull took place in 1999, ELP’s Cozy made his way to the big drum kit in heaven in the year of our lord 1998.
NP : “The Lumberjack Song”
ELP as in Emerson, Lake, and Palmer? As in Karn Evil 9 First Impression Part 2? That song has a special place in my heart, as do all songs featured on the 1986 Mets highlight video, a beautiful VHS I watched in my youth several hundred times. That song was used in a feature on some of the quirkier Mets, especially Roger McDowell. “Come and see the show” was sort of the theme they were looking for.
Actually, come to think of it, Hutchence rings a bell. With Rock Star INXS on this summer, I heard his name bandied about, so I looked him up. Dude. Some say that the much-rumored way of death is just a myth, but that’s a minority viewpoint. So again, dude.
I’m stupider for having read this.
At one time or another, Cozy drummed for Whitesnake, Emerson Lake & Powell, Sabbath, Rainbow and the Michael Schenker Group. So he had a lot to answer for, then.
re : Hutchence. I didn’t manage to catch “Rock Star”, but if they do a new series with the Dead Kennedys, I’ll be sure to tune in.
Falling trees….falling satellite dishes. I can’t tell what’s sadder or funnier.