DMN Blog: Cowboys' scouting assistant paralyzed

[WoodysGirl]

Sad news in Dallas

May 3, 2009 8:00 PM


Posted by ESPN.com Matt Mosley

Cowboys scouting assistant Rich Behm suffered permanent paralysis from the waist down in the collapse of the team's practice facility Saturday.

The team released this statement:

"To the Behm family we extend our love, comfort, and the full support of every person and resource within the organization," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. "Rich is a courageous member of our family and someone for whom we care deeply. We ask for all friends and fans of the Dallas Cowboys to join us in embracing him and his family with their thoughts and prayers at this very difficult time."

I've known Rich and his brother, Chris, since I started covering the Cowboys in 2003. Rich, 33, was a vital part of the team's videography department before recently becoming a scouting assistant. He put his video skills to work in splicing film of college players across the nation and played a valuable role in preparing for the '09 draft. He and Chris, who works in the club's TV department, are constantly at Valley Ranch. They might as well be on the rosters because players such as Terence Newman and Romo hung out with them all the time. In fact, Romo was one of the first players to show up at the hospital Sunday.

This is obviously a huge shock to the Behm family, but I've been told that Rich is already showing a remarkable amount of optimism in his Dallas hospital room. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and head coach Wade Phillips were seen in the waiting room late Saturday night and Jones returned Sunday morning.

Behm is father of two boys (8 and 6) and a baby girl. It's unfathomable that he could've arrived at work Saturday morning just like so many other days and had his life altered forever. Every time I pass him in the halls of Valley Ranch, he always has a quip ready about something ridiculous I've written or said on the radio. I know it will be a long haul, but I'm looking forward to seeing him back on the job.

 

[TheSport78]

That's great to see he has a positive attitude! Hopefully he'll be back at work doing what he does best!

 

[Primetime42]

Sad news in Dallas

May 3, 2009 8:00 PM


Posted by ESPN.com Matt Mosley

Cowboys scouting assistant Rich Behm suffered permanent paralysis from the waist down in the collapse of the team's practice facility Saturday.

The team released this statement:

"To the Behm family we extend our love, comfort, and the full support of every person and resource within the organization," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. "Rich is a courageous member of our family and someone for whom we care deeply. We ask for all friends and fans of the Dallas Cowboys to join us in embracing him and his family with their thoughts and prayers at this very difficult time."

I've known Rich and his brother, Chris, since I started covering the Cowboys in 2003. Rich, 33, was a vital part of the team's videography department before recently becoming a scouting assistant. He put his video skills to work in splicing film of college players across the nation and played a valuable role in preparing for the '09 draft. He and Chris, who works in the club's TV department, are constantly at Valley Ranch. They might as well be on the rosters because players such as Terence Newman and Romo hung out with them all the time. In fact, Romo was one of the first players to show up at the hospital Sunday.

This is obviously a huge shock to the Behm family, but I've been told that Rich is already showing a remarkable amount of optimism in his Dallas hospital room. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and head coach Wade Phillips were seen in the waiting room late Saturday night and Jones returned Sunday morning.

Behm is father of two boys (8 and 6) and a baby girl. It's unfathomable that he could've arrived at work Saturday morning just like so many other days and had his life altered forever. Every time I pass him in the halls of Valley Ranch, he always has a quip ready about something ridiculous I've written or said on the radio. I know it will be a long haul, but I'm looking forward to seeing him back on the job.

That's actually very encouraging.

 

[Rackat]

Hopeful thoughts and prayers to him and his family.

 

[Jon88]

That's unreal. We're lucky this didn't happen to more people.

I hope whoever oversaw the construction of this pays a little bit more attention from now on because this piece of crap could have killed a lot of people.

 

[Primetime42]

I think you're being overzealous. I doubt there was much that could have been done to prevent this.

 

[gmb85]

This man is fairly young with young children. I feel so sad that their father won't be able to toss the football around like other fathers and sons. Football just feels so small compared to what this man will have to deal with for the rest of his life.

 

[RamziD]

How tragic for Rich Behm. This really puts a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I hope he and his family receive the love and support from their friends and family that they need at this time.

 

[tomson75]

I think you're being overzealous. I doubt there was much that could have been done to prevent this.

Buildings should not fail due to 60mph winds. Ever. I built tree forts out of rotten logs when I was 10 that could hold up to that. There was something wrong with either the design, construction, or maintenance. Things that CAN be prevented if the proper care is taken. IMO, of course.

 

[WoodysGirl]

DC.COM Blog

Your Well-Wishes Are Appreciated
Posted by rphillips at 5/3/2009 8:06 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com

In coping with this horrific tragedy, I can assure you guys that the Cowboys organization and the families of those seriously injured will appreciate your thoughtful and kind words.

Saturday’s events truly put matters into perspective. This is a football organization, but real life has rightfully, yet sadly, taken precedence over sport.

I think I speak for the rest of my colleagues at DallasCowboys.com in sending out our own best wishes to Rich Behm, Joe DeCamillis, Greg Gaither and their families. Gaither, the Cowboys’ assistant athletic trainer, had successful surgery Saturday and DeCamillis, the team’s new special teams coordinator, is scheduled for surgery tomorrow.

All three are respected, hard-working men. Personally I’ve known Rich the longest, and news of his condition is just very difficult to take for us.



-Rob Phillips

Comments (0) | Permanent Link

 

[Primetime42]

Buildings should not fail due to 60mph winds. Ever. I built tree forts out of rotten logs when I was 10 that could hold up to that. There was something wrong with either the design, construction, or maintenance. Things that CAN be prevented if the proper care is taken. IMO, of course.

60mph didn't do it.

I don't know where it came from, but someone showed a photo of a wind tunnel (not quite a tornado) which was in the area just before.

You honestly think that thing hasn't been through 50-60mph before considering where it is?

It's a freak incident in nature. It happens.

 

[adbutcher]

Wow, that is so tragic. Blessings and thoughts go out to their families.

 

[tomson75]

60mph didn't do it.

I don't know where it came from, but someone showed a photo of a wind tunnel (not quite a tornado) which was in the area just before.

You honestly think that thing hasn't been through 50-60mph before considering where it is?

It's a freak incident in nature. It happens.

I haven't seen any confirmed reports of a tornado or hear of any reports of conditions favorable to such an event. Nor have I seen the photo....do you have a link, or can you post it? Out of curiosity.

Of course I think this thing has been though 60mph winds...that doesn't mean that it would fail the first time high winds hit it either....

I wouldn't necessarily consider this a "freak incident" either. It is what it is....if it was hit by a strong cyclonic wind, then thats one thing, but if it wasn't, then thats an entirely different story.

The fact remains that this company has produced a building that has seen at least two catastrophic failures in recent years. That's a pretty bad track record, and the product should be looked at very thoroughly....even if it means being "overzealous".

If "it happens", then this company has nothing to worry about.

 

[WoodysGirl]

I haven't seen any confirmed reports of a tornado or hear of any reports of conditions favorable to such an event. Nor have I seen the photo....do you have a link, or can you post it? Out of curiosity.

Well, in the AP article, they're suggesting this:

Wind in the area around that time was clocked at 64 mph, a single mph shy of the threshold for a weak tornado.
National Weather Service officials said a “microburst” may have pushed the wind beyond 70 mph at the top of the structure that was built in 2003.

Of course I think this thing has been though 60mph winds...that doesn't mean that it would fail the first time high winds hit it either....

I wouldn't necessarily consider this a "freak incident" either. It is what it is....if it was hit by a strong cyclonic wind, then thats one thing, but if it wasn't, then thats an entirely different story.

The fact remains that this company has produced a building that has seen at least two catastrophic failures in recent years. That's a pretty bad track record, and the product should be looked at very thoroughly....even if it means being "overzealous".

If "it happens", then this company has nothing to worry about.

Well, you're correct in saying there's some history with this company, so we'll see. But you know there's going to be an investigation. Somebody's getting sued.

 

[PosterChild]

It's been concluded by the weather service that this was primarily due to a wind microburst of some 70-75mph velocity...they don't allow this but I'd venture a guess that the added strain of the large volume of water was a cumulative factor in the structure's failure.

Was there some negligence here? A foreseeable, preventable calamity? I dunno. Maybe. I think they'll ultimately find this falls into the "Act of God" arena.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

If they are saying its severed then its severed. Whether completely or not it is apparent he has severed the motor neurons and cannot walk. Hopefully he will have some function even if sensory only.

There is hope with the use of stem cells and research coming from that. Pray we will use non-embryonic stem cells to advance medicine and cure some of these neurological diseases and injuries.

Amen. I'm 100% for stem-cell research. My mother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 98' and would love to see some advancement with it. I'm not 100% Pro-Obama but at least we have a president who is in favor of it, unlike Bush.

Agreed. They are so much further along. I would love to see this work for someone sooner than later... why not him, why not now.

 

[Jon88]

It's been concluded by the weather service that this was primarily due to a wind microburst of some 70-75mph velocity...they don't allow this but I'd venture a guess that the added strain of the large volume of water was a cumulative factor in the structure's failure.

Was there some negligence here? A foreseeable, preventable calamity? I dunno. Maybe. I think they'll ultimately find this falls into the "Act of God" arena.

Where have you been? I see you have the same dog.

 

[mperfection]

My prayers go out to the Behm family and the other two coaches families as well.

 

[TheBigEasy]

This just broke my heart....

 

[PosterChild]

Where have you been? I see you have the same dog.

Oh, I've been around, still read the board whenever I can...pretty regularly. It's been very, very, very busy for me all this year and much of last, but I'm slowing down now...And yes, I still have two of my dogs, lost one, though. May she RIP.