Former Steelers Linebacker Little Dies

Yahoo - AP ^ | 3/22/05

[Borges]

PITTSBURGH - David Little, a durable linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers (news) who was voted to the Pro Bowl in 1990, died while weightlifting at home in Miami. He was 46.

Little had heart disease, and a cardiac fluttering Thursday caused him to drop on his chest 250 pounds of weights, which rolled onto his neck and suffocated him, the coroner said Tuesday. Little was found by his sons, David Jr. and Darien.

Little played his entire 12-year career in Pittsburgh after he was drafted out of Florida in the seventh round in 1981. He started 125 of the 179 games he played for the Steelers and once played in 89 in a row. His last season in the league was 1992.

His older brother, Larry Little, was an All-Pro guard for the Miami Dolphins (news).

Little is also survived by his wife, Denise, his mother, daughter and four sisters.

[Borges]

What a terrible way to go.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

This is exactly why you are not supposed to press that much weight alone.

It's not rocket science.

[Bluegrass Conservative]

Moral of the story: Always have someone there spotting you.

[Asphalt]

Heck of a good player for the seventh round

[Troublemaker]

The sad thing is that there are a number of "self-spotting" racks & machines on the market today. Indeed, what a terrible way to go.

[Steelerfan]

He carried on a great tradition of Steeler linebackers and always played hard. Thoughts and prayers for his family.

Lot of bad news on the threads today.

[Always Right]

Terrible, but still a heck of a lot quicker than the way Terri is going.

[naturalized]

[GregB]

Sad day for The Steeler Nation bump..

[Bluegrass Conservative]

You know, I don't work out much, but if I had that view of that spotter, I might have a little more motivation. LOL

[maestro]

ping

[dts32041]

Who said a little exercise won't kill you?

[trebb]

My heart and prayers go out to his family.

Another reason why I love my BowFlex.

[Paradox]

This is sad. Strength athletes tend to develop heart problems for several reasons. A lifestyle conducive to muscular growth is usually also conducive to atherosclerosis and structural heart problems.

(I'm not a doctor, but I used to workout like a maniac and did alot of research.)

[stevio]

250lbs is not that much to a linebacker, but I guess knowing you have a heart problem should lead to precautions.

[Wisconsin155]

It is my understanding that most of these types of self spotters have hooks attached to the bar. You simply twist the bar and it catches on the spotting rack. Probably wouldn't of helped him in the middle of a heart failure. And Nautalis type machines typically can't handle that much weight anyway.

As for the weight, yes you should have a spotter, but that could of been a comfortable set for him. He might not of even considered it hard. I personally wouldn't bother with a spot on 225lbs. I'm sure a former Pro player can throw around 250 easily enough. That being said, if I'm at home alone, I switch to dumbbells. Why risk it?

[dfwgator]

Sad day for The Steeler Nation bump..

Sad day for the Gator Nation as well.

[Troublemaker]

It is my understanding that most of these types of self spotters have hooks attached to the bar. You simply twist the bar and it catches on the spotting rack. Probably wouldn't of helped him in the middle of a heart failure. And Nautalis type machines typically can't handle that much weight anyway.

All true, but I do know of some types of Smith machines that have bars that go all the way across and are adjustable and can stop the barbell at various levels. You can set it just above your chest level if you are doing a bench press. You don't get quite the full range of motion (touching the chest) as on a normal bench, but it does fully stop the bar (before it hits you) if you should drop it.

That being said, a spotter is always the best way to lift. I lift with my boys and they are never permitted to lift alone. Terrible story - His doctor probably told him to exercise.

[meyer]

I've got a pair of stands designed specifically for this purpose. I put one on either side of the bench, set to a height just above the chest when I go heavy (and for me, 250# is beyond heavy - I keep my reps high in these golden years). It takes a little care to prevent banging against the stops, but I don't want to get stuck.

I got stuck under 220# once when I was in my mid-20's. I had to roll the weights down to my stomach so that I could sit up and get it onto the floor. Bought the stands soon afterward.