His orthopedist told him that it's common for athletes to become depressed or anxious when they get injured. “I got interested in the whole phenomenon and interested in the role of athletics for how some people really cope with life,” he said.
Specifically, Dr. Pyles said, he learned to appreciate the importance of sports to an athlete's psychological and emotional well-being.
“These are mostly young people who have had sports at the center of their lives since they were small,” he said of the rookies. “Their talent was recognized early, and they have been supported and adored in many ways. There's a tremendous amount riding on making it or not making it. When they can't [compete] anymore because of injury or aging or whatever, it has a huge effect on their [lives].”