It was the Belmont Stakes, third race in the Triple Crown, and the year was 1999. A big, strapping, chestnut colt had come from nowhere to surprise the racing world with victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. His name, fittingly, was Charismatic. Now, he only needed a victory over the 11⁄2-mile distance of the Belmont to win the Triple Crown and $5 million in bonus money. It started out well enough, but it didn’t finish that way. Charismatic crossed the finish line third and then stumbled. No one who saw it will forget the heartrending sight of jockey Chris Antley leaping to the ground and lifting the colt’s left foreleg, holding it aloft to avoid further damage to bones and tissues.

There had been a fracture. There would be a happy ending of sorts. A 2.5-hour operation would save Charismatic’s life. He would never race again, but he would be plenty fit for stud duty.

Switch sports and locales. A National Football League running back takes the handoff from his quarterback. A beefy offensive tackle and an equally hefty offensive guard open a gaping hole. The running back shoots through it, cutting left to avoid the onrushing linebacker, cuts back to the right, and goes down as he is met by a safety. Instead of scrambling to his feet, the running back writhes on the ground in agony. Trainers rush to his aid and he is helped from the field, supported by the shoulders of a teammate and trainer. It is later announced he has suffered a severe knee injury.

What do these two injuries have in common? Plenty