Robert Enke had everything going for him. He was the captain of Hannover 96, a top-tier soccer team in the German Bundesliga. He was slated to be Germany's number one goalkeeper for the 2010 World Cup. To most outside observers, Enke had the perfect life - a big bank account, a beautiful wife and his dream job. That was until last Tuesday, when Enke committed suicide by jumping in front of a train near his hometown in Hannover.
His death rocked Germany and sent shockwaves through the sports world. Can you recall a player of Enke's status in any other sport committing suicide in the prime of their career? Having difficulty? That's because it rarely, if ever, happens. Enke had been dealing with severe depression for six years, struggling to overcome the death of his two-year-old daughter Lara, who passed away in 2007. For Enke, the battle with depression became increasingly one-sided, and he finally took his own life only minutes away from the cemetery in which his daughter was buried.
Mental illness is not just a big issue in soccer - it affects almost every sport, and is becoming an increasingly hot topic in the media. Some players have been able to deal with it effectively, while others have had a more difficult time facing their particular psychological conditions. Most recently, Delonte West, a shooting guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers, missed the team's first 10 games of the season due to undisclosed "personal issues." West admitted last year that he has suffered from severe depression and bipolar disorder all his life. He expressed doubts about being able to continue his basketball career prior to the 2008 season, even though he was a major factor in Cleveland's 66-win season a year ago. Since returning from his hiatus, West has struggled to replicate his form from last year so far this season.
In 2005, Zach Greinke of the Kansas City Royals led the American League in losses and subsequently quit baseball for six weeks. Greinke admitted that he had been dealing with social anxiety disorder and depression his whole life. However, the Royals pitcher has since prevailed over his mental health issues, and was named the American League Cy Young Award winner this past Wednesday.
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