Hi Matt

Hey these people who are making fun of you must never have been to the Hamptons (or at least on the side roads) We are overrun with deer. My daughter recently did an article for a local paper about the deer population - even i was surprised how may there are.  We also have wild turkeys out here now  You do not want to tangle with one of those bad boys!! Feel better soon!

Dear Matt,

I am sorry that you had a mishap with a deer.  I know those things can happen because the same thing almost happened to me last summer when I was biking home in the dark after work.  The deer crossed the road in front of me.  If I would have been farther up on the road, the deer would have run over me.  Even though I live in a town of only 13,000, our town suffers "urban sprawl" and the deer don't abide by the rules of humans.  It is very common to see deer in everyone's backyard here in New Ulm MN.  
Even though it is easy to joke about your mishap, I think you are very lucky that nothing worse happened to you.  Good to see you are on the mend.  

Sincerely,
Karen Martens

Hi Matt
We who live in the Beautiful Blue Diamond area of Wisconsin are fully aware of the cleverness of the deer population. I myself was a victim of a daredevil duo of  deer who tried ambushing my car in the middle of the night.  Forutnately I had the upper hand.  Here in Wi we teach our children to be aware that deer will jump at you  no matter what you are on, bike, atv, snowmobile,etc. We too now have wild turkey who attempt to enter your car through the front windshield.  So even tho you received lots of kidding, those of us in the know sympathize with you and know you were lucky!

Hi Matt,
Don't feel bad about hitting a deer - or as I call them up here in the UP - kamikazes - but my daughter can do you one better - when she was in high school she was at a neighborhood friend's house and was running late so she was running home - It was a dark, no moon night, and as she was running across another neighbor's yard when she ran full force into a wall of fur - she ran into a deer - You should have seen the look on her face when she finally made it into our home - talk about a kodak moment!! Hope you feel better soon. Jean

Matt,
I truly understand your pain in explaining how your accident happened.  I fell over my dog and crushed the last three vertebrae and had to have surgery to put myself back together.  You should have heard the giggles when I told my story over and over...

Matt, I got your back.  When on a bike ride with my friend Brian about 12 years ago, I too hit a deer at about 30 MPH.  All I saw was a brown blur coming at me from across the road, and heard its hoofs sliding on the pavement.  Luckily the deer had slipped on the pavement and was down on its side when I hit it, sending me over the handlebars.  I was uninjured but shocked beyond belief - as I'm sure you were.

HEY MATT,

AFTER ALL THESE YEARS AND THE MONEY I HAVE SPENT FOR MY SON TO BE ABLE TO GO DEAR HUNTING WITH THE GUNS AND BULLETS, I COULD HAVE SAVED A TON OF MONEY BY JUST LETTING HIM USE HIS BIKE.  THANKS FOR THE TIP.  (HA, HA)  GLAD YOUR OK.

I'm glad to hear that you were wearing a helmet.

Matt,
Many years ago while driving to work in a red Corvair through the western NJ woos, a deer (buck) came out and actually attacked my car. He tore off the rear view mirror and put deep gouges in the drivers side door. I looked back and saw him standing there looking dazed but was too shook-up to go back and pick up the mirror. So, yes, deer do attack people or things when they feel threatened. After all they are wild animals and not all Bambis. I do believe your account.
Carmen Melito, Yarmouth, Maine

Matt, first off, I am so glad that you are alright, praying for your full and speedy recovery.
That being said, I laughed all the way through the article (Matt's deer friends) I mean belly laughed, it seems as though you have a great relationship with your co-wokers, you can just feel the closeness, but then you seem to be a really great guy. Get well!

Hi Matt:
Sorry to hear about your experience with the deer.  I feel compelled to relate a similar experience I had in 2002. While on a training ride, I was rounding a curve, descending a hill on Joshuatown Road in Old Lyme, CT, when a deer jumped in front of me.  Reflexively swerving to avoid the deer, I got tangled up in a wire cable guardrail, flipped upside down (still clipped in) and dropped about 8 ft onto a stone wall, landing on the small of my back.  The impact broke my pelvis front and back, broke 3 ribs which punctured my right lung, collapsed my left lung and damaged other body parts.  I was unconscious for 5 days and hospitalized for 22. A talented surgeon, metal implements, lots of pain, hard work and physical therapy resulted in me back on my feet and ultimately back on the bike.
In retrospect, I should have did what you did and hit the deer.  
Glad to see you're recovering nicely.  The deer jokes will stop in a week or so.  Meanwhile, keep riding.

Ok Matt, I want to know if it's true - were you
"text messaging" on your blueberry when the accident happened?

Good Morning
My husband had a run-in with a deer while driving his golf cart down a asphalt path in a Northern Michigan golf course.  The deer landed in the cart with him and his partner, giving them both minor cuts, bumps and bruises.  Gotta watch out for those deer - everywhere

Deer Matt...
    Sorry we "strong armed" you.
Love Bambi and Vito

Hi Matt,
Sorry you were unable to avoid the deer as you did the bulls at the Houston Rodeo.  I recognized you in that barrel before it was up on the screen or anyone in my group recognized you.  I told my sister that clown looks like Matt Lauer! I enjoy your show and am glad you are back and doing well!

Dear Matt, (no pun intended!)
I was thinking of you on my way home from work yesterday. I'm a traveling Massage Therapist living in Longmont, CO. On my way home from an appointment in Boulder I decided to take the scenic route, north on 36, it;s also a favorite of local cyclists. As I was preparing to pass a cyclist we both had to slow down, as two deer made a run for it and crossed the road ahead of us. They gave us plenty of time to do so . . . perhaps they listened to their mother about looking both ways before crossing the street or maybe they go wind of what happened to a certain deer in the Hamptons and are more cautious these days.

Hi Matt - so sorry that you are injured.  You really need to put a new front deer screen on your bike like they have on their pickups in Wisconsin if you continue to bike in deer country

Ann looks good in antlers..'very cute..

My husband cycles here in NJ in Somerset, Middlesex and Mercer counties, and there are lots of deer - he's almost had a run-in with one, too.  Our minivan had a collision with one of those bad boys - you are lucky you merely have your arm in a sling vs. worse body damage. I have two words for you: "Deer Whistles" :-)

Several years ago before my son was born I also nearly was HIT by a deer. I was riding my ten-speed down our road that was gravel at the time coasting and a deer ran right in front of me. I had to put on the brakes fast and nearly went head over the handle bars. Instead the bike fell and I was still standing. I stopped riding on our gravel road and a few years later they tar and chipped the road. And I made sure I pedaled by the areas where there were deer trails. We have alot of deer in this area of Wisconsin. We had one that had a blue eye, that she was blind in, and a bad hip possibly dis-located, that decided to adopt us. She was also a part of the CWD research so she had an ear tag. She was the most photographed deer in the area because she would eat my dried Zinnias, the seeds are high in fat, and jump my back yard fence and eat the crown vetch along the fence. She even would lie down against my home. I have been keeping my eye out for her now the deer are out and about eating all the new grass. I just hope some coyote did not eat her this winter. We have had other instances with deer around here and bear. Right now we are laughing at the people in west area of Madison they are freaky out because a few coyotes have been showing up. One hungry coyote killed a little dog. So now everyone is scared that their little dog will be next. It was just the coyote thought that little dog was a cat or a raccoon. The people have to realize they are living where the coyotes claimed.Coyotes are shy actually except during breeding season. We very rarely see them around here we hear them though. We also keep our dog that is a golden close to home during breeding season. It is just plan common sense.
At my age I have discovered most people from the cities lack common sense when it comes to wild life.

Matt, glad you are up and about.  My husband didn't want you to feel alone in sporting a sling for a shoulder injury, that he fell Monday in the theater district and dislocated his shoulder and is not sporting a sling as well, but not one as nice as yours.  As I told him this morning you have the Rolls Royce of slings.  We do wish you a speedy recovery.  Barbara Glass

Thank you Matt for providing some relief to the bleak news.  I wish you well and I hope for a speedy recovery.

Matt, Yes, here in the Midwest (Chicago) the deer can overtake us at any moment so we "feel" what happened to you.  We are so grateful that the injury was minimal and you are back "live" on the show.  Your presence makes my morning each and every day.
GO NBC.  (we were there in October, on the plaza, shook your hand/have a picture w/you...it was a highlight of our trip).

Hi Matt,
So glad to see you are well enough to be back to work following your deer experience.  3 years ago while driving my CAR, a deer jumped right in front of me. It scared me so much I jammed on the brakes.  The deer was not hit, but I suffered incredible pain in my hip area.  After 2 weeks of unbelievable pain, my physical therapist realized what the doctor and radiologist had missed, a dislocation in my pelvic area.  She was able to snap it back in place and my pain was gone! The jokes are funny, but the pain is real!  Hang in there, take those meds, and get yourself some deer whistles for your bike!!  Thankfully you had a helmet on! I can't even imagine what my experience would have been if I had been on a bike!!  Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Dear Matt:
The REAL deer live in Montana...and on behalf of REAL deer, we would like to apologize that one of our relations caused you physical harm. We are sending you, c.o.d., an easy ride rifle rack for your bike and a cow catcher for the front of the bike. (easy mount, just a few welds) In Montana, many humans have a rifle rack in their trucks and a cow catcher on front.  Sorry, sorry. Love, Montana Deer

Did the deer mutter "What's the frequency Kenneth?"

Hi Matt,  Get better soon from the deer, bicycle collision. I know this can happen. I live in the Sierra Nevada mountains near Lake Tahoe, Ca. I too have had some close encounters with deers and my bicycle. Then about a year back, I hit a black bear on my road bicycle.  I was coming down a hill at dusk with about ten other riders when the bear came onto the road. Going about thirty mph I over took the critter. It bounced off me once, (later on, my dogs went nuts over the bear scent on me) then cut back back in front of me and sent me head over the bars.  Luckily I fared better than you did, with only some bruises.  The bear was last seen high tailing it into the woods.   Get better soon.  Paco

Matt:

You're lucky it was only a deer! Out here we have javalina pigs, as
well as mountain lions -- Could have been much worse!

My recommendation, there is no wildlife in a spinning class!

Hi Matt, you are such a good sport!! Good for you!  All I can say is that all of those guys making fun of you must not get out much.  I have been an avid mountain bike rider for the last 15-20 years and I have encountered deer, bear, mountain lions, foxes...even people or dogs...running in front of me causing me to crash into them and/or fall down. Luckily, I didn't dislocate or break anything during such an encounter...  I broke bones while riding my bike falling all on my own!  Hope you feel better soon. Ride on!

Matt, So good to see you back!!!!  I know that is painfull!!!!  You are a good sport, people can learn from you!!! Take Care!!!  

Matt,

Glad to see your back and great job at being a good sport and taking the jokes

Hi Matt,
What a scary thing!  My husband, 70 year-old father, brother and I had a similar incident last summer while biking in Northern Michigan.  We were on a two-way country road drafting each other.  I was out front, when about 15 ft ahead of me a deer runs out of the woods.  I quickly tried to manuever and was able to slow down enough to watch 2 more deer fly out in front of me.  Unfortuantely, as I slowed down, my husband slowed, my brother slowed but my dad got caught up in my husbands wheel and tumbled to the gravel rode.  He got beat up pretty bad, but did finish our ride . . defintely using more caution.  We are just thankful no one was more seriously hurt.  

Hi Matt and Everyone,

When I saw the story about you hitting a deer, I smiled and reminisced about my only and amazing collision with an animal.  I had bought a one-way ticket to Bangkok and two months later, ended up in India.  With the help of new friends, I found the courage to buy a 350 Enfield motorcycle.  I had never driven a motorcycle before, nor had I seen any women on motorcycles in India.  Two weeks later, after learning how to ride the monster bike, I was on my way to southern India.  I was driving faster than usual, trying to 'be cool' and keep up with the group I was traveling with.  So there I was, a young, long blond haired chick from California with a soft voice (the perfect stereotype), ridding along and out of the corner of my eye I see a medium sized dark gray object darting out from the road - moving in a zig-zag fashion.  I was driving about 60 kilometers/hour.  I slammed on the breaks, hit the poor moving thing, and crashed to the pavement.  When I looked up, I saw a monkey running off to join it's friends.  There must have been, I'd guess, 50 other monkeys looking at us from the hill above.  A small crowd of people gathered around me and the local Indian guys were dancing around, singing and doing Puja (praying) for me. Then, some of the monkey clan started meandering down the hill and tried to take stuff off my friends bikes, as in retaliation or fun?  Anyway, I was ok, due to a lot of luck.  I had some pretty good scrapes on my arm, hip and right toes.  The monkey I hit was sitting under a tree and seemed to be doing fine, although breathing a little heavy.  It was like a dream...Someone pulled out a large bottle of whiskey and started pouring it on my wounds as the monkey and I were looking at each other.  Meanwhile, in the background there was yelling and monkey screams as monkey's arms were reaching for the goodies on the stopped motorcycles and cars.  The best part is... The scar on my arm was easy to see for a couple of years and I love it when someone says "Hey, that's quite a scar on your arm?"  I smile and say in my innocent (rather high pitched) voice "Oh, that?  I was just riding through India on a motorcycle and I hit a monkey. But, for me really, I'm more comfortable on a bicycle (I bought a bicycle and rode 700 miles through Thailand and Laos for my next adventure) because you can quietly ride along the side of an elephant without scaring them so much".  Anyway, Matt, you'll always have a good story to tell.  I've been enjoying your show for years.  :)

Deer Matt,

It's becoming quite clear to me now. By saving money riding a bike you actually earned a few bucks from your Aunt Ler.

Anyone who doesn't believe Matt has never been to the Midwest. Deer run wild in neighborhoods here. I'm just glad that none of his children were hurt. Deer are just afraid of us as we are of them. If you need a deer whistle, we keep a supply of them in our garage.

Matt,
They can question you all they want but my best friends son had the same thing happen to him. He was riding his bicycle on the road next to his house and a deer come out of the woods at hit his bicycle so hard it knocked him over the handle bars and broke his arm very badly that our local hospital sent him to Wake Forest (Baptist) Hospital in NC. We live in a very small town Hillsville, VA. He was 13 and it happened in Summer of 2007. His name is Zachary Marshall. It was a shock to us even in our rural area but it is a fact.
Thanks so much
Karen Pell

Hey in Matt's defense.
I live in the north suburbs of Chicago, and I've had deer go flying across my path while training for a triathlon; had a baby deer decide to do circle around myself and my running training partners, forcing us to run - real fast - in the other direction.
And as a writer, have written about an experienced cyclist who had a deer dart out in front of his cycle, sending him careening over the handle bars and sadly, he is now paralyzed from the neck down.
So, Matt's a great sport for all your teasing, but he's lucky there is such a good ending... and he has such a great sense of humor.

Hey Matt, Don't let them harass you. I know a young lady who was roller blading down Provo Canyon in Utah when she came across a big buck which was standing on the trail.  She screamed and tried braking but the buck stood still.  she slammed into it and ended up straddling the deer. It turned its head, looked at her, and made a loud noise.  When she was finally able to get her blades and footing back on the ground the deer took off. She bruised herself pretty bad.

Why is it that no one worries about the dear, my dear Matt is ok, but the dear. Bambi did not see this coming, are Bambi's friend walkind wround wearing Matt Lauer mask.

Matt, it was good to see back on the show this morning, laughter is definitely the best medicine, so don't get discouraged by all the jokes, there were really funny...I wish you a speedy recovery...

Hi Matt,  
Don't you just love the SLING???  I had to wear one for 6 weeks after I fell over a small tree stump helping an elderly lady catch her dog.  I was trying to be a good samaritan.  I just had a small fracture at the top of the humerus bone and did not have to have surgery. But! Oh! the challenges. Like getting dressed. What a chore.  Since my injury was my left shoulder, my husband helped me with some of my challenges. He created a bar for me to shut my car door and to reach my seat belt so I could drive.  He also put a hook on my bathroom cabinet to hold my hair dryer, so I could dry my hair.  Again, so many challenges!!!  An then the physical therapy starts.  I won't even discuss the physical therapy.  I don't want to scare you.  I am glad you are back on your show and doing well.  The show doesn't seem the same when you are not on it.

matt
   I hope you feel better, the sling will be a fasion statement you just wait and see.
                                     fan
                                       Tom

I live in the Deep South and deer crossings are a common scene.  We even have deer crossings signs in town.  I believe every word of Matt's story because I have had to come to a complete stop many times to allow a buck or a doe and her fawns cross the road or highway.  Thank goodness I have never hit one or been hit by a deer but I know plenty of people who have been victims.  Hope you feel better soon, Matt.

Hi Matt!
You need to move to Albuquerque NM and live in the Old Town Area or Westside where you won't see any deer unless you go hunting in the mountains.  Glad to know you are alright.

As a Montana native I am positive that there are more deer then people here :) Those crazy animals are always running in to cars, they are not the smartest creature in the world! Don't let anyone harrass you about it, for those of us that see deer on a daily basis, we know what they are capable of;) Thanks for the laugh though! No matter which way you spin it, it makes one giggle. Hope you have a speedy recovery!

Y'all are so funny! I love all the Today Show hosts! I hope my husband doesn't see the blog from Suzanne in Sag Harbor, NY about all the deer and wild turkeys up there...you know how when you see clips on the news from Alabama and every male has on camoflauge? My husband isn't quite that bad but he does love to hunt deer and turkeys! Thanks again for taking my mind off my troubles...I enjoyed all the good-natured ribbing!

Matt,
Hope you get better!! Glad to see your back at work!!

Welcome back Matt

Big buzz here even in West Virginia..heard all the deer in the woods asking "Where in the world is Matt Lauer?"

Matt, I want to let you know that my friend almost had the same thing happen to him. So it is common, and people out there should stop busting on him because it does happen. My friend was riding his bike down a hill when a deer crossed the street at the last min. and he just made it out of the way.
To everyone out there making fun of him and saying that it didn't or doesn't happen, well it does.

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