erod
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I've been reasonably certain for a fairly lengthy span of my lifetime that playing football - particularly of the NFL variety - could have future implications on overall health. Knees don't bend in enough directions for football, shoulders aren't particularly suited, and repeatedly ramming your head into other hard surfaces seems to carry with it a possible undesired consequence.
That's knowledge I've stored neatly in the "genius file" in my brain, along with "Don't forget your anniversary" and "Don't pee on an electric fence." It's filed under D, for "duh".
So here we have this collection of former players, obviously broke and struggling with their sudden irrelevance, not to mention kicking themselves for umpteen other bad decisions along the way, ready to skewer and *******ize the league that gave them so many opportunities during and after their careers.
Nevermind the vials of horse steroids and whatnot they pumped through their bodies back then. Disregard the lifestyles many of them led, the drugs and alcohol they may have used, the intentional cheap shots they personally delivered, or the self-inflicted financial disasters they incurred. Pay no attention to all the great advice and common sense they ignored and set aside along the way.
The smell of money is in the air. A gang mentality is forming. And the me-first attitudes that took control of professional athletics in the 80s is kicking in.
Screw the game. They want theirs.
The world has gone stupid. Mayors are outlawing big coke cups because people are getting too fat. Educators are banning homework because it's unfair to single-parent kids. Teachers in the UK are prohibiting students from having "best friends" because it might hurt feelings. You can name a hundred more examples of massive overreaching and overlegislation that is now just commonplace in the world of misfits we needlessly appease.
And now, we've decided banging your head around might not be completely safe. Amazing.
Why would football players be any different than boxers? Did they not see Muhammed Ali deteriorate, and hundreds of fighters before him? Have they not heard Joe Frazier speak? Virtually every fighter of the past struggles to speak and effectively communicate later in life from too many jars to the head over too much time. This is not news.
And haven't occupational hazards been around for some time now?
Skywalkers know they might fall building skyscrapers. Rodeo clowns know the bulls aren't amused. Evil Kneivel drove his bike off the ramp without being pushed. High school graduates sign up willingly for the Marines knowing the risks. Electricians, pilots, stuntmen, all of us....we take chances in our lives, in work and play. Just sitting in a cubicle can make you fat and develop bloodclots. but that isn't the fault of your company.
Bottom line, there's a reason NFL football players are compensated the way they are, and it isn't only for their talent. They willingly do something that most aren't willing to do. It's not war, and they're not actually gladiators, but it's pretty much the next thing to it. It's a big part of why we love the game and admire them for taking the risks to play it.
Plus, these guys did this to each other. So why isn't Jim McMahon suing Ronnie Lott? Is it the NFL's fault that guys like Lott, Blount, Tatum, Lynch, etc, take such incredibly immense pleasure in crushing a man's skull with his own? Granted, the NFL marketed it, and we ate it up, but no one made anyone do anything against their will.
Yet, here we are. It has come to this. Fearing the coming onslaught of lawsuits, the NFL has just neutuered some of the best players in the game: Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, Stephen Jackson, and our very own Demarco Murray. A big part of their arsenal is gone, and with it, one of my favorite parts of the game.
Forever, running backs have been able to deliver the same blows they take disproportionately, but no more. Now, they'll have to duck out of bounds or hit the floor, or just brace themselves for the blow. For lowering their head could cost their team 15 yards and the ball. This new rule is so unfathomably stupid, I'm shocked it was passed, and by 31-1 no less. Owners are scared to death.
So now, running the football just became more risky for coaches. Yes, by all means, let's throw it more, as if 50-60 times per game wasn't enough already. We don't need kickoffs anymore, so why bother with running it either? Throw it, throw it, throw it some more.
I hate where this game is headed. It's only going to get worse. My interest in waning. My season tickets are up for sale.
Thankfully, I have some real football games on VCR tapes.
That's knowledge I've stored neatly in the "genius file" in my brain, along with "Don't forget your anniversary" and "Don't pee on an electric fence." It's filed under D, for "duh".
So here we have this collection of former players, obviously broke and struggling with their sudden irrelevance, not to mention kicking themselves for umpteen other bad decisions along the way, ready to skewer and *******ize the league that gave them so many opportunities during and after their careers.
Nevermind the vials of horse steroids and whatnot they pumped through their bodies back then. Disregard the lifestyles many of them led, the drugs and alcohol they may have used, the intentional cheap shots they personally delivered, or the self-inflicted financial disasters they incurred. Pay no attention to all the great advice and common sense they ignored and set aside along the way.
The smell of money is in the air. A gang mentality is forming. And the me-first attitudes that took control of professional athletics in the 80s is kicking in.
Screw the game. They want theirs.
The world has gone stupid. Mayors are outlawing big coke cups because people are getting too fat. Educators are banning homework because it's unfair to single-parent kids. Teachers in the UK are prohibiting students from having "best friends" because it might hurt feelings. You can name a hundred more examples of massive overreaching and overlegislation that is now just commonplace in the world of misfits we needlessly appease.
And now, we've decided banging your head around might not be completely safe. Amazing.
Why would football players be any different than boxers? Did they not see Muhammed Ali deteriorate, and hundreds of fighters before him? Have they not heard Joe Frazier speak? Virtually every fighter of the past struggles to speak and effectively communicate later in life from too many jars to the head over too much time. This is not news.
And haven't occupational hazards been around for some time now?
Skywalkers know they might fall building skyscrapers. Rodeo clowns know the bulls aren't amused. Evil Kneivel drove his bike off the ramp without being pushed. High school graduates sign up willingly for the Marines knowing the risks. Electricians, pilots, stuntmen, all of us....we take chances in our lives, in work and play. Just sitting in a cubicle can make you fat and develop bloodclots. but that isn't the fault of your company.
Bottom line, there's a reason NFL football players are compensated the way they are, and it isn't only for their talent. They willingly do something that most aren't willing to do. It's not war, and they're not actually gladiators, but it's pretty much the next thing to it. It's a big part of why we love the game and admire them for taking the risks to play it.
Plus, these guys did this to each other. So why isn't Jim McMahon suing Ronnie Lott? Is it the NFL's fault that guys like Lott, Blount, Tatum, Lynch, etc, take such incredibly immense pleasure in crushing a man's skull with his own? Granted, the NFL marketed it, and we ate it up, but no one made anyone do anything against their will.
Yet, here we are. It has come to this. Fearing the coming onslaught of lawsuits, the NFL has just neutuered some of the best players in the game: Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, Stephen Jackson, and our very own Demarco Murray. A big part of their arsenal is gone, and with it, one of my favorite parts of the game.
Forever, running backs have been able to deliver the same blows they take disproportionately, but no more. Now, they'll have to duck out of bounds or hit the floor, or just brace themselves for the blow. For lowering their head could cost their team 15 yards and the ball. This new rule is so unfathomably stupid, I'm shocked it was passed, and by 31-1 no less. Owners are scared to death.
So now, running the football just became more risky for coaches. Yes, by all means, let's throw it more, as if 50-60 times per game wasn't enough already. We don't need kickoffs anymore, so why bother with running it either? Throw it, throw it, throw it some more.
I hate where this game is headed. It's only going to get worse. My interest in waning. My season tickets are up for sale.
Thankfully, I have some real football games on VCR tapes.
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