The way I’ve seen every headline worded (very much like the one for this thread) makes me wonder how much the CTE really had to do with his death.
I’m not saying I know exactly what’s going on, but the wording across media has managed to shoehorn in CTE while explicitly saying it was something else that caused the death. They pull this kind of crap to get clicks, attention, comments, etc.
Lots of guys struggle to find their way in life when they stop playing football, and many turn to drugs and alcohol.
I hate that CTE is forced into the discussion, because it really doesn’t look like that was a major contributor. The implication is that this is a tragedy because of CTE. I think it’s just as bad, if not worse, if this guy just hit the bottle super hard because he was lost without football.
This is also a real problem for many retired athletes. They go from extreme fame to almost being an unknown in life. Some guys just can’t handle that. Not to mention when they are playing they have the support of their teammates and in retirement they are often all alone. That has to really mess with people.
Wow… first and foremost I’m sorry to hear this news. All of you have made great points… the gladiator, violent appeal of seeing others fight to the death… watching people fed to lions, public hangings, etc… we humans have a very messed up side in our brains, some more so than others… yet we all watch for different reasons… but there is a carnal side of football, like in hockey too, boxing or MMA which I don’t watch but imagine it’s similar… the “big hits” we love and hate to see depending on who’s getting hit…
It’s a lot to unravel and analyze… personally for me I love the team aspect of football, the execution and talent of world class athletes on display… but I’d be lying if I said I never got excited when a Lion made a huge hit on an opposing team…
I forget what my original point was but I think you’ve all covered it pretty well… it’s a complicated discussion
When I teach motorcycle safety I am up front with my ideology- it’s your choice to risk riding as riding is an inherently dangerous thing and has a higher risk of death then I’m a car or truck
Free will: choose wisely the risks you decide to take…
Part of job it to make them aware of how dangerous it is: but they chose was well as the parents for the students under 18 if they want to still learn….
As we learn more of brain injuries associated with Football, we simply get a better truth about how bad it is….
But we each will still have to choose one way or the other… and sadly I’m this case the money and fame screams louder than the risk involved still…
Knowing what I know now about CTE and playing football for 15 years, I’d take the risk again in a heartbeat. Playing football is a blast and the friendships you go to war with last forever. Those were the best days of my life. I’d do anything to strap the pads on one more time, still dream about it if I’m being honest.
I agree though it’s something to truly think about before enrolling your kids in youth football. My parents had no idea of the possible long term consequences when I started playing @ 9 years old.
@DeadDog - You have made some terrific points above in this thread about free will and the human decision making process that I love and respect.
But, when it comes to youth sports isn’t free will in the parents hands!?
Ice Hockey, Rugby, American Football, and MMA, these are super dangerous sports whether we want to accept it or not and many kids are forced into them by their parents at a young age. Is that ok!? I’m not really sure at this point.
It’s all very interesting to me and I will never pretend to have a one size fits all answer.
Thank you and Agree on parental responsibility…. Do they choose the game and it’s risks or not?
Tough, tough call for each and all….
Too me it’s like gymnastics for females or guys…. We all see that 1% that make the Olympic level but you never here of all the damage along that path for the ones that break a back or neck or destroy their knees and shoulders…. Many with life long injuries and nocomp
Funny as it sound so hypocritical to me but I’d let my kid do football before ever going into gymnastics…. Or rodeo…
100%. The amount of alcohol that a person would have to drink on a regular basis to be dead at 38 is staggering. This isn’t something that happens overnight.
Alcoholism and drug addiction are more than what is chosen to be put into the physical body……the choice is not the problem:it’s the addictive behavior this is the root….
Sadly more don’t get recovery right let along get it at all…
Blessed that I got it right…. So far…. One day at a time for life baby!!
insightful. i thought it was how many times you were concussed. this sort of opens your eyes that its more than that. i’m not sure, but it seems to me the further you go in the sport, the higher your risk and its probably exponentially higher. glad my kids are grown and i don’t need to make that choice anymore.
I used to work with a super tough Mexican dude in Texas who worked in the oilfield and did MMA, and this guy always maintained that bull riding proved that white people are crazy.
That’s interesting. I’m exactly the opposite. I only played 6.5 years of organized football (1.5 in college). If I could do it over again, I wouldn’t play. No way.
We were just pawns. You get some little cheeseball awards that make you feel special, and massage your ego. But of course there’s no life changing money in it for 99% of young players, so risking potentially life changing injuries is a tough decision.
