THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 FOOTBALL It seems like humans like violence. The ancient Romans released lions to devour people in the colosseum - as well as had slaves fight the Roman Legion. Boxing has two fighters trying to knock the other out. People go to stock car races to see car crashes. There is a joke: “I went to a fight, and a hockey game broke out” as fighting was part of hockey. ***** And, then there is football. Some people like the big tackle plays - like when the quarterback gets sacked, or a defensive player crushes a running back with a bone-jarring tackle. “Brett Favre says he might have had "thousands" of concussions during his Hall of Fame career. The three-time NFL MVP who played from 1992-2010 and was known for his aggressive approach to football said Thursday on NBC's "Megyn Kelly Today" that he is experiencing short-term memory issues. “Favre, 48, has become an advocate for concussion research and said he had three or four known concussions during his lengthy career, which spanned 302 regular-season games and 24 in the postseason. [now 51 years old] "But as we're learning about concussions," he told Kelly, "there's a term we use in football and maybe other sports, that I got 'dinged.' When you have ringing of the ears, seeing stars, that is a concussion. "If that's a concussion, then I've had hundreds, probably thousands, throughout my career, which is frightening." ***** Yes, professional football can be violent - and may shorten life expectancy. “The 517 former NFL players who died during that 35-year period [1979-2013] did so at an average age of 59.6 years; the baseball players at 66.7 years.”: (New Study finds NFL players life expectancy is less than 60 years of age? (nfldraftdiamonds.com)) There have been rule changes regarding concussions, targeting, and more. Concussion protocols have been implemented in the NFL. “1. When a player shows signs of a possible concussion, he must be immediately removed from the game. Each game has team physicians plus a neurotrauma consultant split between the field and booth levels to watch for and identify signs. 2. The physician and the consultant review film of the play and perform a test of the symptoms. 3. If suspicion of a concussion continues, the player is escorted to the locker room for a full examination. 4. If the player is diagnosed with a concussion, he is out for the remainder of that game. If he passes the exam, he can return but will be monitored for additional symptoms throughout the game. “ Here are the steps of the NFL's concussion protocol - mlive.com Helmets have been improved to protect the head against concussions. ***** And, there are deaths on the field as well: “Of these, 24 occurred at the high school level and four at the college level. (The number of high school football participants is more than 10 times the number of college football participants, it says.) In comparison, the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research found 34 instances of heatstroke death during that period.” Most (all?) football programs start with practices prior to the season. And, many of those are “two-a-day” practices (meaning that they practice twice a day. These normally are in August when it is hot - so heatstroke is a real problem. ***** I like football. I like watching games either in person or on television. (It is hard without a television set, but TV has replays, and multiple cameras to really capture the action. Football has more options than baseball - run, pass, option, sneak, punt, fieldgoal. Another article showed the revenue stream for NFL teams. Television made up of well over 50% of the revenue, ticket sales were only about 8%, endorsements/team gear is also significant (look around you when you are out and about - how many people might be wearing Giants, Packers, Cowboys gear. I started this week with a quote from Grantland Rice: ““For when the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name, He writes–not that you won or lost–but how you played the Game.”. Another quote comes from Vince Lombardi: ““Winning isn’t everything – It’s the only thing.” ***** Football is a tough game - with possible negative outcomes of concussions, early death, broken legs, broken spirts, broken bodies. It can be violent. But, it is part of American life. And (personal viewpoint), I’d rather watch a football game with scores of 35 to 32; with a team in the “red zone”; and the “two minute warning”, than a 1 to zero soccer game!!! LOVE WINS - Even in football!!! I’m not sure that “If you can be anything - be nice” fits - but lets hope so!!! Karen

 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021  FOOTBALL

It seems like humans like violence.  The ancient Romans released lions to devour people in the colosseum - as well as had slaves fight the Roman Legion.  Boxing has two fighters trying to knock the other out.  People go to stock car races to see car crashes.  

There is a joke:  “I went to a fight, and a hockey game broke out” as fighting was part of hockey.  

*****

And, then there is football.

Some people like the big tackle plays - like when the quarterback gets sacked, or a defensive player crushes a running back with a bone-jarring tackle.  

“Brett Favre says he might have had "thousands" of concussions during his Hall of Fame career.

The three-time NFL MVP who played from 1992-2010 and was known for his aggressive approach to football said Thursday on NBC's "Megyn Kelly Today" that he is experiencing short-term memory issues.

“Favre, 48, has become an advocate for concussion research and said he had three or four known concussions during his lengthy career, which spanned 302 regular-season games and 24 in the postseason.  [now 51 years old]

"But as we're learning about concussions," he told Kelly, "there's a term we use in football and maybe other sports, that I got 'dinged.' When you have ringing of the ears, seeing stars, that is a concussion.

"If that's a concussion, then I've had hundreds, probably thousands, throughout my career, which is frightening."

*****

Yes, professional football can be violent - and may shorten life expectancy.  “The 517 former NFL players who died during those 35 years [1979-2013] did so at an average age of 59.6 years; the baseball players at 66.7 years.”: (New Study finds NFL players life expectancy is less than 60 years of age? (nfldraftdiamonds.com)) 

 

There have been rule changes regarding concussions, targeting, and more.  Concussion protocols have been implemented in the NFL. 

“1. When a player shows signs of a possible concussion, he must be immediately removed from the game. Each game has team physicians plus a neurotrauma consultant split between the field and booth levels to watch for and identify signs.

2. The physician and the consultant review film of the play and perform a test of the symptoms.

3. If suspicion of a concussion continues, the player is escorted to the locker room for a full examination.

4. If the player is diagnosed with a concussion, he is out for the remainder of that game. If he passes the exam, he can return but will be monitored for additional symptoms throughout the game. “

Here are the steps of the NFL's concussion protocol - mlive.com

Helmets have been improved to protect the head against concussions.  

*****

And, there are deaths on the field as well:

“Of these, 24 occurred at the high school level and four at the college level. (The number of high school football participants is more than 10 times the number of college football participants, it says.) In comparison, the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research found 34 instances of heatstroke death during that period.”

Most (all?) football programs start with practices before the season.  And, many of those are “two-a-day” practices (meaning that they practice twice a day.  These normally are in August when it is hot - so heatstroke is a real problem.  

*****

I like football.  I like watching games either in person or on television.  (It is hard without a television set, but TV has replays, and multiple cameras to really capture the action.  

Football has more options than baseball - run, pass, option, sneak, punt, field-goal.  

Another article showed the revenue stream for NFL teams.  Television made up well over 50% of the revenue, ticket sales were only about 8%, endorsements/team gear is also significant (look around you when you are out and about - how many people might be wearing Giants, Packers, Cowboys gear.  

I started this week with a quote from Grantland Rice: ““For when the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name, He writes–not that you won or lost–but how you played the Game.”.  Another quote comes from Vince Lombardi: ““Winning isn’t everything – It’s the only thing.”

*****

Football is a tough game - with possible negative outcomes of concussions, early death, broken legs, broken spirits, broken bodies.  It can be violent.  But, it is part of American life.  

And (personal viewpoint), I’d rather watch a football game with scores of 35 to 32; with a team in the “red zone”; and the “two-minute warning”, than a 1 to zero soccer game!!!

LOVE WINS - Even in football!!!  

I’m not sure that “If you can be anything - be nice” fits - but let's hope so!!!

Karen