In his a column “Fool me twice … that’s OK” , Editor in Chief Marv Adam asks:
“If the studies of what can happen to pro football players later in life are correct, aren’t we literally watching them sacrifice themselves on the field? We, and they, accepted it when injuries cost players their joints and mobility, and we could argue that a player is choosing those ailments to make tons of money. But what price can be put on dementia and other brain diseases that players seem to be more susceptible to because of concussions and repeated hits?”
WATCHDOG: Three wags of the tail for Adam’s courage in raising the issue. We used to enjoy watching football more than other sports, but now we feel a twinge of guilt, recognizing that we are encouraging a brutal sport similar to historic Roman gladiator battles (and current NASCAR racing.)
Giving the larger size and intensive training of players at all levels of the sport, the dangers from football today far exceed those of one or two generations ago.
Parents should reflect before entering their boys into football programs and give serious consideration to substituting soccer or perhaps lacrosse.
Youngsters may still get hurt, but bones heal and they won’t be causing ongoing damage to their brains.
If the NCAA wants to do something to protect youths rather than ignorantly persecuting Penn State University, it might consider decertifying the football at all universities and colleges. Now that would require brains and guts!
