June Bug

Sketch Book

Football …Dilution or Dellima

The NFL Is A giant.,.it is the epitamy of the YIN AND THE YANG… It provides so much to so many, and conversely it crushes a lot of people that get in its path…

One Problem with effecting any change is that everyone is a fan of the NFL… it benefits so many people , effects their lives in a positive way…that they often times turn their heads and look away…when it comes to significant problems… Like brain injury, or NFL property issues…

Examples, range from the ex players that do occasional appearances to the ones that work as coaches, scouts or represent the teams as ambassadors .

Then there are the sports writers, and announcers..and all the business that are built around football..,

Then there are the charities that are hugely benefited by pro football..

All this creates a “I better take care of myself” attitude, and keep my mouth shut !!!

The player has illustrated that over the 100 plus years he has little concern about how he will feel when he is in his 50s or 60s…most do not even think about the day their career ends.., they are making so much money they do not want to derail the train.,,this has been the case since day one.

On the other-side of the coiun the game itself is immensely popular…we all love football.. No one wants to bring the game down .

The fans just want their dose of NFL FOOTBALL on Sunday…generations upon generation with this mentality…

I think that the fan is also not sympathetic to the player because be reads about the biggest contracts , thinks that’s what all players make and could give a crap about their problems..,

Lack of interest and concern is illustrated by .,, the day after the powerful, award winning show about CTE aired on Front Line, I was in San Francisco and did not read or hear one word about it… Odd, even odder the current players were totally silent. Not one player mentioned a word about it.,,my wife could not sleep the night after watching the show she was so upset… Wouldn’t you think that you would think twice about hitting some one with your head??? I guess not…

This is no different than when guys were taking steroids…the prevailing attitude was I will do anything to make the team, worry about my health after football is over.,,215 pound college linemen could add 50 pound with steroids and have a career in the NFL… Let’s do it…

So what all this boils down to is …I won t care about this until I get the bad news from my doctor… Or when I am contemplating taking my own life because this injured brain no longer helps me make the right decisions .

Oh yes, you will read about it in the paper but like all major business… The doors will be open tomorrow..,. If your lucky a park bench will have your name on it or a amphitheater but most likely you will just be forgotten…

The league has a responsibility to do what is right! It is not right to cover up what is wrong… It needs to be addressed not covered up with lies, confusion , and mostly money grubbing attorneys that themselves only care about themselves…

This will be a tuff one to solve…

Like Ol Brent Boyd said…”deny, deny and hope they die” How true it is…