Today’s View From the Bull Pen
Priorities
We have them all wrong. From constant news coverage of Jodi Arias and OJ Simpson to athletes getting mega bucks for playing a game, our sense of what is important is completely and totally screwed up. You'd think that we might have learned something from the recent events in Boston. That heroes emerge from even the most difficult of circumstances, but, no, we return to the inane and inconsequential. Amanda Knox. Film at 11.I drew this cartoon after reading the recent story about Andrew Wiggins, supposedly the "next" LeBron James, signing a letter of intent with Kansas. While Wiggins did his best to keep his signing from becoming too much of a circus, it still carried huge weight in the 24/7 news cycle. It made me think of the number of brilliant kids who will walk across graduation stages all over our country in the next few weeks, whose names are only heard as they stride forward to get their diplomas. No newspaper columns are written or press conferences held for valedictorians or honor students, but, hey, dribble a basketball and we hear all about it. Priorities. Yeah. I'd say we have them pretty screwed up.
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Quotes & Quips
“Happiness belongs to the self-sufficient.”- AristotleTwitter Goodies
What I want to know is much more can the NFL do to prevent concussions. Helmets can only be made so much better, and if there’s tackling, some players are always going to tackle to injure. I feel like the NFL is doing what they can, and that players should know that if they join the NFL, there’s a risk they have to accept.
The NFL has two choices;
1. Reduce the amount of protective equipment the players wear thus causing the players to play in a safer manner.
2. Change the laws of Physics
My money is on option 2.
Good Morning from Omaha,
When the bathroom toilet is leaking the first thing you do is turn off the water. You don’t start by washing the towels. The NFL has focused on the wrong thing but for a legal reason. IF they recognize they have a concussion problem by making changes in equipment then they simply have to start writing checks to those players who have filed suits.
They are like magicians who distract you with the left had while the right had does the work of magic.
they are avoiding the issue masterfully and are hoping it goes away. as long as there is another dime to be made from the league someone is going to try and make it.I am NOT saying concussions in pro football don’t happen, they do. Just as likely some of the damage done happened while the player was in college, high school or even playing pop warner. Attorneys, people, are looking for a deep pocket and right now the league’s pocket is the deepest or as WM said the NFL can change the laws of physics.
Strive for excellence, nothing but your best.
Gene
A couple of weeks ago, I had a conversation with a new co-worker. In “breaking the ice,” I asked him about his big ol’ championship ring (Boise State). He played college football (d-back), graduating a couple of years ago. The topic of concussions came up. He mentioned some of the things he has been experiencing over the past couple of years – as his body acclimates to a post-competitive football lifestyle. This young man is in the prime of his life: physically fit, attractive, great girlfriend; and now, because of playing football, he experiences dizziness, anxiety, forgetfulness, and sensitivity to light.
I instantly became concerned for him. I asked him if the college he graduated from provides any support, post graduation, due to side effects of concussions. They do not. I told him about an on-going concussion discussion one of the local television channels has been promoting, and suggested he check it out.
I fear what you have drawn Drew, is the sad reality of any football program. WM and Gene are right, too. What if the NFL did away with all of the “protective” gear, and the league played ball just like in the days of Nagurski, the “Gipper,” and Lombardi? Would the way the game is played, change? Something tells me, “no.”
As long as there are shareholders, team owners, and a financially greedy league, “player safety” will continue to be an oxymoron; and brain-injured players will go the way of Brian Duerson and Junior Seau, because they would rather die on their own terms than waste away due to chronic traumatic encephalopathy. As harsh as it sounds, it is the truth.
peg
Correction: Dave Duerson…NOT Brian.
Sorry about that.
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