“No it’s not. He exchanged his life for money in full knowledge the game can kill and maim.”
I couldn’t disagree with you more. While I agree football is a violent game, and that there is a trade off in terms of bodily punishment for money, death is not an acceptable result.
In the old days, “getting your bell rung” was no big deal. Guys played with concussions. We now know that concussions can lead to serious mental issues.
Therefore it’s tragic in my view.
Now that we know, something has to be done, if not, it becomes on the level of gladiators.
Here’s my thing...
I am not opposed to Football. My sport was Off-Road racing I used to cover it professionally. I have cartwheeled in a Class 10 car at over 70 mph through a cactus patch. I also sat aside Ivan Stewart careening out of control through a boulder field. So I well understand the risks.
And I’d do it again knowing I could easily get killed.
Off-road race vehicles are cages of Chro-moly steel, 6 point safety harnesses, fire suits and helments.
But you can only make things so safe. In any endeavor in sport, there is risk. In some, a lot of life ending risk. People do it for the thrill, the money, the fame...whatever.
But the risks are known. And we do them. And people die. And the crowd roars.
I am not indifferent to the bad things. I just want people to realize that 1: the players know the risks and the risks unknown do not matter. 2: the crowd loves a good crash.
It’s human nature, for better or worse.