Posted on 05/05/2012 1:03:49 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
With the apparent suicide of NFL great Junior Seau, who played 20 years in the world's most violently glamorous sport, American football is dying.
It's about time. The nationally televised gambling and meat-rendering factory cannot survive without new players.
And the parents of future players are asking themselves this:
Is football worth it for my child?
(Excerpt) Read more at articles.chicagotribune.com ...
Oh, humbug. The Texans just picked their 2012 cheerleading squad.
http://www.houstontexans.com/cheerleaders/cheer-finalists.html
Lookin’ pretty healthy to me.
I'm a pretty masculine guy (who *loves* football) but it's hard to argue with data found by reputable medical researchers.There's sure to be additional research and,depending on what it shows,it could very well effect the sport substantially.Haven't heard of any research of this sort being performed on NHL players...that,too,would be interesting,IMO.
Actually, MMA is considerably safer than boxing, at least when repeated concussive injuries are concerned. Boxers wearing 10-12 oz. gloves take repeated headshots that, if not for the gloves, would KO them and end the fight. Kid Akeem, Sergei Artemiev and many others lasted far too long in fights and were either killed or permanently removed from boxing because of this.
QPR’s going to be in a fight to the end.
Maybe,maybe not.I'm not a neurologist,neurosurgeon or neuropathologist and I assume you're not either.If my assumption is correct then *neither* of us are qualified to answer that question.
My parents for one. I attended a Football Camp at USC while I was in school and was quite a good WR but I also was highly ranked in the State in Tennis.
I quit Football as soon as we discovered A) It’s populated by brain-dead idiots who want to destroy your knees and B) Tennis was a much more satisfying sport that I can play throughout my life.
The best and brightest athletes aren’t going into Football anymore for those reasons listed above.
Did I mention that I really like being able to walk at 30?
Well now the problem is these "consenting Adults" at the Pro Level who get paid over 380k at a minimum want to sue everybody because they got concussions.
I have no problem with people doing what they wish wherein they might get hurt. I do have a problem with them suing someone because they bashed their brains around and now think they are entitled to a payoff.
The deeper and more important question is middle school, high school and college football. These programs suck up money from the educational system, generate horrific injuries and have no benefit to the players.
Let adults play football in return for a salary. They can choose to take the risks. But don’t waste K-12 budgets on risky sports or burn out college kids and waste taxpayer money on football.
a little premature? a little?? /sarc
Actually tennis is a great sport, but it can be very tough on knees. And long distance running? My uncle is a world class marathoner who had both knees replaced at 50. Both are non-contact.
If you ask most ex-NFL players if it was “worth it”, the VAST majority say yes. Just to get to play at that level.
There is a reason why soccer is rapidly growing in suburban America. It's much less violent and the way it is played also allows everyone to be a winner on many of these youth teams!
Soccer as played in the rest of the world is different. Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna broke his leg today for the second time this season. His coach had this to say:
'It is broken fibula, the same leg. He was kicked on it, it has not happened alone.
'When he was kicked, he has broken the leg. The guy closed him down and walked on him. I dont know if it was deliberate or not.'
Just a plain mean lack of sportsmanship. Not the sterotypical soccer attitude that many have in the USA.
True that’s why I prefer clay. Preserves the knees.
It also doesn’t compare to a 250lb linebacker spearing you in the side of the knee. That absolutely shatters em.
Kudos to your Uncle. I was a sub 17min 5k’er in High School so I know how rough that is on the body. Running may the most mentally-challenging and physically painful sport ever invented.
Not going to happen. Football is not going away. Too many billionaire owners have too much to loose should that happen and that’s the bottom line.
Considering their finale is on the road with Manchester City who will be playing for the championship, they'd better win tomorrow! And a lot will ride on who does better agsinst Stoke.
If fewer Americans youth play, other countries will be glad to provide players. The Samoans have sent a lot of players to the NFL (including Seau) and a few very good Africans have emerged.
With the kind of money the players get in the big leagues, there will always be young men who want to play, and parents who are willing to let their kids take the risk.
IMO the percentage of mental type injuries among all players is very small, tiny - better to outlaw driving cars. (sarc)
In 1905, 18 football players were killed and 159 severely injured.
President Teddy Roosevelt threatened to outlaw the game by executive order unless changes were made to eliminate the mass brawls that caused so much damage.
And lo! Changes were made, including requiring 6 men on the line of scrimmage (later changed to 7), requiring a neutral zone, no interlocking blocking, no flying tackles, no slugging, allowing the forward pass and a number of other changes.
The game will evolve and survive.
Football IS America’s sport.
The only thing more boring to me than soccer is golf. No, wait. Baseball.
Nanny staters are trying to make sitzpinklers out of men. The other Freeper who mentioned the NFL is doomed because it is a sport no woman is likely ever going to play at a professional level may be on to something.
As was the poster who suggested that soccer was the perfect socialist/communist sport.
I love Rugby “League”, Rugby “Union”, not so much.
Anyone remember when Rush had a few radio shows with bleeding hearts relating the damage caused by soccer balls. It was hilarious and sad. Some people are sheep to be monetarily fleeced.
Got that from a friend who’s always kidding me about American football.
John kAss.... ****head extraordinaire.
Joe Theismann got his lower leg snapped live on national television, during a Monday Night Football broadcast. If that didn’t get the game shut down, concussions won’t. Sorry.
Soccer was invented by European women who needed something to do while their men did the cooking.
Idiotic article.
Point #1. — Ghettos are filled with kids that would give their left nut to play in the NFL. The will do anything to get into pro sports, and if they can’t get into the NBA, then to the NFL it is. The very idea that they MIGHT get dementia from concussions or from steriods when they are 40 years old is going to be the last thing from their minds as they watch 14 year old friends and relatives shot down dead in gang wars. Believe me, they will take the $10 million career pay and dementia at 40 every day of the week.
Football is not going anywhere.
Point #2. — The NFL has never been more aggressive in reducing contact and concussions and injuries in its history.
Just an idiotic article. US Football is not going anywhere, but maybe up, or maybe expanding overseas. It is a great spectator sport and there is no loss of college players fighting to make it to the NFL. Any other suggestion is laughable.
Hey Kass, the Super Bowl is generally the highest rated telecast of the year. Every year. Let me know when it slips to #2 routinely, and I might start to consider listening to you.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/20/business/media/20ratings.html
That was more likely for the huge TV audience for whom the Superbowl was the first and last game they watched for the year.
That was more likely for the huge TV audience for whom the Superbowl was the first and last game they watched for the year.
That was more likely for the huge TV audience for whom the Superbowl was the first and last game they watched for the year.
That was more likely for the huge TV audience for whom the Superbowl was the first and last game they watched for the year.
I prefer the lingerie league.
If senseless death and violence were enough to deter parents from allowing their children to participate in an activity, the cesspool known as “hip hop” and/or “rap” music would be as dead as the buggy whip industry.
Rush predicted this some time ago.
It’s a crock. Try dong this on ice for 45 seconds at a clip for 60 minutes. With all the banging going and hitting going on and there are fewer injuries and concussions... Why?
Here is the problem. You have artificially enhanced players who now run faster, are stronger with emotions that can barely be checked. It comes down to steroids.
The fact that the punishment is ridiculous gives football teams and it’s players a positive risk/reward ratio which makes the fines and potential loss of a players life after his career ends worth it.
One other factor needs to be considered. These are warriors and when their career ends the boredom and emotional trauma of it are very stressful.
Here are the top 50 Neilson rated telecasts of all time. You tell me if Football is not here to stay. 9 of the top 16 are Super Bowls. 22 of the 50 are Super Bowls with one being a NFC Championship. No other sport even rated a top 50. No TV show is listed more than twice. Roots is the only non football telecast that is listed more than twice. The Superbowl simply DOMINATES TV ratings. Nothing comes close.
1 -- M*A*S*H Special
2 -- Dallas (Who Shot JR)
3 -- Roots Pt. VIII
4 -- Super Bowl XVI Game
5 -- Super Bowl XVII Game
6 -- XVII Winter Olympics - Wed-2
7 -- Super Bowl XX Game
8 -- Gone With The Wind-Pt.1
9 -- Gone With The Wind-Pt.2
10 -- Super Bowl XII Game
11 -- Super Bowl XIII Game
12 -- Bob Hope Christmas Show
13 -- Super Bowl XVIII Game
14 -- Super Bowl XIX Game
15 -- Super Bowl XIV Game
16 -- Super Bowl XXX Game 17 -- ABC Sunday Night Movie (The Day After)
18 -- Roots Pt. VI
19 -- The Fugitive
20 -- Super Bowl XXI Game
21 -- Roots Pt. V
22 -- Super Bowl XXVIII Game
23 -- Cheers
24 -- Ed Sullivan
25 -- Super Bowl XXVII
26 -- Bob Hope Christmas Show
27 -- Roots Pt. III
28 -- Super Bowl XXXII Game
29 -- Super Bowl XI Game
30 -- Super Bowl XV Game
31 -- Super Bowl VI Game
32 -- XVII Winter Olympics - Fri-2
33 -- Roots Pt. II ABC
34 -- Beverly Hillbillies
35 -- Roots Pt. IV
36 -- Ed Sullivan
37 -- Super Bowl XXIII Game
38 -- Academy Awards
39 -- Super Bowl XXXI Game
40 -- Super Bowl XXXIV Game
41 -- Thorn Birds Pt. III
42 -- Super Bowl XLII Game
43 -- Thorn Birds Pt. IV
44 -- NFC Championship Game
45 -- Beverly Hillbillies
46 -- Super Bowl VII Game
47 -- Super Bowl XLI Game
48 -- Thorn Birds Pt. II
49 -- Super Bowl IX Game
50 -- Super Bowl X Game
Speaking of dying... I “lol” @ your disgusting worthless plague of a city and its communist citizens Chicago.
If anything, helmets will be enhanced to reduce the problem, along with perhaps some more rule changes. Equipment has already changed radically over the years, this will be no big deal and won’t really affect the nature of the game.
Seau was a personal favorite of mine, I’ll never understand why he did what he did. Even if there were a medical problem, you would think he’d look for a medical solution rather than not getting to see his children grow up. Tragic indeed.
For many decades, baseball was called “America’s pasttime”. It was entrenched long before football became popular. Basketball is the new kid on the block.
Because Bob for Texaco is dead.
And a BIG thank you for not posting the youtube video on that. If I never see that clip again and Lawrence Taylor beating on his own helmet in horror, it will be too soon.
YOU HUSH YO' MOUF!
“Joe Theismann got his lower leg snapped live on national television, during a Monday Night Football broadcast.”
That hurts just remembering watching that...and the replay...and the next one...and the next one....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.