JT Bowen
Mrs. Greenlaw GT ELA 10 February 2017 If Football is So Dangerous, Is it OK to Watch It? In American Culture, football is a major cornerstone. Garnering over 111 million views, the Super Bowl is consistently the most watched program nationwide. In southern states like Texas and Alabama, football is almost a religion, whether it be at the high school, college, or professional level. But there is a darker side to America’s pastime. The brutal injuries, leading to months of rehab, and lasting effects in life are a big part of the game. And those stunning injuries beg the question: If football is so dangerous, should we watch it? In my opinion, yes- there is no shame in enjoying a game of football. One of the scariest and most common injuries suffered in football is the concussion. It can be rooted to one big hit, or a result of the combined effect of many hits. Although most concussions are easily treated, the lasting, sometimes lifelong effect on the brain are the real killers. A study done by the journal Neurology of 3,439 former NFL veterans that “Veterans of NFL combat are (almost four times) more likely than the rest of us from brain diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and… Lou Gehrig’s disease” (Gonchar 6). This study shows just how dangerous playing football can be. As dangerous as spending 15+ years of playing pro football is, all football players are well aware of the risk it is, and of the toll it can take on their bodies. They willingly choose to play the game, at their own discretion, and retire when they feel is best. Calvin Johnson, former star NFL receiver for the Detroit Lions, who retired following the 2016 season, at the age of 30, shared his thoughts about his relatively early retirement, saying “My finger’s jacked. I mean, I’m beat up. After you play for that long (9 seasons) you’re going to be beat up so it’s just a time where you are content with what you did and I’m content with what I did” (Birkett 10). This passage of personal experience shows Johnson’s knowledge of when to quit. He had just started a family, and didn’t want to risk another injury, so he felt it was the right time to hang up his cleats for the last time. Before we ban watching or even playing football, we have to think logically about the sport’s popularity. The NFL is a multi-billion dollar corporation, and to abolish the NFL would be nearly impossible. Millions of people watch and root on their team every Sunday, and purchase merchandise to support their team. These passionate fans won’t just stop supporting their team and watching football because of injuries. According to Sports Media Watch, NFL games “Were 43 of the top 50 most-watched sporting events in the U.S. in 2015. Three others were college football” (Affleck 9). These statistics just show the massive amounts of views nationally-televised NFL and college football games reel in. Fans have watched football on TV for decades, and won’t all of a sudden quit because of a few injuries. Over 39 rule changes have been made over the past 5 years, showing the NFL’s conscious effort and commitment to making the beloved game safer while maintaining and enjoyable viewer experience. All in all, fans should not have to feel guilty about watching football. Players are fully aware of the risks presented by playing football, and the NFL has made strides in the last few decades in improving the safety of playing. Obviously, injuries are inevitable, but dedicated football fans should not have to stop watching their favorite game because of its dangerous implications. Personally, I feel it should be up to the fans to decide whether they want to watch football or not. Regardless of the public opinion, football on all levels is not going anywhere soon. Works Cited Affleck, John. "If Football Is Deadly, Why Do We Still Watch?" The Conversation. N.p., 09 Feb. 2017. Birkett, Dave. "Calvin Johnson Talks Retirement, Says He Was Fed up with Football." Detroit Free Press. N.p., 25 June 2016. Web. 09 Feb. 2017. Gonchar, Michael. "If Football Is So Dangerous to Players, Should We Be Watching It?" The Learning Network. N.p., 13 Sept. 2012. Web. 9 Feb. 2017.
1 Comment
Ally Joven
2/15/2017 10:32:21 am
Since Football Is So Dangerous, We Should NOT Watch It.
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AuthorJT, 9th Grade Archives
May 2017
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