Now that summer is here, I finally have the free time to read the books that have been on my agenda since, well, last summer. Foremost on that list was the book "Against Football: One Fan's Reluctant Manifesto" by Steve Almond. As the title suggests, Almond is a self-proclaimed fan of football but has come to question the ethics behind America's favorite sport in recent years.
This year's Super Bowl had a staggering amount of viewers, totaling at 114.4 million. During the football season, Sundays usually garner a crowd that averages between 23.7 and 26.8 million every week. In comparison, less than 20 percent (approximately 64,746,000) Americans go to church every Sunday. Those numbers alone call into question the "religious" following football has, but it gets worse.
There's also the issue of money. The NFL's commissioner, Roger Goodell, received $34.1 million for his salary this past year. I'm sure the guy works hard and all, but he could buy 26 of the 2015 Ferrari LaFerraris with that money every year. No one should have that kind of power. The average salary for the football players themselves comes to $2,150,000; however, there is a vast range between the highest earning player - Drew Brees at $23,800,00 - to the lowest earning player (rookies can earn a minimum of $435,000). Because of this disparity in pay, the median wage is actually $860,000. Football stadiums, like the one just completed in good old Minnesota, are paid for by taxpayers, but do we get any of that money back? Nope. The earnings of the new stadium (parking, tickets, concessions, etc.) all go right into the pocket of the owner, Zygi Wilf. Kiss that $506 million goodbye, my fellow Minnesotans. I hope those Vikings v. Packers games are worth it.
If money and the equivalent of a cult following were the only controversies associated with football, I would probably just grumble occasionally and never write an article about it. Unfortunately, the constant battering that the players face on a daily basis is so sickening that it is becoming, if it isn't already, unethical, which has driven me to speak out. It is a fairly accepted fact that concussions are bad. Well, shockingly enough, when 300 lb players hit each other head-first, the impact causes those very concussions that we have agreed are bad.
Concussions themselves are concerning enough, but when you add that to the wear and tear that bodies and brains sustain throughout the course of a professional football player's career, the results are alarming. Boston University and the Department of Veteran Affairs conducted a studying involving the brains of 165 people who played football in high school, college, and professionally. Of those 165, 131 of them, or 79 percent, displayed signs of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). If you've never heard of CTE, it's quite similar to the beginning stages of dementia and often results in dementia as time goes on; it is caused by repetitive concussions and other blows to the brain. To learn more, go here.
As someone who has watched a family member succumb to the ravages of dementia, I can say out of experience how difficult the emotional trauma is on the affected individual and all those surrounding him or her. But as of yet, the cause of dementia hasn't been found, so individuals have no way of knowing whether or not their brain will be seized. The cause of CTE, on the other hand, is known and therefore, is preventable. So why aren't we doing everything in our power to keep people from suffering needlessly?
It's time to acknowledge our addiction to the somewhat gruesome game of football. Without change, the situation will only continue to get worse. It's easy to point fingers at greedy owners, overcompensated players, and the commentators who warp our perspectives, but in truth, it all boils down to the fans. We're the ones who are perpetuating the cycle. We're the ones who tune in religiously for games every Sunday, who spend hours creating the ideal fantasy team, who pay for overpriced tickets so that we can cheer for the especially hard hits.
I'll be the first to admit that football has never been a favorite pastime of mine. Perhaps that is why I am able to keep an open mind and look at the game with a critical eye, but I'm not special, in that regard. Anyone can take a step back and see the damage that is being done. You may feel powerless, but to quote Almond, "you take a stand because it's the right thing to do, not because it's effective." Speak out against what is happening because there are people who need to hear it, even if they don't like it. People used to think slavery was a great idea too, and look how that turned out. Ultimately, if we keep demanding football players to play longer, hit harder, and run faster, we are making them slaves to our own desires, at the expense of their health.
You don't just have to take my word for it, though. Google is an excellent resource for all of your researching needs. I also highly recommend Almond's novel, "Against Football." If reading isn't your thing, check out his Ted Talk below.
