The National Football League is the most popular sport in our country. Anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional. We like it for an unlimited amount of reasons. The participants are larger than life figures who are role models to millions of kids all over the country. Games happen only once a week, so Sundays are wholly devoted to football, unlike other sports, where games occur far more frequently. One of the biggest reasons that football is so popular is the violence involved in the game. You may or may not want to admit it, but that is a large part of the appeal of football. Today, another former NFL player spoke out about the dangers of football and having to deal with life off of the field after his playing career ended, and you can add the name Antwaan Randle El to the list of former players who have continued to shed light on how dangerous the game actually is.
While not a superstar in the league, Antwaan Randle El is surely a name well known to most football fans. He had a spectacular collegiate career, and was a very good player for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was the only wide receiver to ever throw a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl. Randle El did some remarkable things during his football career. In my opinion, his thoughts about the game should undoubtedly be respected. So when he came out, at 36 years of age, and spoke about the daily struggles he goes through, it is very hard to dismiss them.
According to Randle El, if he could have done it all over again, he would have chosen to play baseball as opposed to football. He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs, so clearly he had the ability to play baseball, but he chose not to. He said that his parents wanted him to play football because he could do so while getting a college education at the same time. Had he chosen to play baseball, he would have had to forgo a college education, and he would have been playing baseball straight out of high school. So, looking through the eyes of his parents, I completely understand why they steered him toward football. The chances of any player drafted into any professional league are slim, so his parents were entirely correct in steering him toward college. If he did not make it as a baseball player, he had only a high school education to fall back on. If he did not succeed in football, he had a college education to fall back on. In today's world, the difference between a high school diploma and a college diploma is unbelievably substantial. So, at the time, did he make the right choice? In my opinion, yes, he did.
However, hindsight is always 20/20, and I understand why Randle El feels today that he made the wrong decision. Randle El retired at the age of 32. Right now, he is 36 years old. According to his statements over the past few days, he has trouble with his memory, and has a hard time even walking down the stairs at his own house. This is coming from a 36 year old man. He isn't 76. He isn't 86. At 36, the vast majority of men are nearly as healthy as they will ever be. He should be running down the stairs each day. Instead, he is telling us that he will never be able to do such a thing again. And clearly, the only reason for that, is his NFL career. And that is a fact that is undeniable.
I watch former players on television talk about the way that playing football has affected them after their careers ended. The majority of them gloss over the fact that they deal with daily struggles that most men their age do not have to worry about. Mark Schlereth has had multiple surgeries on his knees, but he acts as though it is not that big of a deal. Is it? Schlereth is 49 years old. How many 49 year old men do you know that have had even one or two surgeries to repair joints and ligaments as opposed to someone like him who has had over 15? Darren Woodson, Mike Golic, Mike Ditka. The list goes on and on. These guys act like joint surgeries and daily limps and pains are a way of life, and I am sorry to say it, but they are wrong. Former players like Jim McMahon and Jason Taylor, and now Antwaan Randle El are stirring examples of how playing football can cause damage that these men will never be able to recover from. Should I be surprised if my grandparents have trouble going up and down the stairs when they are 70-80 years old? No. But should I be alarmed when someone half that age has the same problem? Yes.
Randle El said that he would not be surprised if football was not around in 20 years. I wholeheartedly disagree with that. No matter the potential risks, football is too much of a glamorous profession right now. There are too many men willing to put their bodies on the line, and there are far more people willing to spend their money to watch it happen for it to go away any time soon. However, could I see football eventually falling out of the national spotlight? Yes, I think I can.
Decades ago, boxing was the primary fixation of sports in this country. Its violent nature was the drawing card. However, eventually people realized the long-lasting effects that the sport had on its participants and its risks outgrew its benefits. Sure, Floyd Mayweather can make a whole lot of money in the ring, but for the average fighter, do the risks outweigh the benefits? I don't think they do.
So is the game of football going away anytime soon? Absolutely not. The safeguards being instituted in the game right now do nothing but benefit the players, but it is undeniable that football is a violent game that many times is not worth it for the participants. However, these guys know what they are getting into. I think that stories like that of Antwaan Randle El will add ammunition to the anti-football fight, but the flame of the game still rages strong.
In 20 years will the NFL still be the pinnacle of the sports world? Maybe not. But is NFL stardom still one of the most appealing circumstances for young athletes? It absolutely is. Until that is no longer the case, I see a whole bunch of young men willing to deal with the aftermath of an NFL career, no matter what Antwaan Randle El might say.
Daily Rangers Update: After a very disappointing and mediocre streak of games, the Rangers won again last night, and they now find themselves third in the Eastern Conference. However, because of the nature of the NHL and its points system, a five point lead separates the Rangers from completely out of playoff contention. The Washington Capitals are running away in the East, and at this point, it seems like everyone else is playing for second in the conference. The Rangers get Carolina, Ottawa, and Buffalo before the All Star break. All three of those teams are not as good as the Rangers. At worst, the Rangers should get four points here, and hopefully they can roll into the second half of the season.
Daily NFL Update: I will refrain from a Giants update since they have not been playing now for a while, but my feelings about the team will come out soon. As far as the four teams remaining going into Conference Championship weekend, I really think the Patriots are the best team remaining. Obviously, anything can happen on any given Sunday, but New England is the best team in the league right now.
Daily Diamondbacks Update: We are in the middle of the offseason right now, and the DBacks have already made their (significant) splash. Justin Upton, a former Diamondback, signed with the Detroit Tigers yesterday, and I wish him all the best. A lineup with Upton and Miguel Cabrera in the middle will surely be a force to be reckoned with, and I am glad that such a lineup will have nearly nothing to do with the Diamondbacks, as the NL West and the AL Central have very limited exposure to one another.
Daily NBA Update: The Warriors absolutely annihilated the Cleveland Cavaliers the other night, and it really made me question whether or not the Cavs would be able to compete if we saw an NBA Finals rematch of last season. In all honesty, the Warriors might have a tougher time winning the Western Conference Finals than they would in winning the NBA Finals if they play like that. I understand that we are a long way away from the Finals, but with the Warriors at 38-4, I really think the San Antonio Spurs have the best chance of knocking off the Warriors. Whoever comes out of the Eastern Conference has a long way to go before they can even think about challenging the best in the west.
No comments:
Post a Comment