IDEMA: Is it time to boycott football?

[Harry]

How can colleges and secondary schools promote a sport that is so dangerous to the body, especially the human brain? As Joe Namath said recently, "There is no part of the body that is meant for football."

Why universities will not do the right thing morally, abolish football, has one simple answer: money! The University of Michigan will make $6 million for a 2017 game against Florida in Texas.

As long as fans flock to the games and pay huge prices for the privilege, as long as TV audiences pull in hundreds of millions for the schools and pro franchises, the sport — and its injuries to the players — will continue.

But fans have a choice whether to support this money game, and parents have a choice whether to put their children's brains at risk.

Boxing was once the most popular sport in America, remember. As a pro, you at least get your brains scrambled for money. High school and college players, it is argued, get an education, while they put their brains at risk for the sake of school spirit and the fans who should examine their priorities.

Someday, the players, at all levels, will decide not to suit up for "the big game" and thereby stop being suckers for the adults and institutions who profit from their efforts — while fully realizing the dangers they are putting young people in for their love of money.

Read more: http://www.grandhaventribune.com/opinion/community-columnist/1022951

[UNT90]

All sports carry risks. Basketball is terrible for the knees, golf for the back, snow and water skiing for the knees, pitchers in baseball often suffer arm injuries, Rugby a lesser version of football.

Granted, football is by far the most violent. If it were my son, I would probably attempt to steer him toward baseball, but what if he wants desperately to play football and was really good at it? Do you deprive him of something that he desperately wants to do and has a natural ability to do? In fear of injury?

Really tough call. Life would be really boring and sad if humans never took chances to do things that are potentially harmful. Hell, a lot of us who DIDNT play collegiate football took harmful chances involving other avenues in college and continue to do so today.

Alcohol is far more dangerous to youth than football, but where is the outcry to raise the drinking age?

Parents now fully understand the risk and can make educated decisions. If it wasn't for football, a lot of underprivileged kids wouldn't get a chance to play college football. Players know the risks. Zed Evans used football to get a masters degree. Maybe his life will be slightly shorter because of the pounding he took, but his life has the chance to be much higher quality with a masters than with no college degree (disclaimer: I have no idea of his family's financial situation. Maybe they could afford to send him to college or Maybe he would have been motivated to go on his own through student loans, but I think you get the point).

Football can also teach important like lessons about teamwork, discipline, setting and attaining goals, and many other positive qualities.

[UNTFan23]

Alcohol is far more dangerous to youth than football, but where is the outcry to raise the drinking age?

I know this is very off topic but how much higher should the legal drinking age be?

[oldguystudent]

I know this is very off topic but how much higher should the legal drinking age be?

How old is UNT90? There's your answer.

[Censored by Laurie]

All sports carry risks. Basketball is terrible for the knees, golf for the back, snow and water skiing for the knees, pitchers in baseball often suffer arm injuries, Rugby a lesser version of football.

I haven't done all the necessary research...but I don't feel I recall instance of athletes committing suicide over their knee, back or arm injuries.

[MeanGreenTexan]

I haven't done all the necessary research...but I don't feel I recall instance of athletes committing suicide over their knee, back or arm injuries.

While true, there are alot of dudes addicted to painkillers because of physical injuries.

[UNT90]

I haven't done all the necessary research...but I don't feel I recall instance of athletes committing suicide over their knee, back or arm injuries.

I wouldn't jump so quickly to link the suicides directly to the head injuries. We have no idea what was going on in the suspect's private life or what other medical, financial, family, or relationship problems the person was experiencing at the time of suicide.

Quite a big leap.

[EagleGreen]

I wouldn't jump so quickly... We have no idea what was going on in the suspect's private life or what other medical, financial, family, or relationship problems the person was experiencing at the time ...

Quite a big leap.

Bowe Bergdahl? '90 you are coming around!

[UNT90]

Bowe Bergdahl? '90 you are coming around!

Lol.

Although I wouldn't argue that Bo is a walking concussion.