This past week, PBS Frontline aired an episode called “League of Denial: The NFL’s Concussion Crisis” that sheds new light on a disturbing topic: concussions in contact sports. The issue is an ongoing source of worry for athletes, their families, and the institutions that exist to promote professional athletics as more information regarding the long-term effects of hits to the head becomes available. Regardless of whether or not someone is a fan of football, hockey, or any other violent sport, this issue should be of concern.
As a proactive and passionate fan of the NFL, it is disheartening to learn about the finding of this research. After watching documentaries like the one produced by PBS and reading about the health and legal troubles of former and current players, it sometimes becomes difficult for me reconcile my love of the game and the inherent risk it poses to its players.
While professional football is a massive source of entertainment and revenue and is widely appreciated in North America, the disturbing and very real concerns about the game demand close attention from fans. The documentary alleges that the NFL actively sought to bury and discredit reports that former players were experiencing a serious degenerative brain disorder, known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy as a result of concussive hits to the head they sustained during games. Take, for instance, the case of former player Mike Webster, who suffered through years of physical and mental anguish as a result of the beatings he took in his playing days. Webster battled with mental illness throughout his later life, was often homeless, and constantly in pain.
On a personal level, I find that I cannot deny the seriousness behind the research’s findings. It is true that football can cause very serious brain injuries, which can ultimately impair a player’s health for the rest of their lives. It is true that the NFL denied that this was a problem for years. I sometimes wonder if I can justifiably support a league that would actively collude to hide such serious allegations at the expense of athletes.
On the other hand, however, an argument could be made that these players are adults, that they wittingly and willingly participate in a dangerous game, and that they are rewarded handsomely in the form of million-dollar salaries.
While the NFL did settle to the tune of $700 million in a class action lawsuit filed by the families of a number of affected players, many fans and observers believe more must be done to address the issue.
On the bright side, we now see highly regarded players publicly stating that they do not wish their kids to play football because of the risk of injury. High school coaches and administrators are now implementing groundbreaking protocols to identify and treat concussions when they happen. The sport itself has changed its rules to become safer by penalizing the types of hits we now know cause these injuries. The league has adapted and has begun levying heavier fines on players for excessive roughness in the game. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell now knows that people are watching, and is taking steps in the right direction to fix the problem.
The question of whether or not football should continue to exist in light of all that we now know about concussions is a difficult one. The sport has become engrained in North American culture — particularly in the United States, but with a strong following in Canada. Football is not only popular, it is also good business. For the sole reason that it is so well established and so successful, football must stay — but it must also continue to change. I for one believe that football, more than any other high-level professional sport being played today, demands the close attention of fans everywhere. A lot can be learned from the research being conducted, and many will ultimately gain from its findings. From an avid fan’s perspective, football must continue to change in order to better protect athletes — if it is to continue at all.
Fabio Kim is a fourth-year student studying English and philosophy.
