Friday, January 1, 2016

The Movie "Concussion" and The Risk of Playing Football


Julie and I saw the movie "Concussion".

It is a great movie with a phenomenal performance by Will Smith.  What is amazing is how the NFL ends up looking exactly like big tobacco. Dr. Benett Omalu is a true hero who discovered CTE.

There is a recent example of a 24 year old who's mother had him tested for CTE when he died in a motorcycle accident.  He played football from age 7 to 17 and was in stage 1 of CTE.

I am not sure anyone needs to know more than what Coach Mike Ditka said on Real Sports to Bryant Gumbel "if he would want his child to play football?"

“I wouldn’t,” Gumbel says. “Would you?”

“Nope,” Ditka replies. “I wouldn't. And my whole life was football. I think the risk is worse than the reward. I really do.”

Football is a great game to watch, but I have to agree with Mike Ditka, the risk is not worth the reward.