I'll make a confession first: I love watching football, have for years, and still do, even though I'm not the fan that I once was. I think a lot of people though, including myself, view it in much more of a medical perspective than ever before and because of that, I watch with a much more critical eye than ever. I even wonder sometimes if it's not an abject guilty pleasure, when you consider the risks those guys are taking to entertain us. This was in yesterday's San Jose Mercury News:
Former NFL quarterback Kevin Kolb, whose career flamed out after getting a massive contract from the Arizona Cardinals, provided some chilling details about his post concussion issues that linger a year after quitting football in a story written for the MMQB.com website.
"The ringing is like someone shooting a shotgun right next to my ear, every second of every day. It doesn't go away", Kolb writes.
The 30-year old details the final seemingly innocuous blow that made him realize his head was susceptible to danger. "The pain, the noise, the queasiness" set in. And he still is feeling the aftermath.
"The sensitivity to light also has profound impact. I'll be in a business meeting indoors and have to politely ask to put on my sunglasses before the headaches and double vision start."
The sad truth is they are modern day gladiators....treated much the same as the ones in Roman times. Except for death on the field of play.....although that has happened.....especially at the College and high school levels where the difference in strength and conditioning is not there. Every year several high school and college players die either on the field or during practice....
Yet....I still watch it, but like you Rob....with not the same interest it once held
The concussion issue I don't know if there is a solution to that problem.....when guys that weigh close to 300lbs and can run almost 20 miles an hour there's gonna be some damage done....
He earned about $60million in his career. I'll gladly take those symptons for $60million.
It is indeed like the gladiators of old. Would you have gone to the Coliseum in ancient Rome to watch the games, drink wine, and eat olives?
I probably would have. I'm not usually the first person to evolve on an issue.
BoytonBrother makes the economic point. It can't be ignored that Kolb made a conscious decision and new the possible consequences of that decision.
When it comes to football I'm not at the too guilty to watch faze.
Is boxing worse?
I went to a closed circuit broadcast of Hagler/Hearnes fight in 1985. It was at Harrahs in Atlantic City. That fight was as exciting as anything I've ever witnessed.
Was it wrong that I enjoyed the spectacle?
Check it out here:
[Edited on 10/25/2014 by BillyBlastoff]
the only thing wrong with the analogy to gladiators is that the gladiators didn't get paid anything, to my knowledge. But I believe those symptoms are a small price to pay for that kind of money.
10 things you may not know about gladiators:
http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-roman-gladiators
the only thing wrong with the analogy to gladiators is that the gladiators didn't get paid anything, to my knowledge. But I believe those symptoms are a small price to pay for that kind of money.
I really cannot believe that you just said that. I HOPE you're being facetious. You could live with the sound of a shotgun going off next to your ear, every second of every day, and $60 million would make it worth it? WOW.
I wonder if he's tried any Quietus?
He earned about $60million in his career. I'll gladly take those symptons for $60million.
gladly take those symptoms for 60 mil.?
there isn't enough money in the world to pay me off to cope with those symptoms.
I really cannot believe that you just said that. I HOPE you're being facetious. You could live with the sound of a shotgun going off next to your ear, every second of every day, and $60 million would make it worth it? WOW.
I guess I just believe he is exaggerating a bit. If those painful symptoms are all day everyday, then it wouldn't be worth it. But if it's sporadic, then bring it on for $60 million. I'm used to ringing in my ears from when I shot a gun as a kid without wearing protective gear on my ears. But if it's a constant permanent headache and nausea, then maybe not. But I doubt it's constant and permanent. He's a QB that got run out of the league, so he's probably exaggerating to save face.
[Edited on 10/27/2014 by BoytonBrother]
Just IMO, but I think it's a bit short-sighted to only consider any injuries received at the pro level. Every concussion a person gets makes it easier for them to get the next one. My daughter is a cheerleader for the school football and basketball programs, currently in sixth grade. They just finished a six-game season and a weekend tournament. There's probably 20 kids on the football tean, and four kids sat with concussion symptoms this season. That's four 11-year-old boys. Will they all go pro? Of course not. But, what it illustrates is that the effects of concussions and the buildup of tau protein in the brain can start at an early age, and, for those talented enough to make it to the league, by the time they get there they can have a rather extensive concussion history.
I played football through college. There are two times I can specifically recall as probable concussions, there may have been others...one of those times was in college during practice/scrimmage, the other was in high school during our annual Thanksgiving Day game against our arch rivals. During that Thanksgiving game I got my bell rung so hard I went back (stumbled) to the wrong huddle. Coach called me over and asked if I was ok, of course I said yes because I didn't want to come out no matter what. The only test I remember was being asked what day it was...I literally has no idea what day of the week it was, but I knew it was Thanksgiving so I said "Thanksgiving" and coach said "great, get back in there." I basically sleep-walked through Thanksgiving dinner later without remembering much, and couldn't sleep that night at all. That was in 1984 and there was little known about concussions and their consequences (at least at that level), so I never thought much of it and no one ever asked about it. I am glad to see that our understanding of and reaction to these kinds of injuries has evolved, especially at the youth level. Hopefully as we continue to learn more it will only get safer without destroying the fabric of the game that so many of us love.
[Edited on 10/27/2014 by gondicar]
He earned about $60million in his career. I'll gladly take those symptons for $60million.
gladly take those symptoms for 60 mil.?
there isn't enough money in the world to pay me off to cope with those symptoms.
I agree.
I find that statement pretty dumb.
As bad as Kolb is, he's still doing a world better than Jim McMahon.
On one hand I don't feel bad for him as he choose this career path. On the other hand I wouldn't want those symptoms for the rest of my life. Glad to hear about coaches sitting out youth players because of concussion symptoms.
Everyone knows jocks usually are the sharpest knives in the drawer anyhow.More money must be spent by the NFL to help our poor brain damaged heroes. 😮 😮 
