October 12, 2009

Malcom Gladwell compares and contrasts dog fighting with the NFL: "A dog that keeps charging at its opponent is said to possess 'gameness,' and game dogs are revered. In one way or another, plenty of organizations select for gameness. [.....] This is why Michael Vick's dogs weren't euthanized. The betrayal of loyalty requires an act of social reparation. Professional football players, too, are selected for gameness".

posted by rumple to football at 01:15 PM - 2 comments

Great read and a truly interesting subject. I don't personally expect any major changes to football and the inherent violence in it. They may adopt new rules, like outlawing the wedge and increasingly protect certain positions with future rule changes - but I don't see how you can make it safe by any real measure, especially if the doctors in the article are correct and it's the cumulative subconcussive impact that are probably the overall cause of trauma.

I don't even think there would be any blowback if a an ex-football player walks into a mall and starts shooting people due to his dementia. I think people will still rather have football. Right now, these guys are just turning on their immediate families or themselves, but I wouldn't be surprised if the NFL has it's Chris Benoit moment.

These guys are dying to play and dying from playing. And they're only getting bigger and faster.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 11:07 AM on October 13, 2009

I think the best thing about this article is in challenging the ethical stance against dogfighting while still endorsing contact/collision/combat sports. "Free will" can only take a person so far in this defense.

posted by Spitztengle at 11:55 AM on October 13, 2009

You're not logged in. Please log in or register.